Jackson County reports the death of another senior from COVID-19; death toll at 26

Jackson County Public Health on Wednesday reported the region’s 26th death attributed to coronavirus, as new cases of the virus continue to mount.

Public health officials said that the latest death was an 86-year-old woman. She tested positive on November 6, and died on November 22 at “her residence” — likely a long-term care facility. The presence of underlying medical conditions is still being confirmed, Jackson County said.

Based on Jackson County’s ongoing data from outbreaks at long-term care facilities, the 86-year-old probably died at Avamere Three Fountains, which reported nine deaths attributed to COVID-19 as of Wednesday — one higher than the day prior. There have been a total of 16 deaths linked to ongoing outbreaks at three Jackson County facilities.

Jackson County reported 89 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the county’s total since the beginning of the pandemic to 3,580.

“Jackson County Public Health wants to remind the community that we need to approach Thanksgiving differently this year to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and decreasing the risk of people needing to be hospitalized due to COVID-19,” the agency said.