COVID-19 Cases Increase Slightly in Jasper County

Jasper County had recorded 231 confirmed cases and 113 presumptive cases of COVID-19 for a total of 344, according to the North Central Health District’s weekly COVID-19 health update on October 13.

The number of cases from the previous week ending on October 4 rose slightly with seven new confirmed cases and three new presumed cases. The recorded number of specimens collected and tested by the NCHD shows that the rate of local testing by the department has slowed tremendously as only 10 specimens had been tested since last week’s update taking the total to 652.

The Jasper County Charter Sytem (JCCS) is holding steady with a low number of new cases reported as of noon on October 9. Like last week, no new cases involving employees were reported and only one new case involving students were reported this week.

The total number of students currently placed in quarantine due to exposure increased to 17 as the total number of employees currently placed in quarantine due to exposure remains at three, according JCCS Supt. Kenny Garland.

JCCS enrollment numbers changed a bit. Online instruction enrollees decreased to 625 down 30 from last week as face-to face instruction rose by 33 with the addition of three new charter system students.

Jasper Memorial Hospital and Primary Care Center Director Jan Gaston noted that their local COVID-19 positivity rates tend to match the state’s positivity. With regards to testing, JMH does a robust amount of testing averaging more than 100 tests per week. The facility offers rapid testing.

Mrs. Gaston said that their testing, thus far, has reflected a 60-county reach.

“We have people that come from all around to test here. We feel really, really good about what Jasper’s done with our testing.”

The director also noted that the organization is working with the school systems to help keep students safe and numbers low.

With a mild outbreak a few weeks ago when two employees and two residents at the Retreat Nursing Home tested positive for the virus, Mrs. Gaston said that all the residents were tested October 12 at the facility and all tested negative making for a 14-day period of no positvity of COVID-19. With that in mind, the director said that organization is in the planning phase to open the nursing home for family visits, of course with safety measures in place. The Retreat has been closed for visitation since the pandemic began.