JACKSON COUNTY, MI – The Jackson County Health Department is asking residents to be vigilant in following COVID-19 safety guidelines as cases in the county continue to rise.

There have been 596 positive cases of the virus in the county as of Saturday, July 25, according to state data. This is up from 537 cases on July 15 and 484 cases at the end of June.

Henry Ford Allegiance health reports there are five patients hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Wednesday, July 22, which is up from the week before.

Jackson County sees 61 new cases of coronavirus halfway through July

Cases in the county have been traced to traveling domestically and internationally without following safety precautions, spending time outdoors in large gatherings without wearing masks and attending big events, such as family gatherings, parties or sporting activities, health officials said.

Events are not always safe just because they are outdoors, health officials said. Virus droplets can travel six feet, and 40% of the people infected with COVID are asymptomatic, officials said.

Sudden uptick in Jackson County COVID-19 cases linked to travel to Tennessee, Florida, officials say

“While we recognize it is summer and individuals want to be traveling and/or socializing, we are in the midst of a pandemic and it is critical for individuals to question if they need to travel, attend a social event or attend crowded gatherings,” Rashmi Travis, Jackson County Health Department health officer, said in a statement. “It is also important for individuals to exercise safe practices by wearing a mask, washing hands, and social distancing.”

Resources for helping people cope mentally with the pandemic, along with daily updates to the county’s case numbers, can be found on the health department’s website.

Related headlines:

Back-to-school, awards events canceled in Jackson due to coronavirus

‘We’re doing everything we can to make things safe,’ Jackson judge says as jury trials are set to resume