The Jackson County Health Department reported the highest number of new COVID-19 cases in the county on Monday.

Cases were confirmed for 23 Jackson County residents, the most confirmed cases in a single day since the start of the pandemic, according to a health department news release.

The release said over 40% of the county’s new confirmed cases in July have been from individuals in their late teens and early 20s. 

“This is a particularly challenging demographic to work with on COVID-19, as they are generally social in nature, and typically have fewer symptoms and less complications when they contract the disease,” Bart Hagston, health department administrator, said. 

Hagston said the demographic’s exposure helps drive further transmission in the community, potentially bringing the disease to others who experience poor health outcomes, including elderly individuals and those with chronic health conditions.

As of Monday, there have been 425 confirmed cases in the county and 19 deaths. 

The Jackson County Health Department asks residents to follow public health guidelines by wearing a mask in public, maintaining social distance, avoiding social gatherings, washing hands frequently and working with health department officials as they conduct contact tracing. 

If you are experiencing fever, cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle aches, loss of taste or smell, nausea or diarrhea, you should contact your healthcare provider for further guidance.

The Daily Egyptian’s News Desk can be reached at 1-618-536-3329, by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at @dailyegyptian.

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