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New coronavirus cases trend down in Jefferson County as 112 test positive in last 14 days

Jefferson County reported its first positive test result on March 18, 2020.

BEAUMONT, Texas — There have been 112 new coronavirus cases in Jefferson County in the last 14 days.

Currently 99 people have recovered leaving 239 active cases in the county.

A 14-day rolling average of news cases in the county has been trending downward according to data received from the county.

Eight new cases, including seven in Beaumont and one in Groves, were reported in the county on May 8, 2020, bringing the total reported cases in the county to 362.

Jefferson County has reported 24 fatalities so far related to the virus with the latest two deaths reported in Beaumont on May 7, 2020.

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Credit: KBMT

The County reported its first positive test result on March 18, 2020 according to the officials.

The names of those testing positive are not being released due to patient privacy laws.

The federal guidelines for opening up a state or region  look at three areas to determine if it’s safe to reopen according to the White House website.

  • Symptoms
    • Downward trajectory of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) reported within a 14-day period
    • AND
    • Downward trajectory of covid-like syndromic cases reported within a 14-day period
  • Cases
    • Downward trajectory of documented cases within a 14-day period
    • OR
    • Downward trajectory of positive tests as a percent of total tests within a 14-day period (flat or increasing volume of tests)
  • Hospitals
    • Treat all patients without crisis care
    • AND
    • Robust testing program in place for at-risk healthcare workers, including emerging antibody testing

12News is keeping track of positive cases in eight Southeast Texas counties including Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, and Tyler Counties.

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Coronavirus symptoms

The symptoms of coronavirus can be similar to the flu or a bad cold. Symptoms include a fever, cough and shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Most healthy people will have mild symptoms. A study of more than 72,000 patients by the Centers for Disease Control in China showed 80 percent of the cases there were mild.

But infections can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death, according to the World Health Organization. Older people with underlying health conditions are most at risk.

The CDC believes symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 14 days after being exposed.

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Human coronaviruses are usually spread through...

  • The air by coughing or sneezing
  • Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
  • Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.

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Help stop the spread of coronavirus 

  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Eat and sleep separately from your family members
  • Use different utensils and dishes
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm, not your hand.
  • If you use a tissue, throw it in the trash

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Lower your risk

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
  • If you are 60 or over and have an underlying health condition such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or respiratory illnesses like asthma or COPD, the World Health Organization advises you to try to avoid crowds or places where you might interact with people who are sick.

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