In one case, an asymptomatic patient being treated at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in early July later tested positive for the coronavirus. The hospital traced that case to other staff members who treated the patient, then tested positive.
In a separate group of cases, a nurse finished working a week of shifts when they began showing symptoms. The nurse tested positive for the coronavirus, as did some coworkers.
A press release from Jackson County Public Health says no patients are known to have been infected by an Asante employee during this outbreak.
Asante administrators say despite these cases, people shouldn’t be apprehensive about getting medical services they need at Asante.
“These are isolated instances,” says Asante Director of Quality Holly Nickerson. “It’s still safe to come to the health care system. We still want people to make sure they're seeking care. And at Asante, we’re doing everything we can to provide the safest and highest level of care for people.”
Early in the pandemic, Jackson County had maintained several weeks with zero confirmed cases. Now it reaches double-digit numbers almost daily.