Jackson County’s increased COVID-19 case number Saturday came from a data glitch.
The number of Jackson County cases increased to 12 Saturday. The number returned to six in Sunday’s report from the Tennessee Department of Health.
“The people who were doing the check came back and said those they did not feel like those belong to us,” Jackson County Mayor Randy Heady said. “And so it looks like, of course, but it looks like all those belong to Jackson, Tennessee. They just got put on this by accident. That’s what it looks like. The addresses corresponding with those positive tests were not from Jackson County.”
Heady said the number concerned him as soon as he received it Saturday. Heady said county officials might expect an increase of one or two per day based on the methodology they are employing to protect residents.
“I appreciate everybody in my county and surrounding counties practicing because we’re all in this together,” Heady said. “It doesn’t do us any good if we do everything that we’re supposed to do and our neighbors don’t. We all. We’re in this together. So we just need to do what they’re doing, the social distancing and continue to get tested.”
Heady encouraged Jackson County residents to get tested if they believe they need it. The Jackson County Health Department continues to test residents Monday-Friday.
86 positive cases have been reported in Madison County, home to Jackson.
