MEDFORD, Ore. — Public health officials in Jackson County reported 27 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the highest single-day count since the pandemic began.

Thursday's cases brought the County total to 1,217, at least 176 of which are considered "active infectious." Jackson County reported its sixth death attributed to the virus on Wednesday, a 61-year-old man. 88 people have been hospitalized with the virus since the pandemic began, up from 10 at the beginning of July.

Cases in Jackson County peaked in mid-August, prompting Governor Kate Brown to place the county on Oregon's "watch list." Jackson County was removed from the list on September 11 after case counts fell — but cases have been climbing steadily once more in the wake of the Labor Day holiday.

"The more people a person interacts with and for extended amounts of time increases a person’s risk for contracting and spreading COVID-19. This includes attending and hosting social gatherings with extended family and friends," Jackson County health officials said. "Activities that take place outdoors that allow for enough room to maintain physical distancing and involve fewer people are lower risk activities than activities that take place indoors that do not allow for physical distancing and involve more people."

Since wildfires have displaced many people in Jackson County, causing some family units to shelter with others, Jackson County is recommending that those co-habitating wear a mask inside, observe proper cleaning and disinfecting, and seek testing for even mild COVID-19 symptoms.