By Lee Bratcher/OC Monitor
HARTFORD, Ky. — Ohio County Judge-Executive David Johnston livestreamed the first of many county COVID-19 updates on the Ohio County Fiscal Court Facebook page. Johnston was joined by Ohio County EMA Director Charlie Shields and CeCe Robinson from Ohio County Healthcare. According to Johnston, until the COVID-19 crisis is over, he would provide a livestream update every Tuesday and Friday morning. If there was a confirmed case of COVID-19 discovered in Ohio County, a “special edition” of the livestream would occur.
Johnston began the update by providing people with several outlets supplying information about the COVID-19 pandemic. The first being kycovid19.ky.gov. Johnston also suggested watching both Governor Andy Beshear and President Donald Trump’s daily updates. For small businesses, Johnston suggested going to sba.gov/disaster for information on a forgivable small business loan.
“Stay with us on this. Practice your social distancing. Do not go into groups of people,” Johnston told Ohio Countians. “This will pass. We’ve just got to work together as a community, the strong community that I know we are.”
Johnston then introduced Shields to talk about what his office is doing during the pandemic.
Shields said his office was working closely with both law enforcement, first responders and healthcare personnel, making sure those people have the PPE they require to do their jobs.
“I want to reassure all the citizens here in Ohio County, that if you need anything as far as groceries, medicine, and you can’t get out, feel free to call my office at 270-298-4412 and we’ll make sure you get what you need,” Shields said. “Again, if you need anything at all, please contact my office, and for the citizens of Ohio County, we are here to serve you and we’re going to do everything we can to be prepared for that.”
Johnston then turned the livestream over to Robinson to provide a health update on Ohio County.
Robinson thanked both Johnston and Shields for helping OCH focus on the immediate needs due to the COVID-19 crisis and working to plan for needs in the future, if COVID-19 should “rapidly spread.”
Robinson reminded everyone Ohio County is the last county in the Green River Area Development District without a confirmed case of COVID-19. (See note below.)
“I don’t want that to lull our citizens of Ohio County into a false sense of security,” Robinson said. “We know COVID-19 is active in every community. We know that it spreads so easily.”
Robinson said since COVID-19 is a “novel” virus, it means this is the first time this virus has made the jump from being spread from animals to humans. Because its the first time humans have gotten this virus, there are no antibodies to fight the virus, meaning humans have no immunity.
“That’s what makes it so highly contagious. We can easily pass it from one person to another,” Robinson said. “That’s why social distancing is crucial. We tend to focus, as a society, on the testing and the treatment, when the focus should be on stopping or the prevention ofCOVID-19, which is social distancing.”
Robinson urged people to not leave their home unless they had to and when they did leave their home to practice good social distancing and avoid large crowds.
“What we’re trying to do is not completely stop the spread of COVID-19, because that’s kind of impossible,” Robinson said. “What we’re trying to do is keep that spread as slow as possible so (OCH) will have the resources to take care of the citizens of Ohio County.”
If you think you may have COVID-19, OCH has set up several different measures to guide you through the steps you need for possible testing and treatment.
OCH has a COVID-19 hotline at 270-256-5535. The phone is staffed by a nurse 24/7. Robinson instructs those who have questions or symptoms of coughing, fever, shortness of breath, to call the hotline. Shortness of breath doesn’t mean a stuffy nose or sinuses, but having a hard time getting air into your lungs.
If you are having significant respiratory stress or trouble, go straight to the ER at OCH.
After calling the hotline, you may be asked to visit the OCH screening center located on the corner of Clay St. and McMurtry Ave, just a few houses down from OCH. The screening center is open 7 days a week.
At the OCH screening center, the patient will receive an assessment by the healthcare providers on staff. From that assessment, you may get additional screening if needed, including checking for flu, strep and other respiratory diseases. Those diseases are still prevalent in the community and mimic COVID-19 symptoms.
Robinson said the multiple screenings are needed because testing supplies and resources are low.
“We’re going to test the people who are critically ill, or seriously ill, and who are going to need additional medical intervention,” Robinson said. “Just like any other virus, if you have those mild or moderate symptoms, you’re going to have to take that responsibility and stay home and self-isolate until you’re fever free.”
With that, Robinson said OCH was prepared to care for COVID-19 patients who needed treatment, but the focus should be more on preventing the spread of the virus and not testing.
Even with diseases like the flu, strep throat and other respiratory diseases, you should still stay home and self-isolate. Just like COVID-19, you don’t want to spread any disease to family, friends or co-workers.
Robinson reminded people that around 80 percent of those who get COVID-19 may be asymptomatic, meaning those people won’t show any of the symptoms associated with the virus. Some will get COVID-19 and just show minor flu-like symptoms.
“Whatever these symptoms are, once you know that you’re not feeling well, self-isolate yourself,” Robinson recommended. “That’s what we have to do as citizens right now is go the extra measure to curtail what happens in our lives to protect others.”
After Robinson finished, Johnston closed the video by assuring people all county services were still working. His office is open, but they are practicing social distancing.
“We’re pretty fortunate right now that we’re doing well and don’t have a case among our county officials and we don’t even have a reported case in Ohio County at this time,” Johnston said.
Robinson jumped in to remind Johnston and those watching, “We know (COVID-19) is here though. We just don’t have a confirmed patient.”
“I assure you we’re going to provide services to you and call anytime you need anything,” Johnston.
Johnston closed saying they would be back Friday morning with another update.
To contact Johnston’s office by phone, call 270-298-4400.
Note: The Green River District Health Department announced the confirmed case in McLean County, announced yesterday, was actually negative. At this time both McLean and Ohio Counties have no confirmed cases of COVID-19. Robinson wouldn’t have known about this development at the time of Johnston’s livestream update.