By Lee Bratcher/OC Monitor
HARTFORD, Ky. — Ohio County Judge-Executive David Johnston addressed the county today in his weekly Tuesday update on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Johnston started off with some bad news as the Green River District Health Department has confirmed another citizen of Ohio County has contracted COVID-19. Ohio County has now had a total of 41 confirmed cases, but there is good news as 12 of those patients have recovered from the virus. Two of the patients remain in the hospital.
“Folks, we’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing. We’re going to get there,” Johnston said. “Keep your social distancing and all that. We’re going to get through this together.”
Ohio County Sheriff Tracy Beatty spoke next and reminded everyone his office was still closed to walk-in traffic, “but we’re trying to accommodate the needs of the public.”
Beatty’s office has resumed several services that were stopped due to the virus. Vehicle inspections can be done by appointment only. The Sheriff’s Office will also be out serving civil papers or criminal summons throughout the county, but won’t be out serving warrants. The will be extra patrols throughout the county due to the stoppage of prisoner transport.
Beatty’s Office is still collecting taxes and those can be paid online at ohiocountykysheriff.com. The deadline to pay property taxes is May 15, 2020. Taxes can also be mailed to the Sheriff’s Office at Ohio County Sheriff’s Office, P.O. Box 186, Hartford, Kentucky 42347. There is also a dropbox at the Sheriff’s Office at the backdoor of the Ohio County Courthouse at 301 S. Main St. in Hartford.
Beatty said his office was looking into resuming the issuance of gun permits, but needed a little more time to look into the process.
If you need to schedule a vehicle inspection or you see something odd or strange, call Beatty’s Office at 270-298-4444.
CeCe Robinson, Marketing Community Relations for Ohio County Healthcare, spoke about this past weekend’s COVID-19 testing and about OCH’s Phase 1 preparations.
According to Robinson, OCH saw a “dramatic” increase in testing for COVID-19 over the weekend. This weekend 85 people were screened and OCH tested around 60 of those patients. OCH has around 100 results pending and Robinson expects a few of those tests to be positive for COVID-19.
“We’re going to see more positives because we’re doing more testing,” Robinson said. “The importance of that is, with our new testing capacity and resources, we’re able to get results back in 24 to 48 hours. Once we get a positive result back, we’re able to do that contact investigation that then stems the spread of the disease.”
Robinson said hospitals are starting to see sick people after this week’s Phase 1 reopening of healthcare facilities. Many have put off care due to fears of COVID-19. According to Robinson, OCH has taken steps to ensure the safety of everyday patients and those in serious need of care.
“We understand the fear of going into a healthcare facility, but you cannot let your health suffer at the expense of your fear,” Robinson said. “I promise you, (OCH) is going to have so many measures in place to take care of you and keep you safe. There are other healthcare issues beyond COVID-19, and they’re chronic illnesses, they’re acute illnesses that pop up and we want you to seek care for that. It’s not about revenue, it’s about our job as your healthcare leaders to make sure that we’re taking care of the health of this community. Your health is our business.”
Robinson listed the mandates requested of healthcare facilities by Governor Andy Beshear, many of which, OCH has already put in place, according to Robinson. Robinson said OCH isn’t just focused on the Phase 1 requirements to open more services to people, but looking ahead to the next phases, as well.
To view the Kentucky Healthcare Reopening including Phase 1-4, click here.
Robinson believed both the federal and state government hopes people will continue their Healthy At Home habits and use those habits to be Healthy At Work.
“Stay the course, keep up those healthy habits and we’re going to get through this,” Robinsons said.
Robinson ended the update with more of how he started it, praising Ohio County for the job its done and asking for citizens to keep fighting the good fight.
“Folks, I know you’re getting impatient. We’ve been doing this a long time and we are getting weary, but we can’t let up now,” Johnston said. “Ohio County, you are doing a good job. We just need to keep on doing it. I think the end of this is in sight, but not as near as I hoped it would be. I assure you, what you’re doing is working. We’ll get through this together.”
To view Johnston’s COVID-19 update for April 28, 2020, click here.