By Lee Bratcher/OC Monitor
HARTFORD, Ky. — Ohio County Judge-Executive David Johnston held his second COVID-19 update of the week livestreamed from the Ohio County Fiscal Court Facebook page. In the update, Johnston warned of more confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the coming days and gave some details about the reopening of the county businesses.
Johnston confirmed the Green River District Health Department’s report of four new confirmed cases of COVId-19 in Ohio County. This brings the total cases of COVID-19 to 85, though 35 of those patients have recovered. Ohio County has 50 active cases of COVID-19. Four of those 50 patients are currently hospitalized.
“I expect the number of confirmed cases to go up a lot in the next few days because Ohio County Healthcare is doing massive testing, including all the folks at Perdue (Farms). All the employees were tested,” Johnston said. “Green River District Health (Department) has started doing testing at all their clinics and that will start Monday.”
Johnston reminded the people of Ohio County, starting May 11, several businesses will be opening back up.
“I urge you, if you go to these businesses, to go ahead and wear your mask and do as much social distancing as you can,” Johnston said. “We don’t want (a setback) and start having to close things again. That would be awful.”
Johnston told those watching that over the next few weeks, everything would be opened back up, but he wasn’t going to sign an order to speed up the process for Ohio County.
“For some things, we’re coming up with our own plans for reopening, for example, the Ohio County Courthouse and Community Center, in the case of these buildings, we’re waiting a week (past Governor Andy Beshear’s plans),” Johnston said.
Johnston did point out that any policies dealing with the reopening of churches came from Gov. Beshear’s Office.
“We have no plans, as far as the county goes, of having any special policies (for the reopening of churches). We’re strictly following the state’s guidelines,” Johnston said. “The reason being, he has medical people and scientists that give him advice and then he passes it on to us. I’m not saying that I would never deviate from that, but as of now, I feel it’s very practical and wise to follow those guidelines.”
Johnston said he’d received phone calls from people asking who would police people who had COVID-19 and are quarantined. Johnston said the GRDHD would, “as much as they can.”
“If you’ve been tested positive and you’re quarantined, just follow that,” Johnston said. “We’re not going to put somebody on the doorstep to see that you stay in, but please do.”
Johnston reiterated his expectation for “high numbers” in the next several days, before wishing everyone a happy Mother’s Day. As he ended his COVID-19 update, Johnston asked the people of Ohio County to be patient.
“Please be patient with us and the Governor’s Office, and the national authorities as we reopen everything,” Johnston said. “Please follow the social distancing guidelines as long as you can and try to make this thing work so we don’t have a (setback). We will get through this together.”