OWENSBORO, Ky. — Saturday, May 9, 2020, the Green River District Health Department reported 23 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases, nine in Daviess County, two in Henderson, 10 in Ohio County and two in Webster. The total number of reported COVID-19 cases in the district is 506.
Twenty-four people in the district are currently hospitalized. Of the 506 confirmed cases in the district, 61 (12 percent) have required hospitalization. The district-wide total of recovered cases is now 294 (58 percent). As of May 8, 2020, the state of Kentucky was reporting 6,288 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 298 statewide deaths.
Ohio County now has 95 total confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of those cases, 39 patients have recovered leaving the county with 56 active COVID-19 cases. Of those active cases, four people are hospitalized and at this time, nine people have ever been hospitalized.
Ohio County Judge-Executive David Johnston, in his COVID-19 update yesterday, expected a rise in confirmed cases this coming week. With today’s new cases, Ohio County has surpassed Henderson County by 10 cases as the county with the second most COVID-19 cases in the Green River District. At this time, Ohio County also has the second most active COVID-19 cases in the Green River District.
GRDHD will offer Curbside Testing at our clinic sites next week. To schedule an appointment visit the GRDHD website, healthdepartment.org, and follow the COVID-19 Test prompts. On May 12, testing will be available at our health centers in McLean and Ohio Counties. On May 13, testing will be available in Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Union, and Webster Counties. Testing times are available from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM. You must be pre-registered to be tested. Testing is free of charge and open to Kentucky residents. If you are sick, experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, including but not limited to a fever, cough, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or feel you have a medical emergency, call your health care provider.
“We are happy to have been given the opportunity to help expand testing resources in our community. This is just one more piece to fulfilling our testing needs. We are thankful of all the help and support we get from our partners in the health care sector who are also continuing to provide COVID-19 testing for our community as well” said Clay Horton, Public Health Director. “The next several weeks as we continue on our phased reopening of business it is absolutely critical everyone is vigilant in protecting themselves and each other from the spread of COVID-19.”
The cases being reported from the Green River District Health Department have been investigated and confirmed locally. These cases are then reported to the Kentucky Department for Public Health.
Additional demographic information includes*
Average age: 44
Age range: 7 months old – 93
Male – 54.5 percent
Female – 45.5 percent
*Not all demographic information is available yet because of late and incomplete reporting from a testing site.
The health department wants to reinforce this guidance with the community:
- Stay home, avoid crowds and social distance
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick (fever, cough, sneeze, and difficulty breathing).
- To avoid close contact, stay at least 6 feet away from others.
- Wear a cloth face cover when you have to go out in public.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- To avoid coughing into your hands, you can cough into your elbow.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
Adults over 60 and people who have severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease seem to be at higher risk for more serious COVID-19 illness. Those people should be extra vigilant and stay home. To help answer the community’s questions about COVID-19, the Kentucky Department for Public health has set up a website with the latest guidance and information for Kentucky residents. The site can be accessed at www.kycovid19.ky.gov. The public can also call the Kentucky COVID-19 hotline at 800-722-5725.