OWENSBORO, Ky. — Tuesday, May 19, 2020, the Green River District Health Department reported 11 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases, two in Daviess County, two in Henderson County, one in McLean County and six in Ohio County. GRDHD also reported two additional COVID-19 deaths. The COVID-19 related deaths were a resident of Daviess County and a resident of Henderson County. The total number of reported COVID- 19 cases in the district is 595.
Fourteen people in the district are currently hospitalized. Of the 595 confirmed cases in the district, 69 (11 percent) have required hospitalization. The district-wide total of recovered cases is now 434 (73 percent). As of May 18, 2020, the state of Kentucky was reporting 7,935 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 346 statewide deaths.
Ohio County sees another day of multiple new cases of COVID-19. The county’s total number of cases is now up to 140, though 82 of those patients have recovered from the disease. There are 58 active COVID-19 cases in Ohio County and currently, there is no one hospitalized, though there have been 10 Ohio Countians hospitalized during the pandemic.
The health department, along with Kroger and Ohio County Healthcare, will continue to offer free COVID-19 testing this week. Curbside testing will be available at the health department’s clinic sites in McLean and Webster Counties today. The health department will also provide testing from its mobile unit in Fordsville today. Testing will be available at the health department’s Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, and Union County locations tomorrow, Wednesday, May 20.
To schedule an appointment visit the GRDHD website, https://healthdepartment.org, and follow the COVID-19 Test prompts. You must be pre-registered to be tested. 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.
Kroger will also be providing testing at the Ohio County Fairgrounds this week today-Thursday. To sign-up for the Kroger testing site visit https://www.thelittleclinic.com/drivethru-testing.
There are also three screening centers offered by OCH where you can get tested,
- 1132 Clay Street in Hartford from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
- Fordsville Area Medical Clinic located at 44 West Main Street from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday.
- Butler County Family Care at 210 North Main Street in Morgantown from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday – Friday.
Gov. Andy Beshear urged Ohio Countians to get tested this week whether you feel sick or not. There are people who feel fine, but have the disease. Those people are spreading the disease, unknowingly, to strangers, their family and loved ones. Don’t be the reason a person has to be hospitalized or worse. Get tested this week if you are able.
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: 43
Age range: 7 months old – 93
Male – 55.4 percent
Female – 44.6 percent
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.
