**CORRECTION — 6-18-20, 1:20 p.m. — This update corrects the GRHD COVID-19 Testing Schedule chart. The testing at the Ohio County clinic will be from 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.**
OWENSBORO, Ky. — Thursday, June 18, 2020, the Green River District Health Department reported 15 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases, eight in Daviess County, three in Henderson County, two in Ohio County and two in Union County. The total number of reported COVID-19 cases in the district is 804.
Three reported confirmed cases are currently hospitalized. Of the 804 confirmed cases in the district, 90 (11 percent) have required hospitalization. The district-wide total of recovered cases is now 703 (87 percent). The state of Kentucky is currently reporting 12,995 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 518 statewide deaths.
After picking up just three new confirmed COVID-19 cases in five days, Ohio County gets 2 new cases today. Ohio County now has 190 total confirmed COVID-19 cases with 170 of those patients having recovered. Ohio County has 20 active cases of COVID-19. There are no Ohio Countians hospitalized due to the disease.
“It is more important now than ever that you use good judgment and follow our recommendations to protect yourself and your family. The virus is still out there,” said Clay Horton, GRDHD Public Health Director. “We encourage anyone who has been in crowds or had close contact with people in public to get tested.”
The health department is offering free COVID-19 testing. 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.
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: 42
Age range: 7 months old – 93
Male – 52.9 percent
Female – 47.1 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.