OWENSBORO, Ky. — An Ohio County resident has died after being infected with COVID-19, the Green River District Health Department reported today. The name of the deceased person was not released. In addition, Ohio County picked up nine new confirmed cases of COVID-19.
With today’s 9 new cases, Ohio County has had a total of 274 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those, 205 patients have recovered. Ohio County has 69 active confirmed cases of COVID-19. Since July 1, 2020, Ohio County has added 70 confirmed cases of COVID-19 to its total.
Monday, Ohio County Judge-Executive David Johnston confirmed there were 32 cases of COVID-19 at Signature HealthCare of Hartford. According to Johnston, 18 of the cases are residents and 14 of the cases are staff members. The facility is awaiting the results of more tests. Johnston said the residents and staff had been quarantined.
There are currently six Ohio Countians hospitalized with COVID-19 and there have been 18 total hospitalized.
During a livestreamed update this morning on the Ohio County Fiscal Court Facebook page, Johnston informed those watching about the COVID-19 related death in Ohio County. He also addressed the state of the county at this time.
“We’re not doing well now with our prevention of the COVID-19,” Johnston said. “I’m just really urging you, we must do our part to stop this. I’m never going to advocate we close businesses, but we must do our part to keep them open. We must practice our three W’s. We must wear a mask, wash our hands and we must watch our distance. It’s very important that we do that.”
Johnston reminded those watching about Governor Andy Beshear mandate for people to wear a mask in public when indoors and pleaded with people to “practice safe habits.”
“There’s just really no reason not to,” Johnston said. “We’re in an emergency state here, worse than we’ve been since the beginning. It’s hit Ohio County and it’s hit us hard. We do not want this to come back and be really bad…We don’t want another death is what I’m trying to say. So, please, practice safe habits.”
To watch Johnston’s COVID-19 update for today, click here.
Besides Ohio County’s nine new cases, there were 12 in Daviess County, one in Hancock County, two in Henderson County, one in McLean County, one in Union County and three in Webster County. That’s a total of 29 new cases for the district.
The total number of reported COVID-19 cases in the district is 1,148.
Sixteen reported confirmed cases are currently hospitalized, counting Ohio County’s six hospitalizations. Of the 1,148 confirmed cases in the district, 114 (10 percent) have required hospitalization. The district-wide total of recovered cases is now 922 (80 percent). The state of Kentucky is currently reporting 19,653 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 629 statewide deaths.
“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. Practice the three “W’s”: wear a mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance,” said Clay Horton, GRDHD Public Health Director. “We encourage anyone who has been in crowds, had close contact with people in public, or traveled recently to get tested.”
COVID-19 Testing
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.
Demographics
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 – 50.3 percent
Female – 49.7 percent
COVID-19 Guidance
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.
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. 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 – www.kycovid19.ky.gov. The public can also call the Kentucky COVID-19 hotline at 800-722- 5725.