Hello Beaver Dam – People’s Bank

Johnston calls Ohio County COVID-19 ‘hotspot,’ urges residents to wear masks

In Local, News by Lee Bratcher

By Lee Bratcher/OC Monitor

HARTFORD, Ky. — Ohio County Judge-Executive David Johnston spoke to Ohio County in his weekly COVID-19 update today in a livestream video on the Ohio County Fiscal Court’s Facebook page. In the update, Johnston described Ohio County as a COVID-19 “hotspot” and urged all Ohio Countians to wear a mask in public settings.

Johnston began his update by talking about the “upsetting and disturbing news” on the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Ohio County and the deaths in Ohio County caused by the disease.

“Our (total COVID-19) cases are up to 326 for Ohio County, which is a big chunk of the entire Green River Area Development District,” Johnston said. “We are the hotspot, if you will, and that’s not a distinction that we like.”

Johnston spoke about Signature Healthcare in Hartford, saying a “big chunk” of the recent COVID-19 cases came from that facility. He also said four of the recent five deaths the county has suffered were related to the Signature Healthcare outbreak. Johnston confirmed the long-term care facility had 18 residents and 14 staff who tested positive for COVID-19 just over a week ago.

“(These) are our most vulnerable people and that’s sad,” Johnston said. “Signature Healthcare, unfortunately, got this, and they are dealing with it very responsibly and are very prepared to deal with it. It saddens us that they had to, but they were prepared and are doing a good job, in my estimation.”

Johnston told Ohio County he didn’t want to go backward and have to close down businesses and other public places. He also believed Governor Andy Beshear’s mask mandate was “reasonable.”

“I highly urge you to comply with the recommendations from the Governor’s Office because they are thought out,” Johnston said. “We all should also wash our hands and watch our distance. If we do those things we can get this thing under check.”

To view Johnston’s COVID-19 update from today, click here.