OWENSBORO, Ky. — Ohio County has suffered the loss of another resident to COVID-19, according to the Green River District Health Department. This brings Ohio County’s COVID-19 death toll to seven. In addition to the death, Ohio County gained five new confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Ohio County’s total confirmed cases of COVID-19 stands at 355 with 305 of those patients having recovered. Ohio County currently has 50 active confirmed cases of COVID-19. There was a bit of good news in today’s report from the GRDHD in that there are only three Ohio Countians hospitalized with the disease after eight were listed as hospitalized in yesterday’s report. Overall, 26 Ohio Countians have been hospitalized because of COVID-19.
With today’s death, Ohio County has one-third of the deaths in the Green River District and only has one less death than Daviess County. During his COVID-19 update last Friday, Ohio County Judge-Executive David Johnston said he expected Ohio County’s COVID-19 deaths to go up in the coming days.
For the rest of the region, the GRDHD reported nine additional confirmed COVID-19 cases with five in Daviess County, 2 in Henderson County and two in McLean. The total number of reported COVID-19 cases in the district is 1,604.
Including Ohio County, eight reported confirmed cases are currently hospitalized. Of the 1,604 confirmed cases in the district, 149 (9 percent) have required hospitalization. The district-wide total of recovered cases is now 1,351 (84 percent). The state of Kentucky is currently reporting 31,508 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 744 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 – 95
Male – 49.5 percent
Female – 50.5 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.