GRDHD reports 29 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, 3 new cases in Ohio County

In Local, News by OC Monitor Staff

OWENSBORO, Ky. — Friday, August 21, 2020, the Green River District Health Department reported 29 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases, 16 in Daviess County, five in Henderson County, two in McLean County, three in Ohio County and three in Union County. A case reported in Webster County on Aug. 20, 2020, resides in another county and the total number of cases reported has been adjusted accordingly.

  • The total number of reported COVID-19 cases in the district is 1,964.
  • Fifteen reported confirmed cases are currently hospitalized.
  • 169 (9 percent) have required hospitalization.
  • There have been 24 COVID-19 related deaths in the district.
  • The district-wide total of recovered cases is now 1,661 (84.5 percent).
  • The state of Kentucky is currently reporting 41,626 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 856 statewide deaths.

Ohio County gains three more COVID-19 cases to close out the workweek. Ohio County has had 391 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 340 of those patients having recovered from the disease. There are 51 active confirmed cases in Ohio County at this time with two of those patients being hospitalized. Ohio County has had 28 residents hospitalized with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. Nine residents have died due to the disease.

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: 42

Age range: 7 months old – 95

Male – 48.9 percent

Female – 51.1 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.