OWENSBORO, Ky. — Saturday, August 29, 2020, the Green River District Health Department reported 23 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases, six in Daviess County, eight in Henderson County, four in Ohio County, three in Union County and two in Webster County. The total number of reported COVID-19 cases in the district is 2,157. The COVID-19 related deaths were both residents of Daviess County.
- Eighteen reported confirmed cases are currently hospitalized.
- 182 (8 percent) have required hospitalization.
- There have been 29 COVID-19 related deaths in the district.
- The district-wide total of recovered cases is now 1,813 (84 percent).
- The state of Kentucky is currently reporting 46,757 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 918 statewide deaths.
Ohio County adds four more cases to its total confirmed COVID-19 cases. The county’s total is now 417 with 359 of those patients having recovered. Ohio County has 58 active confirmed cases of COVID-19 with two of those patients hospitalized. Ohio County has had 29 residents to be hospitalized due to COVID-19 and has had nine deaths attributed to COVID-19.
Ohio County Judge-Executive painted a fairly grim picture of how COVID-19 was affecting Ohio County. According to Johnston, Thursday’s 60confirmed active cases for Ohio County was the largest number of active cases the county has had since the beginning of the pandemic. The county’s COVID-19 death rate, according to Johnston was 2.5 percent, which was almost 1.5 percent higher than the Green River Area Development District.
Johnston also pointed out, that of all the tests given by Ohio County Healthcare, 9.4 percent are positive.
“It’s not that we’re testing more that’s giving us the bigger numbers,” Johnston said. “It’s the percentage and the percentage of the positives are going up in the county.”
The average age of those testing positive for COVID-19 is 42 and 51 percent of the positive tests are women. Earlier in the pandemic, more men were testing positive.
With today’s four new confirmed cases, Ohio County has added 25 new COVID-19 this week, which is eight more cases than last week’s 17 new cases.
“I’m just urging you again, please just do what you know to do to prevent the spread,” Johnston pleaded with the viewers. “Wear your mask, wash your hands and watch your distance. Do not let your guard down in groups. The contact tracing usually goes back to groups of people who do not wear masks. For that what we’re doing is not foolproof, however, for goodness sake’s let’s do what we know to do to prevent the spread.”
To view Johnston’s COVID-19 update from yesterday, click here.
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: 6 months old – 95
Male – 48.6 percent
Female – 51.4 percent
COVID-19 Guidance
“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.”
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.