OWENSBORO, Ky. — Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, the Green River District Health Department reported 77 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases with 22 in Daviess County, two in Hancock County, 31 in Henderson County, four in McLean County, two in Ohio County, 11 in Union County and five in Webster County. The total number of reported COVID-19 cases in the district is now 4,148.
Last week, Green River District saw the largest number of cases in a single week with 473 reported COVID-19 cases, surpassing the previous week’s total of 450. The past week also saw 20 COVID-19 related deaths in the seven county region, 35 percent of the deaths reported in the district since the beginning of the pandemic.
- 36 reported confirmed cases are currently hospitalized.
- 309 (7 percent) have required hospitalization.
- There have been 57 COVID-19 related deaths in the district.
- The district-wide total of recovered cases is now 3,251 (78 percent).
- The state of Kentucky is currently reporting 80,292 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,252 statewide deaths.
After picking up 43 new confirmed COVID-19 cases last week, Ohio County begins this week two new confirmed cases. Today’s two cases bring the county’s total cases to 536 with 452 of those patients having recovered from the disease. There are 84 active confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ohio County. Ohio County now has three residents in the hospital with COVID-19 related issues. That’s two more hospitalizations than Saturday’s report. There have been a total of 37 Ohio Countians hospitalized with COVID-19. Nine Ohio Countians have died due to COVID-19 related issues.
Ohio County Schools has had a student test positive for COVID-19 since Saturday’s report. The student joins five staff members who tested positive for COVID-19, to bring the schools total active confirmed cases to 6. There are two staff members with COVID-19 in OCHS, two staff members in the Ohio County Middle School and one staff member in Beaver Dam Elementary. The student is in OCHS.
OC Schools has had a total of 12 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since schools opened. Of those patients, five were students and seven were staff members. Four of the students have recovered and two of the staff members have recovered for a total of six recoveries.
COVID-19 Testing & Flu Shots
The health department is offering free COVID-19 testing. We encourage anyone who has been in crowds, had close contact with people in public, or traveled recently to get tested. 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. Flu shots can also be scheduled on our website or by calling your county health department for an appointment.
Demographics
The cases being reported from the Green River District Health Department are being investigated and confirmed locally. These cases are then reported to the Kentucky Department for Public Health.
Average Age: 45
Age Range: 1 month to 100 years old
Male: 45.6 percent
Female: 54.4 percent
COVID-19 Guidance
“We want to remind people to protect themselves and those around them. Continue to practice the three “W’s:” wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your distance,” said Clay Horton, GRDHD Public Health Director. “This is important in private get together settings with friends and family when interacting with coworkers and in social settings like weddings. Keep any gatherings small and outside to reduce the risk of transmission. Avoid sharing items with anyone outside of your household, since this can promote the spread of the virus. Leaders of organizations like churches and workplace supervisors are encouraged to lead by example and make wise decisions to protect those for whom you are responsible.”
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.