OWENSBORO, Ky. — Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, the Green River District Health Department reported 72 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases with 33 in Daviess County, three in Hancock County, 15 in Henderson County, four in McLean County, seven in Ohio County, four in Union County and six in Webster County.
Last week, Green River District saw an additional 713 reported COVID-19 cases. The past week also saw four COVID- 19 related deaths in the seven-county region.
- There have been 6,655 reported COVID-19 cases in the district to date.
- The district-wide total of recovered cases is now 5,300 (80 percent).
- 49 reported confirmed cases are currently hospitalized.
- 448 (7 percent) have required hospitalization.
- There have been 109 COVID-19 related deaths in the district.
- The state of Kentucky is currently reporting 137,586 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,661 statewide deaths.
Ohio County begins the new week by adding seven new confirmed COVID-19 cases to its total cases. While seven new cases aren’t as bad as adding 22 or 24 new confirmed cases, it’s still way too high. If current trends from weeks past hold, Tuesday or Wednesday’s new case total could be closer to 22 or 24 than today’s seven new cases.
With today’s seven new cases, Ohio county has had a total of 778 confirmed COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic. Of those cases, 623 patients have recovered or passed away. Ohio County currently has 155 active confirmed cases with five of those patients in the hospital. Since the pandemic began, 55 Ohio Countians have been hospitalized due to COVID-19 and 12 Ohio Countians have died due to COVID-19 complications.
Ohio County Schools has five confirmed COVID-19 cases, four staff members and one student. The four staff members are three district staff and one staff member from Western Elementary. The student is an in-person learning student at Ohio County High School.
OC Schools has had a total of 22 confirmed COVID-19 cases since school started, with 17 of those patients having recovered. Ten staff members and seven students have recovered.
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, including the high dose vaccine for those 65 years of age and older, 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: 44.9 percent
Female: 55.1 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 healthcare 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.