OWENSBORO, Ky. — Monday, Nov. 30, 2020, the Green River District Health Department reported 306 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases with 157 in Daviess County, five in Hancock County, 84 in Henderson County, eight in McLean County, 33 in Ohio County, 13 in Union County and six in Webster County.
Last week, Green River District saw an additional 800 reported COVID-19 cases. The past week also saw 18 COVID-19 related deaths in the seven-county region.
- There have been 8,358 reported COVID-19 cases in the district to date.
- The district-wide total of recovered cases is now 6,476 (77 percent).
- 53 reported confirmed cases are currently hospitalized.
- 504 (6 percent) have required hospitalization.
- There have been 145 COVID-19 related deaths in the district.
- The state of Kentucky is currently reporting 176,925 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,896 statewide deaths.
Ohio County picks up where it left off before the Thanksgiving weekend by adding 33 new confirmed COVID-19 cases today. Ohio County is closing in on 1,000 total cases, as today’s new cases bring the total confirmed COVID-19 cases to 986. At the rate Ohio County is gaining cases, that number will pass 1,000 total cases tomorrow.
Of the 986 total cases, 743 patients have recovered or died. Ohio County has 243 active confirmed COVID-19 cases. Ohio County added 33 active cases since Wednesday, Nov. 25. Of the active cases, nine of those patients are hospitalized. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 16 Ohio Countians have died due to COVID-19 complications.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, Ohio County Schools added two new confirmed COVID-19 cases to its total. With the addition of the two new cases, OC Schools has had a total of 40 confirmed COVID-19 cases since school started.
Of the 40 total cases, 28 have recovered, leaving 12 active confirmed cases. Of the recovered cases, 15 were staff members and 13 were students. Of the student recovered cases, 12 were in-person students and one was a virtual/remote student.
Of the 12 active cases, nine are staff members and three are students. Among the staff member cases, two are from Horse Branch Elementary, two are from Ohio County High School, two are from Wayland Alexander, one is from Western Elementary and two are district staff.
Of the three student active cases, two are from OCHS and one is from Ohio County Middle School. The OCMS student is a virtual/remote student and the two OCHS students are in-person students.
All OC Schools’ students are learning remotely until Jan. 4, 2020, per Governor Andy Beshear’s requirements.
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. It may take longer to receive test results during the holidays. The lab will be closed for processing Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 31.
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 102 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 crucial when interacting with anyone outside of your household, including friends, extended family, coworkers and in public settings. Do not host or attend gatherings of any kind. Leaders of organizations like churches, team coaches 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.