HARTFORD, Ky. — Ohio County Judge-Executive David Johnston appeared on the Ohio County Fiscal Court Facebook page for a grim COVID-19 update to the county.
So far this week, Ohio County has added 189 new confirmed COVID-19 cases to its total cases. Of the county’s 345 active cases, 131 of those cases were added this week. Ohio County lost one resident so far this week raising the county’s COVID-19 death toll to 17, according to the Green River District Health Department. Currently, 12 Ohio Countians are hospitalized with COVID-19 related issues.
“It’s worse than we could’ve ever imagined,” a masked Johnston said of the county’s current COVID-19 situation. “We’re calling it, basically, the Thanksgiving surge because so many people ignored the call from the state officials and local officials to not go to gatherings. It’s proven that was the correct statement to make. I do appreciate anyone who didn’t (gather in a group for Thanksgiving. It is a sacrifice.”
As Johnston went over the current COVID-19 statistics for Ohio County, he did not give a COVID-19 death toll for the county.
“We don’t have a current death rate to post, but we know it’s up there,” Johnston said. “We know there have been deaths in the last few days, a few of them, at least, I mean, more than one.”
Johnston spoke about the upcoming release of a “promising” vaccine, though the first round of vaccinations will be for frontline workers such as health care professionals and those in long-term care facilitates, both patients and employees. Johnston explained the vaccine was available as a series of shots and it might take a while to vaccinate the frontline workers.
“Maybe by the end of January, (the vaccine) will be available, basically, to the general public, but first we go to healthcare workers and frontline workers,” Johnston said.
As he does in all of his updates, Johnston pleaded with Ohio Countians to protect themselves and others during the pandemic.
“You’ve heard this before, but I’m urging you to avoid group or gatherings of any kind, wear your mask, wash your hands and stay a distance from anyone when you go to the store or go to work or places you must go,” Johnston said.
Johnston ended his update by asking Ohio Countians to “be safe and have a good weekend, but be safe.”
To view Johnston’s full COVID-19 update, click here.