OWENSBORO, Ky. — Ohio County continues to add new confirmed COVID-19 cases at a frustratingly, alarming rate and today, the Green River District Health Department reports another resident has died due to COVID-19 related issues.
Today, Dec. 5, 2020, the GRDHD reported 223 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases with 116 in Daviess County, eight in Hancock County, 36 in Henderson County, nine in McLean County, 34 in Ohio County, eight in Union County and 12 in Webster County.
Including an Ohio County resident, there were four COVID-19 related deaths in the Green River District in today’s report. They were a resident of Daviess County, a resident of McLean County, a resident of Ohio County and a resident of Webster County.
- There have been 9,367 reported COVID-19 cases in the district to date.
- The district-wide total of recovered cases is now 7,033 (75 percent).
- 48 reported confirmed cases are currently hospitalized.
- 540 (6 percent) have required hospitalization.
- There have been 162 COVID-19 related deaths in the district.
- The state of Kentucky is currently reporting 194,193 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2,039 statewide deaths.
With today’s report of 34 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, for the week, Ohio County has added 223 cases to the county’s total since the start of the pandemic. This week’s number of added COVID-19 cases blows away last week’s 95 new cases. Ohio County now has had a total of 1,176 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 812 of those patients having recovered or died.
Currently, Ohio County has 364 active confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of those active cases, 11 Ohio Countians are hospitalized. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 76 Ohio Countians have been hospitalized with COVID-19 related issues. With today’s death, OHio County has lost two residents this week and 18 total residents since the beginning of the pandemic.
Since yesterday’s report, Ohio County Schools has gained eight new confirmed COVID-19 cases bringing their total cases to 58. Of those 58 cases, 41 patients have recovered, leaving 17 current active confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of the 41 recovered cases, 22 were staff members and 19 were students with 16 of those students being in-person students and three remote/virtual students.
Of the 17 active COVID-19 cases, 10 are staff members and seven are students. The 10 staff member cases consist of one Beaver Dam Elementary staff member, four Ohio County High School staff members, three Wayland Elementary staff members and two district staff members.
The seven student cases consist of one Beaver Dam Elementary student, one Fordsville Elementary student, one OCHS student, one Ohio County Middle School student, one Southern Elementary student and two Wayland Elementary students. All of the active student cases are in-person students.
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.