OWENSBORO, Ky. — Ohio County continues its alarming rise in new confirmed COVID-19 cases, but what’s more frightening is the current rise in COVID-19 related deaths in Ohio County.
Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, the Green River District Health Department reported 187 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases with 103 in Daviess County, two in Hancock County, 26 in Henderson County, eight in McLean County, 30 in Ohio County, 12 in Union County and six in Webster County. The COVID-19 related deaths were 4 residents of Daviess County and 2 residents of Ohio County.
- There have been 9,981 reported COVID-19 cases in the district to date.
- The district-wide total of recovered cases is now 7,416 (74 percent).
- 43 reported confirmed cases are currently hospitalized.
- 555 (6 percent) have required hospitalization.
- There have been 186 COVID-19 related deaths in the district.
- The state of Kentucky is currently reporting 209,136 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2,118 statewide deaths.
Ohio County adds 30 new confirmed COVID-19 cases to its total, which now stands at 1,258. Of those 1,258 total COVID-19 cases, 867 patients have recovered or died.
In just one day, Ohio County has added 18 active confirmed COVID-19 cases to its total. Ohio County currently has 391 active COVID-19 cases with 11 of those patients hospitalized.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 81 Ohio Countians hospitalized with COVID-19 related complications. With today’s deaths, 23 Ohio Countians have died from COVID-19 related complications.
Ohio County Schools has added a new confirmed COVID-19 case since yesterday’s report. OC Schools has had a total of 64 confirmed COVID-19 cases since school started. Of those 64 cases, 45 have recovered from the disease. Of the 45 recoveries, 26 were staff members and 19 were students. Of the student recoveries, 16 were in-person learning students and three were remote/virtual learning students.
Currently, OC Schools has 19 active confirmed COVID-19 cases, with nine cases being staff members and 10 cases being students. The nine staff member cases consist of one Beaver Dam Elementary staff member, two Ohio County High School staff members, one Render Center staff member, four Wayland Elementary staff members and one district staff member.
Of the 10 student cases, two are from Beaver Dam Elementary, one is from Fordsville, two are from OCHS, one is from the Ohio County Middle School, one is from Southern Elementary, two are from Wayland Elementary and one is from Western Elementary. All of the student confirmed COVID-19 cases are in-person learning 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: 45.1 percent
Female: 54.9 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.