OWENSBORO, Ky. — A second Ohio County resident has died this week due to COVID-19 related complications, according to the Green River District Health Department. The first Ohio County death this week was reported Tuesday. With today’s death, Ohio County has had 36 residents die due to COVID-19 complications since the start of the pandemic.
The GRDHD also reported the Ohio County gained 15 new confirmed COVID-19 cases.
For the district, the GRDHD reported 235 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases with 132 in Daviess County, 14 in Hancock County, 44 in Henderson County, seven in McLean County, 15 in Ohio County, 17 in Union County and six in Webster County. Both Daviess County and Hancock County also lost a resident to COVID-19 related complications, in addition to Ohio County, totaling three deaths for the district.
- There have been 16,524 reported COVID-19 cases in the district to date.
- The district-wide total of recovered cases is now 12,264 (75 percent).
- 56 reported confirmed cases are currently hospitalized.
- 725 (4 percent) have required hospitalization.
- There have been 276 COVID-19 related deaths in the district.
- The state of Kentucky is currently reporting 334,321 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 3,243 statewide deaths.
With Ohio County’s 15 new confirmed COVID-19 added today, the total cases stand at 1,996 with 1,455 patients having recovered or died. Currently, Ohio County has 541 active confirmed cases of COVID-19 with seven of those patients having been hospitalized. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 98 Ohio Countians have been hospitalized.
Ohio County Schools has added another six new confirmed COVID-19 cases since yesterday’s report. OC Schools has had a total of 161 confirmed COVID-19 cases since school started. Of those total cases, 122 patients have recovered with 65 patients being staff members and 57 patients being students. Of the student recoveries, 53 were in-person learning students and three were remote/virtual learning students.
Currently, OC Schools has 39 active confirmed cases with 17 being staff members and 22 being students. Of the active staff member cases, one is from Beaver Dam Elementary, three are from Fordsville Elementary, one is from Horse Branch, one is from Ohio County Middle School, five are from Southern Elementary, four are from Wayland Elementary and two are district staff.
Of the active student cases, one is from Horse Branch, eight are from Ohio County High School, five are from OCMS, seven are from Southern Elementary and one is from Western Elementary.
All of the active student cases are in-person learning students.
OC Schools suspended in-person instruction at Southern Elementary through Jan. 29. Southern currently has 12 total active confirmed COVID-19 cases, the most of any school in the district.
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.
COVID-19 Vaccination Information & Green River District Vaccine Availability
Kentucky COVID-19 vaccine dashboard and information: https://govstatus.egov.com/ky-covid-vaccine
Kentucky COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline: 800-722-5725 can answer general COVID-19 vaccine questions.
Green River District Health Department is continuing to vaccinate healthcare workers and first responders. Please visit healthdepartment.org to register your organization.
COVID-19 vaccine information and availability at Owensboro Health can be found on their website owensborohealth.org/vaccine or by calling central scheduling at 270-685-7100.
Information on Covid-19 vaccine at Deaconess in Henderson County and Union County can be found here, https://www.deaconess.com/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Vaccine/COVID-Vaccine-Scheduling
Ohio County Healthcare is currently scheduling for patients 70 and older to receive the covid-19 vaccine. To schedule, individuals age 70 and older can call 270-215-9082 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
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: 44
Age Range: 1 month to 102 years old
Male: 45.4%
Female: 54.6%
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.