OWENSBORO, Ky. — Ohio County has lost its third resident of the week to COVID-19 complications, according to Friday’s report from the Green River District Health Department. The GRDHD reported the death of an Ohio Countian in both Tuesday’s report and Thursday’s report. Ohio County has had seven residents die this year and 37 have died since the beginning of the pandemic.
For the district this Friday, the GRDHD reported 131 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases with 73 in Daviess County, five in Hancock County, 18 in Henderson County, four in McLean County, 15 in Ohio County, 11 in Union County and five in Webster County. In addition to the death in Ohio County, three residents of Daviess County and a resident of Henderson County also died due to COVID-19 related complications.
- There have been 16,655 reported COVID-19 cases in the district to date.
- The district-wide total of recovered cases is now 12,491 (75%).
- 57 reported confirmed cases are currently hospitalized.
- 731 (4%) have required hospitalization.
- There have been 281 COVID-19 related deaths in the district.
- The state of Kentucky is currently reporting 338,034 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 3,301 statewide deaths.
With today’s 15 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, Ohio County becomes the third county in the district to pass 2,000 total cases. Ohio County has had a total of 2,011 confirmed COVID-19 cases with 1,499 of those patients having recovered. At this time, there are 512 active confirmed COVID-19 cases with six of those patients being hospitalized.
Ohio County Schools added two new confirmed COVID-19 cases since Thursday’s report. OC Schools has had a total of 163 confirmed COVID-19 cases since the start of the school year. Of those total cases, 125 have recovered with 66 patients being staff members and 59 patients being students. Of the student cases, 56 cases were in-person learning students and three were remote/virtual learning students.
OC Schools currently has 38 active confirmed COVID-19 cases with 17 being staff members and 21 being students. Of the active confirmed staff member cases, one is from Beaver Dam Elementary, three are from Fordsville Elementary, one is from Horse Branch Elementary, one is from Ohio County Middle School, six are from Southern Elementary, four are from Wayland Elementary and one is a district staff member.
Of the students active confirmed cases, one is from Horse Branch Elementary, seven are from Ohio County High School, four are from OCMS, eight are from Southern Elementary and one is from Western Elementary. All of the student cases are in-person learning 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.
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: 45.5%
Female: 54.5%
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.