HARTFORD, Ky. — Ohio County Clerk Bess Ralph announced on her Facebook page that her office will be closed this week, July 26-30, 2021. Ralph recently learned three of her employees have tested positive for COVID-19. The clerk’s office will be sanitized every day this week to protect employees and the citizens of Ohio County.
“I appreciate your patience and understanding,” Ralph said in the Facebook post.
The shutdown comes after an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases over the last several weeks. Ohio County added 49 new COVID-19 cases in the last week as of Friday’s report from the Green River District Health Department. Currently, three Ohio Countians have been hospitalized due to COVID-19 complications, and since the start of the pandemic, 56 Ohio Countians have died due to COVID-19 related complications.
With the Delta variant of COVID-19 becoming more prevalent, those who haven’t gotten vaccinated, or only received one of a two-shot vaccination, should strongly reconsider.
“We are seeing an alarming rise in our incidence of new COVID-19 cases,” said Clay Horton, GRDHD Public Health Director. “We are on track to see a doubling in the number of new cases for the second week in a row. The best way to protect yourself and those you love is to get vaccinated against COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and highly effective. 91% of the most recent cases in our district are in unvaccinated individuals. If you are not yet fully vaccinated, at higher risk or work in a high traffic public job, like retail or dining, continue to wear a mask when in indoor public spaces. If you are not vaccinated against COVID-19 yet, get vaccinated immediately.”