OWENSBORO, Ky. — Ohio County lost two more residents to COVID-19 related complications, according to today’s report from the Green River District Health Department. With today’s deaths, Ohio County has had at least five residents die during the Delta variant surge.
Overall, 61 Ohio Countians have died due to COVID-19 related complications. Currently, four Ohio Countians are in the hospital with COVID-19 related issues.
The GRDHD also reported Ohio County added 75 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases since Friday’s report. With today’s cases, Ohio County has gained 150 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last seven days and 273 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days. Ohio County’s seven-day average for new cases is an average of 21.4 new confirmed COVID-19 cases per day.
Elsewhere in the Green River District Tuesday, Sept. 7, the GRDHD reported a total of 766 new confirmed COVID-19 cases with 350 in Daviess County, 36 in Hancock County, 191 in Henderson County, 16 in McLean County, 72 in Ohio County, 47 in Union County and 54 in Webster County.
In addition to the death of two Ohio Countians, there were three other deaths in the district, one resident of Hancock County, one resident of Henderson County and one resident of Union County.
The current seven-day average for new cases in the seven-county district is 175.3 new cases a day. The newly reported cases were investigated between Sept. 3-6.
There have been 30,6060 reported COVID-19 cases in the district to date.
There have been 461 COVID-19 related deaths in the district.
The state of Kentucky is currently reporting 592,489 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 7,845 statewide deaths.
“We are seeing the highest incidence rates of COVID-19 we have ever seen,” said Clay Horton, GRDHD Public Health Director. “The rates of infection in our area are among the highest in the country and world. 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. Wearing a mask when in public or around people you don’t live with is an effective way to reduce spread. If you are not yet vaccinated, go get vaccinated today. If you have to be in indoor public spaces, wear a mask. If you are around many people right now, you should assume you are being exposed to the virus and do everything you can to protect yourself.”
Ohio County’s percentage of vaccinations remains very low at 35.69%. Ohio County is near the bottom of the seven-county Green River District when it comes to vaccinations with only Union County ranking lower. Ohio County also ranks near the bottom of the state in vaccinations.
The Delta variant of COVID-19 is much more dangerous and more easily spread. Those who haven’t gotten vaccinated, or only received one of a two-shot vaccination, should strongly reconsider.
GRDHD COVID-19 Vaccine & Testing Availability
All persons age 12 or older are eligible for Pfizer and all persons age 18 and older are eligible for Moderna. Visit healthdepartment.org or call your local county health department to be placed on our scheduling list.
CDC recommends that anyone with any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 get tested, regardless of vaccination status or prior infection. If you get tested because you have symptoms or were potentially exposed to the virus, you should stay away from others pending test results and follow the advice of your healthcare provider or a public health professional. Green River District Health
Department is offering free COVID-19 testing. To schedule an appointment, visit the GRDHD website, healthdepartment.org, and follow the COVID-19 Test prompts or call your local county health department. You must be pre-registered to be tested.
Kentucky residents can visit vaccine.ky.gov to find a vaccine location and sign-up for update notifications. Additional COVID-19 vaccine information can be found at vaccines.gov.
Retail pharmacies and health centers are also providing COVID-19 vaccinations.
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.
Owensboro Health – You can make a new COVID-19 vaccination appointment online at owensborohealth.org/vaccine or by calling central scheduling at 270-685-7100.
Deaconess in Henderson County and Union County – COVID-19 vaccine information can be found at https://www.deaconess.com/Coronavirus/COVID-19-Vaccine.
Ohio County Healthcare – To schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment visit https://ochcares.com/COVID or call 270-215-9082 Monday through Friday from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm.
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: 41
Age Range: 5 days to 102 years old
Male: 47.1%
Female: 52.9%
Additional COVID-19 Guidance
A person is considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. If you don’t meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. Keep taking all precautions until you are fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business, and workplace guidance. Fully vaccinated people can refrain from testing following a known exposure unless they are residents or employees of a correctional or detention facility or a homeless shelter. For additional guidance go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated.html. 24319
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 health care 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 individuals 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.