OWENSBORO, Ky. — Coming out of the Christmas holiday, the Green River District Health Department is reporting another COVID-19 related death for Ohio County. Ohio County had gone around three weeks without losing a resident to COVID-19. With today’s reported death, 91 Ohio Countians have died due to COVID-19 related complications.
Elsewhere in the Green River District for Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, the GRDHD reported 732 new confirmed COVID-19 cases with 354 in Daviess County, 41 in Hancock County, 126 in Henderson County, 21 in McLean County, 85 in Ohio County, 59 in Union County and 46 in Webster County.
In addition to the one COVID-19 related death for Ohio County, five residents of Daviess County and one resident of McLean County also died.
The current seven-day average for new cases in the seven-county district is now 108 new cases a day.
The newly reported cases were investigated between Dec. 21-27.
- There have been 42,495 reported COVID-19 cases in the district to date.
- There have been 694 COVID-19 related deaths in the district.
- The state of Kentucky is currently reporting 846,379 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 12,074 statewide deaths.
“We are again seeing rising incidence rates of COVID-19,” said Clay Horton, GRDHD Public Health Director. “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 are already vaccinated and it is time, get a booster shot. If you must be in indoor public spaces, wear a mask. Most importantly, if you are feeling sick, stay home and don’t infect others.”
This will be the last report from the GRDHD this year with the next one coming Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. In 2021, Ohio County added 3,618 confirmed COVID-19 cases of its 5,126 total. Of the 91 Ohio County deaths, 61 came in 2021. Of total hospitalizations, 97 of the 186 hospitalizations occurred in 2021. Hopefully, all of those numbers will decrease in the new year.
Ohio County’s percentage of vaccinations still remains very low at 42.64%. Ohio County’s vaccination rate is the lowest rate in the seven-county Green River District and one of the lowest rates in the state.
GRDHD COVID-19 Vaccine & Testing Availability
All persons aged 5 or older are eligible for Pfizer and all persons aged 18 and older are eligible for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. COVID-19 vaccine booster shots are now available. 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.
GRDHD 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.
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: 40
Age Range: 5 days to 104 years old
Male: 46.9%
Female: 53.1%
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. If you have COVID-19 like symptoms you should get tested regardless of vaccination status. If you are fully vaccinated and have a close exposure with someone that is infected (tested positive for COVID-19) you do not need to quarantine as long as you are asymptomatic but it is recommended that you get tested 3-5 days after the exposure.
For additional guidance go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully- vaccinated.html
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.