Coronavirus Information
COVID-19 VACCINE INTEREST FORM
We are glad that people are expressing interest in getting the COVID-19 vaccine. We ask for your patience as we complete the phases of the vaccine process. If you live in Montgomery County, please use the link below to be placed on the Vaccine Interest List. This list will help us plan ahead for who and how many people intend to get vaccinated and we will call people in order as vaccine supplies arrive.
Montgomery County Has Had A Total Of 2,364 COVID-19 Cases
As of Monday, March 15 at 6 pm, Montgomery County has had 2,364 confirmed cases of COVID-19 to date. 13 were active and 2,324 had recovered. The county has also reported 27 COVID-19 related deaths.
The latest residents to test positive are following all guidelines for isolation. Everyone who was in close contact with the individuals has been contacted to inform them they may have been exposed and to ask if they have experienced any symptoms. Additional details about the specific individuals cannot be provided because of medical privacy laws.
The public is advised to observe social distancing guidelines and to practice public health prevention by wearing a mask, washing hands frequently, containing coughs and sneezes, and staying home when ill.
Executive Order 2020-586 requires face coverings to be worn in most indoor public places.
Free drive-through COVID-19 testing is now available. The first step to get tested is to call the Montgomery County Health Department at 859-497-2448 from 8 am-12 pm and 1-4:30 pm Monday-Wednesday. A nurse will ask you a few questions about your health.
You will then be given an appointment, along with specific instructions on location and time. Testing is available even if you don’t have symptoms.
The Health Department can confirm that more than 3,400 residents have been tested for COVID-19 to date. The actual number is higher since all positive tests must be reported, but not all negative tests have been.
Kentucky is reporting all cases of COVID-19 and is working to make all communities where cases reside aware. The Montgomery County Health Department is working closely with the Kentucky Department for Public Heath to monitor signs of illness in the community; assess patients; and keep the public safe and informed.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states this is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation in the United States. The CDC will provide updated information and guidance as it becomes available.
Reopening information can be found at www.healthyatwork.ky.gov.
For an article that explains “Flattening the Curve” and how social distancing helps slow the spread of disease, click here.
To watch the video message from the Kentucky Department for Public Health, click here.
To read the letter to parents from Montgomery County Schools, click here.
What is Coronavirus?
The disease caused by this new, or novel, coronavirus is named “coronavirus disease 2019”, which is abbreviated as “COVID-19”.
Media reports about cases of COVID-19 are referring to patients who have tested positive for this strain of coronavirus.
Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure and include fever, cough and shortness of breath.
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The Kentucky Department for Public Health has issued health tips for when to seek care. These include:
• Stay home – If you are worried, but well, please stay home. Going to a hospital or doctor’s office for information could overwhelm medical staff.
• Call for advice – If you are ill, but wouldn’t have sought care if not for worry about COVID-19, do not seek care at an ER, hospital or doctor’s office. If you want advice on whether your symptoms require a visit to a healthcare provider, call your local healthcare provider or the Kentucky state hotline.
• Seek care – If you are sick and feel you have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or seek medical care. Be sure to inform medical staff of your symptoms in advance.
How to Be Prepared
The CDC provides regular guidance regarding travel. You can find this info at cdc.gov/travel.
CDC currently recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to China. Other guidance for other countries is available on the website.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus and CDC recommends the same everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:
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- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- 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.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Observe regular handwashing guidelines.
- Follow CDC recommendations for using a facemask.
Early information out of China, where COVID-19 first started, shows that some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness. This includes:
• Older adults
• People who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease
If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or because you have a serious long-term health problem, it is extra important for you to take actions to reduce your risk of getting sick with the disease.
If you are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, you should:
• Stock up on supplies, including madications.
• Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others.
• When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and wash your hands often.
• Avoid crowds as much as possible.
• Avoid cruise travel and non-essential air travel.
• During a COVID-19 outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible to further reduce your risk of being exposed.
Local Reponse
The CDC advises that more cases of COVID-19 are likely to be identified in the coming days, including more cases in the United States. It’s also likely that person-to-person spread will continue to occur, including in the US.
The Montgomery County Health Department has been working with local healthcare providers to help ensure everyone is on alert for identification and isolation of any possible cases of COVID-19.
Also, they have issued information to local healthcare providers recommending they remind all staff of their facility’s respiratory protection program and Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) policies.
The personal protective equipment recommended for COVID-19 is the same as those for droplet precautions which is: gloves, gown, face shield/goggles, and a N95 mask. This is not needed nor recommended by the CDC for the general population.
If a case is identified, following PPE policies is important to healthcare providers to keep from spreading the virus to others, and to keep those heath care professionals well and able to treat others.
Healthcare providers have also been given information about when and how to contact public health officials if a case of COVID-19 is suspected.
The Montgomery County Health Department will continue to keep you informed as updated information becomes available.
Because the flu is currently causing more complications than COVID-19 in our local area, Health Department officials remind you to get your flu shot and follow the guidelines listed for preventing the spread of respiratory disease, including washing your hands frequently.
For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC website at: www.cdc.gov/covid-19.
For a printable version of the coronavirus information flyer, click here.
