Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson says a seventh coronavirus (COVID-19) case has been diagnosed in Grayson County.
Henderson said the Grayson County Health Department confirmed the diagnosis. The judge was sure to note that the latest COVID-19 victim is not a resident of Grayson Nursing & Rehabilitation (commonly known as Grayson Manor).
Officials are currently contacting those who have been exposed to the patient. No details regarding the patient’s age or gender has yet been released. UPDATE: The victim is a 67-year-old male, according to Henderson.
In his statement on the latest positive test, Henderson said, “Please follow social distancing steps as outlined by the CDC. We will continue to update the community daily. Remember to continue to follow all the guidelines and treat everyone as if they have the virus. Be cautious but, not fearful. Everyone continue to pray that the Lord will heal our country.”
This diagnosis marks the fourth person in Grayson County to test positive for COVID-19 since Saturday morning.
At a COVID-19 briefing Wednesday morning, Henderson said a 96-year-old male resident of Grayson Nursing & Rehabilitation has tested positive for the virus. The victim arrived at the facility “about a week ago,” according to Henderson.
The resident has been under observation since his arrival, with the staff responsible for caring for the resident abiding by Center for Disease Control and Prevention care guidelines. The patient has had no contact with other residents in the 72-bed facility.
Henderson said the patient, now in critical condition, has been transferred to Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Of course, nursing homes in Kentucky have suffered great losses during the coronavirus pandemic. According to Gov. Andy Beshear, over 210 nursing home residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Thirty-three nursing home residents have perished from the virus.
Grayson County Nursing & Rehabilitation released the following statement to residents and family:
Grayson Nursing and Rehab is concerned for the ongoing welfare, safety, and health of our residents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring the outbreak of a new virus, COVID-19. The people most likely to become severely ill from COVID-19 are older adults and those with underlying medical conditions.
This letter is to alert you that on April 14, 2020, we learned that one of our residents developed COVID-19. We are actively monitoring our residents for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and are working with our local and state health departments.
All of our staff members continue to follow the CDC’s recommendations to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. These include strict handwashing procedures, and in many circumstances, wearing facemasks, gowns and gloves when interacting with residents who are sick.
To minimize the risk of our residents becoming sick with COVID-19, we are suspending all visits to Grayson Nursing and Rehab. This decision is being made in accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. We understand that connecting with family members is important. Other ways to connect include telephone, email, text or through Skype or Facebook.
For the most up-to-date information on this topic, please visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/covid19.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 155 people in Grayson County have been tested for COVID-19, with 128 tests being negative and 20 pending. Seven people tested positive for the virus; two of the victims have recovered.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
