Amid the surge of coronavirus cases in Grayson County, the Grayson County Health Department (GCHD) announced Monday that the agency is now offering free COVID-19 tests.
The health department said free testing is available “for uninsured residents of Grayson County.”
Testing is by appointment only by calling 270-259-3141. Testing is limited to one person per appointment. The health department opens at 7:30 a.m. and closes at 4:00 p.m.
Five week surge shows no signs of abating
On Friday, GCHD Director Josh Embry reported 37 new cases of the virus were confirmed between Tuesday and Friday of last week, raising the county’s COVID-19 victim count to 937: one case per 28.8 residents.
Two new deaths were also reported, raising the county’s COVID-19 death toll to 27, and giving Grayson County five coronavirus-related deaths in an eight day period.
Illustrating the recent escalation of COVID cases, during the month of November, Grayson County confirmed over 350 cases of the virus, after recording 50 cases the last week of October. Those 400-plus cases represent nearly half of Grayson County’s 937 cases reported over the last eight months. Additionally, nine of Grayson County’s 27 COVID-19 deaths occurred in November.
The surge in cases has placed Grayson County securely in the “red,” signaling a “critical” spread of the virus within the community, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
