Active cases and mask complaints increase

Photo by Kaitlyn Wilson Employees at the South Fork Medical doctor’s office in Whitley City worked hard through the summer heat to test McCreary County citizens for COVID-19 in an effort to combat the rising number of active cases. This free service was offered through a partnership with the Lake Cumberland Health Department, the McCreary County Fiscal Court, and South Fork Medical.

Voice Staff Report
editor@tmcvoice.com

McCreary County has seen an increase in Coronavirus cases, now at 7 active cases, as the county businesses and citizens grapple with the face covering mandate from Governor Beshear. The Lake Cumberland Health Department has received approximately 10 complaints concerning businesses and or customers not wearing face masks. The health department has followed up on all the complaints and provided education regarding the Governor’s order requiring face coverings. All stores, including ‘non-confrontational’ stores, are included in the same guidance from the Governor’s office, if they do not comply they may be subject to warnings, fines, or closings. The store is told to contact local law enforcement if a customer becomes angry or frustrated for not complying and not to put themselves in danger by enforcing the order.
The County’s cumulative total Covid-19 cases is 28. The State has also experienced an increase in daily cases bringing about Governor Beshear’s decision to re-institute restrictions on bars, restaurants and large gatherings.
The Lake Cumberland 10 County District is experiencing an increase in active cases, now at 227 active cases bringing the cumulative total number of cases to 966. Of those active cases, 47 are asymptomatic and 8 cases are hospitalized. The District has experienced a total of 37 deaths.
Pulaski and Casey Counties have had a significant increase in cases, Pulaski is reporting 62 active cases and Casey County is reporting 56 current cases. Adair and Taylor each report 23 active cases, Clinton with 7, Cumberland has 17, Green with 3, Russell reports 17 cases and Wayne County reports 13 active cases.

Scott County Tennessee is reporting 40 active cases and a cumulative total of 67 Covid-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic.
Statewide, across all 120 counties, 28,126 total cases have been reported with 719 deaths as of Tuesday evening. The increasing rate of new cases caused Governor Beshear to re-institute restrictions. Bars will be closed for two weeks, restaurants will be limited to 25% capacity indoors with no restrictions on outside dining adhering to 6 foot distancing. Schools are asked to delay the start of in-person classes until the third week of August.
A travel advisory was issued with a recommended 14 day self-quarantine for travelers who went to states reporting a positive testing rate equal to or greater than 15%. Those states are Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Mississippi, Idaho, Arizona, Nevada and Texas.
Dr. Deborah Birx of the Coronavirus Task Force met with State leaders Sunday to discuss the uptick in cases in Kentucky. She said their recommendation included “100 percent of people should be wearing masks in any indoor public space.” She went on to say that anyone who has been in an area where the virus is significant should be wearing a mask.

For more information about the virus in this area go to www.lcdhd.org or www.ky.covid19.ky.gov.