Today we are happy to report no new deaths.  We have one new case, a 59-year-old male in Adair County. We didn’t release anyone from isolation today.

The Lake Cumberland area has experienced 205 Cumulative Confirmed Cases and there have been 7,689 Confirmed COVID-19 cases across 114 Kentucky Counties as of 05/17/20 (this includes 7,688 statewide plus 1 recently reported case in Lake Cumberland not in the Governor’s daily report). Regardless of the confirmed case count for any Lake Cumberland County, we believe COVID-19 to be widespread.  LCDHD is working to identify and contact all those with whom any positive case may have come into close contact.

We are receiving many reports of people not complying with safety guidelines. Some mistakenly equate the fact that things are starting to reopen with the assumption that the situation is now safe. Some think the Coronavirus situation was overblown. Some are just restless and ready for things to be normal.  For those interested in protecting the safety of themselves and their families, remember, avoiding crowds as much as possible is your best way to reduce your risk. Add to this the washing of your hands with soap and water often and thoroughly, the wearing of a mask when out in public, staying home if you have a fever or are coughing, the increasing of sanitation, and the avoidance of touching your face, to further reduce your risk.