SALYERSVILLE – Over 100 more cases of COVID-19 were reported in Magoffin County in less than a week.
To date, 490 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Magoffin County (104 up from last press day, six days ago), with 131 of the cases still active (in isolation), 359 recovered, 13 hospitalized and six deaths.
On Tuesday, 11 new positive cases have been reported as of press time, with four of the new cases from the nursing home. On Monday, 15 cases were reported, six on Sunday and 21 on Saturday.
Though the Magoffin County Health Department’s records indicate some new cases at the nursing home, data on the Salyersville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center has not been updated at the state level in the past week, still showing (according to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services’ long-term care and other congregate facilities update from November 23) the nursing home has had 45 residents test positive and 27 staff to date. Of those, 19 residents and 11 staff have reportedly recovered, 21 residents and 16 staff are currently active, and 5 residents have died in relation to the COVID-19 virus.
As the governor released recommendations for churches to move back to virtual and alternative methods of worship, as they had earlier in the pandemic, several local churches have had multiple cases, including 23 positive from Half Mountain Church since last week.
Magoffin County Director of Public Health and Salyersville Mayor James “Pete” Shepherd said they have closed Salyersville City Hall and other local government offices are moving into doing business via telephone and drop boxes, noting that they are working to cut down on places where people can congregate.
Last Wednesday, Governor Andy Beshear announced steps the state is taking for the next few weeks, including closing all inside seating in restaurants and further limiting other venues and personal gatherings. For Thanksgiving, the state is recommending no more than two households come together, with no more than eight people total, in order to curb the spread of the virus.
While Magoffin County remains in the red classification, along with all but four Kentucky counties, Shepherd urged the community to abide by the state health officials recommendations, asking people to keep their family Thanksgiving gatherings to a minimum and staying within their current circle of contacts.
As a reminder, for people who have had direct contact with a person who has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, people are asked to self-quarantine for 14 days from the date they had contact with the person and to consider getting tested after five days from contact or if symptoms arise.
Local hospitals are reporting to health departments they are at 70-to-80% capacity currently, a number that is concerning given the ongoing spike in cases throughout the region.
Pikeville Medical Center announced last week in the governor’s address that they are nearing capacity, stating the next step would be to ship out patients if they reach their capacity limit. Currently, PMC is the predominant location local citizens needing hospitalization due to COVID-19 are sent.
