Kissick to city: Clark was on ‘good stretch’ for COVID cases

Published 12:03 pm Friday, July 24, 2020

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After four consecutive days with no new COVID cases, four more were confirmed Tuesday and two more Wednesday.

Still, Clark County Public Health Director Becky Kissick said Clark County was still in a good place during a Winchester Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday.

“We are thankful it is still a single digit number,” Kissick told the commission.

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That was before the department reported 14 new cases Thursday.

At the time of the meeting, in total, there had been 183 cases in Clark County, with 156 confirmed and 27 listed as probable. The difference, she said, is a probable comes after a rapid test that checks for antigens associated with the coronavirus. A confirmed case is one where further testing confirmed the presence of the actual virus, she said.

“Out of 120 counties, we are faring OK,” she said. “We want to give folks in this community a true picture of where we are.”

Recent trends have seen the ages of Clark County’s COVID patients drop, she said. Overall, the county’s patients average 55.9 years of age, she said. When the patients from Fountain Circle Health and Rehabilitation are removed, though, the average age drops to 44.5 years.

“We’re seeing our cases trend younger,” she said.

As local health officials have been tasked with enforcing the governor’s mask restrictions, Kissick said the department has taken an educational tack when dealing with complaints and businesses.

“Most people have been very receptive,” she said.

Wearing a mask, she said, is encouraged unless a person can absolutely guarantee they will not be within six feet of another person. Kissick said she encourages Health Department employees to wear them, even in the halls of the department.

“If you can not assure that six feet of social distancing … we err on the side of caution,” she said.

Tuesday’s meeting was hosted on the city’s Facebook page and on Zoom, owing to Gov. Andy Beshear’s recent decision to limit public gatherings to 10 people.

In other action the commissioners:

— reviewed documents from Winchester Public Works about the 2021 crack fill and seal program and the paving and milling program.

— approved the fiscal year 2021 paving list from Winchester Public Works. Commissioner Shannon Cox included a maximum of $334,500, the budgeted amount, as part of the motion.

— approved the list of alley improvement recommendations from Winchester Public Works.

— approved first reading of an ordinance amendment to add swimming pools, temporary storage containers, excess vines and pressure washing to code enforcement.

— approved the first reading of an ordinance amendment about fire hydrant rental fees.

— approved the first reading of an ordinance to increase penalties for parking violations.

— approved a request from Peoples Exchange Bank to remove four parking spaces on East Washington Street.

— appointed Tim Smith to a three-year term on the Main Street Winchester board.

— reappointed Robert Blanton and Meredith Guy to a three-year terms on the Main Street Winchester board.

— renewed the city’s self-insured health plan.

— approved and engineering agreement with Palmer Engineering for the Royal Oaks lawn ponding study.

— reclassified Austin Lancaster and Chris Harms from firefighter I/EMT to firefighter II/EMT.

— accepted the resignation of firefighter III/paramedic Brian Hart.

— accepted the retirement of fire marshal Gary Henry.

About Randy Patrick

Randy Patrick is a reporter for Bluegrass Newsmedia, which includes The Jessamine Journal. He may be reached at 859-759-0015 or by email at randy.patrick@bluegrassnewsmedia.com.

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