MARTIN COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES FIRST POSITIVE CONFIRMATION OF COVID-19

MARCH 23, 2020 – written by WADE QUEEN

The first case of COVID-19 corona virus in Martin County, Kentucky has been positively diagnosed.

The Martin County Health Department confirmed that there is a positive COVID-19 case in the county Monday afternoon on the department’s Facebook page.

Health officials stress that while the risk to the general public is low, the health department says it is working with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention and the Kentucky Department of Public Health to identify and contact every one of those who may have been in contact with the infected individual. Health officials say they all will be monitored for fever and respiratory symptoms due to being around the infected traveler.

Additional details about the patient are not being released at this time,  the Martin County Health Department said they could not give more information right now about the patient due to medical privacy laws.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear is expected to hold a news conference Monday at 5 P.M. to address the latest case count and talk about the state’s effort to control the virus.

Sunday night, Governor Andy Beshear said there were more than 100 confirmed cases in the commonwealth. He added that more than 2,000 test have been conducted and the average age of positive COVID-19 cases is around 53.

If local residents have any questions about the coronavirus in Kentucky, call the state COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-722-5725. Governor Beshear said the state hotline is getting about 2,400 calls a day.

You can also get the latest information, including things you can do to protect you and your family, by going to the state COVID-19 website here.