Even with NTI days still taking place, schools from around the area are already beginning their unique graduation ceremonies for the class of 2020. Yesterday, students from Central Hardin and Elizabethtown High Schools took part in ceremonies designed to promote social distancing. Central Hardin students drove through the athletic complex, where friends and family could see their student walk across a stage to receive their diploma. Elizabethtown High School seniors participated in a ceremony yesterday, allowing one student at a time to enter the gym to walk across the stage. Graduations for North and John Hardin, as well as Hardin County High School, will take place later this week and next.
The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Trenton man Monday morning after a traffic stop for speeding. Upon contact with the driver, 35-year-old Jonathan Perdue, officers noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Investigation revealed that Perdue did not have a valid driver’s license, and was in fact suspended for driving on his third DUI. Perdue failed field sobriety tests, and his vehicle was searched, revealing the presence of synthetic marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and over ten grams of methamphetamine. Perdue was charged with several traffic and drug related offences including possession and trafficking. His two passengers, Ashley Pratt of Lexington and Jonathan McCoy of Cadiz were also charged with drug-related offences. All three were lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.
A Hardin County patient within the Lincoln Trail District Health Department has died as a result of COVID-19. In a press release yesterday, the health department confirmed the second COVID-19 related fatality, as well as the presence of new cases within Hardin and Nelson counties. In his most recent press conference, Governor Beshear announced that the patient in question was a 66-year-old female. Officials say that while the numbers are not as high as in recent weeks, residents should still adhere to health and safety guidelines. 115 total cases have been confirmed in the department’s region, with 106 of those cases either in home isolation or having been released.
In his evening press conference last night, Governor Andy Beshear announced that there are now at least 5,245 cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth. Of these cases, 163 were newly confirmed. It is believed that 1,921 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, however there were eight new deaths reported on Monday, bringing the state’s total to 261. As the first phase of Healthy at Work begins to roll out next week, this Wednesday will see the beginning of Phase Two of healthcare reopening in the state. This next phase will include outpatient and ambulatory surgery and invasive procedures. However, these procedures must still follow new rules and guidelines set by the state and the Kentucky Department for Public Health, including required personal protective equipment, closed common areas, and specific procedure guidance. Also, the Governor announced a partnership with Saint Elizabethtown Healthcare to bring expanded testing to Erlanger and other locations in Northern Kentucky.
As the state begins phase one of reopening, local healthcare facilities have crafted their plan for re-launching their full line of services. Beginning this week, Hardin Memorial Health will start outpatient diagnostic radiology and lab services at the main campus and offsite locations. Select outpatient services, including some elective surgeries, will resume later this week in addition to other invasive procedures. HMH says they hope to return to normal volumes for in-patient surgeries by late May or early June.