Coronavirus has come to Scioto County. According to the Portsmouth City Health Department, the first positive test result came back today.
Despite reports circulating on social media about the identity of the person who tested positive, the health department declined to give any details about who had tested positive and asked that residents not call local health departments asking for details while they completed their investigation.
The Portsmouth City Health Department said they would notify all relevant individuals about the diagnosis.
Scioto County is one of the last counties in Ohio to reports a confirmed case of COVID-19.
(update) We have been told by a confirmed co-worker, this patient was self quarantined ahead of the diagnosis. Further, the co-worker stated, the patient had been tested Three Times before the virus was significant enough to trigger a positive diagnosis.
Lawrence County is reporting 7 cases, Pike County 1, and Adams County 1. Across the river in Greenup County, three additional positive results were reported today, bringing the county’s total to 7. The additional Greenup County cases are identified as a 67-year-old female, a 73-year-old female, and a 70-year-old male.
So far, our region has not been a hotspot for the disease. Cuyahoga County leads the state with 781 cases, followed by Franklin County with 557. There are now 3,739 cases of COVID-19 with 102 deaths reported.
The Portsmouth City Health Department urged residents not to panic and to continue observing the Governor’s stay-at-home order, practicing social distancing, and frequently washing their hands.
Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton said in today’s COVID-19 briefing from the Statehouse that there were many more cases of COVID-19 in the state than had been reported, mostly due to a lack of testing. She has long advised Ohioans to assume they have the virus and act accordingly by self-isolating and maintaining social distance.
New research showing that many people with the disease have no symptoms at all, prompted the CDC to advise all Americans to wear masks when they go out in public. Dr. Acton agreed saying, ” Many of us may never even know we have Coronavirus. When we’re out and about at the store, this can make a difference.”
