Wednesday’s pop-up COVID-19 testing identified four new cases of the virus. That brings Scioto County’s number of COVID-19 cases to 33. That’s an increase of 13 cases in just one week.
The Results Are In
The Ohio National Guard helped administer COVID-19 tests at the Compass Community Health Center on Wednesday. The tests were free and available to anyone who showed up.
Greg Gulker, of Compass Community Health, told SCDN he was very pleased with the turnout. The final number of tests performed was 354.
Governor Mike DeWine promised the test results would be back within 48 hours, and they were. Of the 354 people tested, four were positive.
Travel Blamed For Some Cases
Earlier in the week, Scioto County Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Martin linked six new cases to recent travel to Myrtle and Daytona Beach.
Dr. Martin said people should reconsider travel to these areas. If you do travel, you should avoid large crowds, practice social distancing, wear a mask in public, and wash your hands often.
County Commissioner Cathy Coleman questioned the link to Myrtle Beach. On a recent visit to the area, she said she observed businesses and citizens following social distancing practice more closely than back home in Scioto County. “I find it hard to believe that they can identify that they picked it up on their trip. Who knows if they got it from here before they left?”
Yesterday, the Kentucky Public Health Officials asked anyone who’d traveled to Myrtle Beach in the past 14 days to voluntarily self-quarantine for two weeks.
The Portsmouth City and Scioto County Health Departments are conducting contact tracing and isolation protocol for the new cases.
SOCF Cases
According to the County EMA, Three Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF) employees have tested positive for the COVID19 virus. Additionally, 11 inmates are currently quarantined and 3 other inmates awaiting test results.
