Rapid tests long way off for county

MOUNT VERNON — If and when Knox Public Health gets the rapid test for the coronavirus, it hopes to use them in a shared effort between other health providers.

Health Commissioner Julie Miller, speaking in her weekly update on COVID-19, said KPH and Knox Community Hospital currently do not have the rapid test. The test can tell if someone has been exposed to COVID-19 or are “infectious,” Miller said.

Miller said KPH and KCH will work together to determine how rapid tests can best be used, should they decide to use them. Miller said she hopes for a “community approach” to determine “what good” the rapid test can do for public health.

The state does not currently use rapid test results when reporting a case as confirmed. If someone has positive results for antibodies in a rapid test, they will need to be tested with a swab specimen kit. If the specimen test returns a positive finding for the virus, the test will be counted as a confirmed case.

There has not been a new positive or probable COVID-19 case reported for Knox County since May 6. The numbers, as of Wednesday afternoon, stand at 20 positive cases for COVID-19 in Knox County residents, with four probable cases.

Miller touched briefly on state orders for reopening of certain businesses formerly deemed non-essential under the governor’s stay-at-home order. Retail was permitted to reopen Tuesday, while tattoo parlors and massage parlors can reopen Friday. Outdoor dining at restaurants will also begin Friday, with dine-in reopening May 21. Miller noted that restrictions will be in place at restaurants for such things as permitted group sizes that can dine together, and recommended calling into the restaurant before heading out.

Miller said she has not received any further guidance from the state on county fairs and festivals. She said she believes there may be information coming next week.

Miller took a break from COVID-19 to discuss tick season. Anyone coming in from the woods or high grass should be checked for ticks, either checking themselves or, preferably, be checked by someone else.

When in the woods or high grass/weeds, boots, pants, socks and long sleeve shirts should be worn. Insect repellent for ticks should contain DEET, Miller said, and it is best to check for ticks before going back inside, if possible.

Miller noted that the deer tick, which carries Lyme Disease, is very small, only about the size of a poppy seed. If a tick has already bitten into the skin, it should be removed with tweezers inserted deep enough to remove the head along with the rest of the body. After the tick has been removed, wash the area with soap and water.

[nn]

Knox County COVID-19 Positive Cases

Results	Age	Gender	Tested in	Details	Current Status
March 20, 2020	28	Female	Franklin	Works in Franklin County; Not Hospitalized	Recovered
March 23, 2020	71	Male	Knox	Traveled from Florida; Hospitalized at KCH	Recovered
March 29, 2020	38	Male	Licking	Works in Franklin County	Recovered
March 30, 2020	72	Female	Franklin	Hospitalized at KCH	Recovered
April 1, 2020	90	Male	Florida	Hospitalized in Florida	Deceased
April 4, 2020	42	Male	Knox	Not Hospitalized	Recovered
April 5, 2020	72	Female	Knox	Exposed to a confirmed case in another county	Recovered
April 8, 2020	28	Male	Knox	Works in Marion County; Not hospitalized	Recovered
April 10, 2020	77	Female	Knox	No Known Exposure	Recovered
April 12, 2020	22	Female	Knox	Works in Knox and Franklin County	Recovered
April 15, 2020	54	Male	Knox	Works in Marion County	Recovered
April 19, 2020	37	Female	Knox	Works in Richland County	Recovered
April 21, 2020	39	Male	Knox	Exposure to another confirmed case	Recovered
April 22, 2020	54	Male	Knox	Works in Knox County	Recovered
April 23, 2020	45	Male	Knox	Healthcare worker in Marion County	Recovered
April 29, 2020	79	Female	Knox	Recently returned from Florida	Recovered
May 1, 2020	58	Male	Franklin	Works in Franklin County	Home Isolation
May 1, 2020	32	Male	Knox	Works in Franklin County	Recovered
May 3, 2020	30	Female	Knox	Works in Licking County	Recovered
May 6, 2020	56	Female	Knox	Healthcare worker in Mahoning and Knox County	Recovered

SOURCE Knox Public Health on May 14, 2020 at 10:20 a.m.