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Friday, March 6, 2020

Message from the mayor: Local officials work together to prepare for covid-19, the coronavirus disease

By Grayson Vandegrift
Mayor, City of Midway

Thursday I attended a meeting concerning covid-19 (the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus) at the Woodford County Health Department. About 35 officials from around the county, including first responders and medical professionals both state and local, were in attendance. We are working together as a community to be prepared in case our community is affected.

For now, it’s important to practice the same hygiene we do for the flu: wash your hands, cover your cough, keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth. If you are sick, stay home. Please do not purchase masks; they are ineffective without proper fitting, and are sorely needed in medical facilities and nursing homes. There is no reason at all to panic, but it’s always good to be prepared. Should the virus make its way into our community we will be ready to make responses and will alert the public regularly.


Health officials who spoke to us, as well as our local pharmacist, Ken Glass, have said the majority of people coming into contact with the virus are experiencing symptoms similar to a bad cold, or a lighter flu. There is an increased risk to immune-compromised individuals, but again, there are currently no cases in Kentucky, and even if there are to be, we won’t need to panic then, either; we’ll just need to work together and take the necessary steps to prevent illness and promote health.


Beware of news sources that tend to sensationalize anything, particularly unfamiliar sources prevalent on social media sites. Refer to sites for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and federal health pages. You can also follow the county health department page on Facebook by typing “Woodford County Health Department KY” in your search bar. Additionally, you can learn more about the virus and local preparedness by visiting woodfordcounty.ky.gov/Pages/covid-19.aspx.


Should any future updates need to be made, I will make them promptly. Stay healthy and enjoy the beautifully changing weather if you’re able.

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