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New Death Reported in Adair County Saturday from COVID-19

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While the commonwealth celebrated news that no new deaths from COVID-19 were reported on the first day of the Memorial Day weekend, Adair County got word that there was a new death Saturday, an 85-year-old female who was a resident at Signature Healthcare at Summit Manor.

The Lake Cumberland District Health Department reported the death, and local and state reports often vary depending on when the state gets official information.

The Summit Manor resident had been released from isolation and was considered negative of the coronavirus but later succumbed to lingering complications of the disease, the LCDHD reported.

Five more people were released from isolation district-wide, bringing the total of confirmed cases that have recovered to 84 percent. On Friday, the district’s report included one new confirmed case in Taylor County, a 59-year-old female, and one person released from isolation.

Fortunately, Adair County only has three current cases and all three people are self-isolated and not hospitalized. The county has suffered the greatest loss in the 10-county Lake Cumberland district, losing 19 lives, all directly or indirectly related to the nursing home. Four people have died in Russell County and two have died in Pulaski County.

According to the LCDHD, it is being reported from all around the district that there are many people out and about, a significant number of whom are not wearing masks. Don’t forget that you can have and be spreading COVID-19 without even knowing you’re sick. Avoiding crowds as much as possible is your best way to reduce your risk. Wash your hands with soap and water often and thoroughly; wear a mask when out in public; stay home if you have a fever or are coughing; increase sanitation, and avoid touching your face to further reduce your risk.

LCDHD UPDATE FOR SATURDAY, MAY, 23, 2020:

Kentucky Students Eligible for New Emergency Food Benefits

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Adair County Students Qualify Because of Free Lunch Status

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 21, 2020) –  The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) and the Kentucky Department of Education are partnering to provide food assistance to families who have lost access to free or reduced-price school meals during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency.

Beginning May 23, Kentucky families with students who normally receive free or reduced-price meals at school may get financial assistance to replace those meals through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program, part of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

Gov. Andy Beshear said the funding will relieve the stress some families have felt because of school closings and the loss of support services like free and reduced meals.

“Providing essential services like food has been my administration’s priority during this challenging time,” Gov. Beshear said. “While schools and social services groups across the state have led the way to feed their families, this emergency nutrition assistance funding will help students make up for the loss of in-school meals and help provide the healthy foods that ensure more positive outcomes for children.”

The P-EBT program provides households an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card with benefits equal to the value of breakfasts and lunches a student was not able to receive during the days schools were closed. Households can use these benefits for grocery items eligible under the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP).

In Kentucky, DCBS administers SNAP, which is funded by the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service.

Households eligible for P-EBT include those whose children attend public or private school and are certified to receive free or reduced-price school meals and children who attend schools that offer free school meals to all students. Even if a school was able to provide some meals during this period, a household is still eligible for P-EBT benefits.

CHFS Secretary Eric Friedlander said the program provides a vital support to families during challenging economic times.

“No child should go hungry, and this program will help ensure Kentucky children have access to the nutrition they need,” he said. “Eligible families should register for this benefit and give kids the healthy boost they need.”

P-EBT benefits are entirely federally funded and will provide up to $163 million in food assistance to up to 500,000 qualifying children. The plan will provide each eligible student with up to $313.50 for the time period of March through May to help with nutritional support during the time that schools have been closed during the pandemic.

Department of Education Interim Commissioner Kevin C. Brown said that approximately 75 percent of Kentucky students receive free or reduced-price meals.

“Schools do more than just teach our children, they also help provide nourishment,” Brown said. “Students used to receive these meals at school, and now we can provide that benefit at home, too.”

Friedlander said P-EBT will also provide a boost to local economies. In 2019, Kentucky SNAP customers received more than $765 million in federal assistance that directly benefitted their communities and area businesses, including farmers.

Families who already receive assistance can receive P-EBT in addition to other benefits their household may get. Children who already receive SNAP, Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program assistance, Kinship Care or Medicaid will automatically receive P-EBT on their EBT cards and do not need to apply separately. P-EBT benefits will be added to existing EBT cards no later than May 28. Families of all other children must complete a short online application and will be mailed an EBT card with instructions on how to activate and use their card. The online application will be available June 2 through June 30 at www.benefind.ky.gov.

Students who became eligible for free or reduced lunch after March 13 are eligible for P-EBT.

The deadline for new households to apply is June 30. To apply for P-EBT, visit www.benefind.ky.gov.

Kentuckians applying for or awaiting benefits related to COVID-19 should be aware of scammers who may try to get your important personal information. Sensitive information sought by deceptive people includes Social Security numbers, bank information, electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card numbers or PIN number and more. No government agency will contact you asking for this information in order to approve your benefits unless you began the application process yourself. If you are unsure if a request is legitimate, contact the agency responsible for the benefits directly, and report the scam to your caseworker.

Learn more about P-EBT at https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/Pages/dcbscvres.aspx. Learn about SNAP and other DCBS assistance programs at https://chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs or by calling the DCBS Call Center at 1-855-306-8959.

One New Coronavirus Case Reported in Adair on Thursday

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The Lake Cumberland District Health Department reported on Thursday that a new case of the coronavirus was confirmed in Adair County. A 66-year-old male from Adair is believed to have contracted the virus in a way indirectly related to the nursing home and brings the county’s total of confirmed cases to 96.

There were no deaths reported in the district Thursday. Seven were released from home-isolation (recovered), so 82% of total confirmed cases in the district have recovered. Three other cases were reported in addition to the Adair County resident: a 60-year-old male, a 65-year-old female, and a 70-year-old male in Pulaski.

 

 

Free meal box for Adair County students

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Adair County Board of Education still wants to provide food and nutrition to students even during this time while school is closed, so they’re announcing a new program that will deliver meals at student doorsteps for free. This program is called Meals-to-you, and it is a partnership between Adair County School District, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Baylor University. Student(s) enrolled at Adair County Schools are eligible to participate in the program.

When a family signs up to get a Meals-to-you, every other week they’ll get a Meals-to-You box delivered to their home for each child 1-18 in the household. Each box will include 10 breakfasts and 10 lunches/suppers—enough food for each kid for two weeks.

All foods are shelf stable, which means there’s no worry about them expiring anytime soon. With Meals-to-you, kid-friendly meals are delivered—for FREE–directly to doors, eliminating worry about extra trips to the grocery store, money spent on food and time planning meals your kids will like.

 

If you no one is home when the box is delivered, no worries. The boxes are packed for security, and because the food is shelf stable, the foods don’t have to be refrigerated immediately. If no one is able to pick up their box(es) on a given day, a neighbor or family get it. Receiving this benefit will NOT affect any other existing benefits.

HOW TO SIGN UP: Fill out an online sign-up form and submit it as soon as possible. Access the online form by clicking this link:

https://mealstoyou.org/emergency-meals-to-you-application/.

Enrollment dates are May 26 through May 29. You must enroll online during this time period to receive the meals.

Boxes will be provided on a first come, first served basis, so sign up today. For questions or more information, please contact Adair County Board of Education at 270-384-2476, ext. 2003 or 2004. Also visit www.mealstoyou.org

Funeral homes resume services with regulations

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Among other reopenings, the funeral home business was allowed to resume services on Wednesday with restrictions and regulations from Gov. Andy Beshear.
Stotts-Phelps-McQueary Funeral Home and Grissom-Martin Funeral Home are abiding by these rules and regulations ordered by the governor and the following signage will also be visible at these local funeral homes. These businesses encourage the public to abide by these regulations so that they can continue to be able to serve the community and help keep it as healthy as possible.

Visitations and funerals are limited to 33 percent of the building’s occupancy capacity excluding officiants, clergy, and staff, while maintaining social distance of six feet for attendees.
Seating will be arranged that allows for social distancing of at least six feet for all services.

Continued use of live streaming social medial broadcasts is encouraged, as is the continued use of drive by visitations and drive in funerals.
Attendees at outdoor services must maintain the six feet of social distance if they are not of the same household. Attendees are, however, encouraged to stay in their vehicles.
Funeral home staff, clergy and attendees are encouraged to wear face coverings while attending services.

Restrooms are used by one person at a time and hand sanitizer, hand-washing facilities, tissues and waste basket are provided in convenient locations to the greatest extent possible.
The use of all common areas (i.e. foyers, lobbies, vending areas and community/multi-purpose rooms) is restricted if possible and should not provide communal food or beverages.
Handshaking, hand-holding and hugging is not encouraged.