Coronavirus cases continue to rise in region

By Lilly Adkins
BSN Associate Editor

Coronavirus cases continue to rise in areas throughout the Big Sandy region, but no new cases were reported in Lawrence and Martin counties as of press time Tuesday. Floyd County currently has 16 cases, with the latest case reported May 9, and Johnson County’s cases have jumped to five. Nearby Pike County has reported a total of 28 cases and Boyd County has reported 38 cases.Martin County has three confirmed cases and Lawrence County has one, but all of them have already gone through their 14-day self quarantine period and have since been released from isolation.On Monday, the Lawrence County Health Department reported that there have been 301 tests, with one positive result and 283 negative results. Results of 17 tests are pending.Statewide, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that there were at least 7,935 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, with 138 confirmed on Monday and 122 on Sunday.At least 2,785 Kentuckians have recovered from the virus, Beshear said, and 346 have died from the virus.While COVID-19 is mainly affecting the older population, another aspect of the illness affecting children is the Pediatric Multisymptom Inflammitory Syndrome (PMIS), a rare illness being seen in some children who have been infected with COVID-19.About a month after a coronavirus infection, children and teenagers with PMIS develop fever accompanied by abdominal pain and often, swollen hands, feet and lymph nodes, according to information released by the governor’s office.Beshear said two more children were ill with PMIS, a 5-year-old and an 11-year-old. It was previously reported that a 10-year-old and a 16-year-old were treated for the virus and that the 10-year-old is still hospitalized but improving.For those with concerns regarding PMIS, the Kentucky Pediatric COVID-19 Hotline (800-722-5725) staffed by Norton Children’s Hospital is prepared to answer questions about the illness.