Deadly serious Grayson Co. Attorney says self-isolation after COVID-19 testing is key to stopping virus, promises forced quarantine order for those who do not comply

jeremy-logson-03-25
jeremy-logson-03-25

Grayson County Attorney Jeremy Logsdon spoke Tuesday morning at a briefing led by Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson and stressed the importance of self-isolation after undergoing a coronavirus test.

Using history as a guide, Logsdon warned citizens that not taking self-isolation steps will contribute to the propagation of the virus, and possibly legal action by his office, forcing self-quarantine.

“These are unprecedented times,” Logsdon said. “Not since the Civil War or the Spanish Flu of 1918 have we had to deal with such challenges. I’ve been inspired by the operations of several county officials, healthcare officials and private sector members who’ve really stepped up. We’re trying to do major prevention efforts and we’re trying to make sure that what’s (directives) coming down from the state is executed here locally so we can do what we’re supposed to be doing, which is ultimately save lives.”

Logsdon, aware that COVID-19 cases will most assuredly strike Grayson County, as Hardin County has two confirmed cases and nearby Muhlenberg, Daviess and Warren counties also have multiple confirmed cases, said preventing the spread of the virus once it (officially) arrives is the key to saving lives.

“With that in mind, what I came here to discuss is called self-isolation. The cases (of COVID-19) are not here yet, but you can be sure that they are on their way. You don’t have to study history to see what is coming our way. I’ve watched Italy (682 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon in a country of 60 million people) and I’ve watched Spain (2,926 deaths, 47 million population) very closely. That’s what we’re trying to prevent; numerous deaths.”

“The Spanish Flu, 1918 to 1920, eliminated 27 percent of the population of the world (the CDC says at least 50 million people were killed around the world, with 675,000 deaths in the U.S.). Twenty-seven percent of Grayson County would be 7,000 people. We do not believe that’s going take place, because as history has shown us, we can learn from the past.”

Logsdon said that citizens seem to understand the vast importance of the innumerable prevention measures put in place by city, county, state, and federal governments. But he stressed that self-isolation after testing is key to halting the spread of the virus, and saving lives.

“When people go to be tested at the local hospital, after they’re tested, they don’t know if they’re positive or negative right away, they have to wait for a little bit of time (currently, five to six days). After you’re tested … the health department is going to give you a self-isolation form, it’s an agreed order. Basically, it lays out that after you’re tested, they are requesting that you voluntarily self-isolate at home if you don’t have serious symptoms, away from people, and not travel.”

If you do have symptoms that require hospitalization, though, the agreed order asks that you approve to be quarantined so that one will not spread the virus.

“When we do have (COVID-19) cases, things are going to change and we’re going to adapt quickly,” Logsdon promised. “My purpose in speaking to you is to educate you a little bit concerning self-isolation; we’re asking you to agree to do that. If you do not agree, then I, as County Attorney, will have to go to a circuit judge, to the Circuit Court, and ask for a forced quarantine order — We have two individuals in the commonwealth who have done this in the past two weeks; one in Jefferson and one in Nelson County. They did not use the common sense they needed to, and (not using) common sense is what can cause the sickness and cause us to lose our family members and friends, very quickly.”

“I think by making these necessary steps,” he added, “and supporting and saying prayers for those community leaders who are helping to prevent this, and the healthcare workers, and the emergency workers and everyone involved is crucial. And by the end of this, we know it will be Grayson County strong, Grayson County proud.

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com