The Buffalo Trace Health Department is reporting the first COVID-19 related death in Mason County.

According to Samantha Wilson, the BTDHD public information official, the death occurred on July 5 and was a woman in her 60s who had tested positive for COVID-19 in June.

“Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the patient,” BTDHD Director Allison Adams said. “We’ve been seeing reports of outbreak-related deaths in other counties, but this Mason County death reminds us how important it is to protect each other during this outbreak if we are to prevent more suffering.”

While the area has seen an uptick in the number of COVID-19 cases, Mason County is not a “hot spot,” a spokesperson for the Buffalo Trace District Health Department said Monday.

“We are not considered a hot spot,” Wilson said. “That isn’t entirely accurate. We just try to be straightforward and tell how many cases we have.”

Instead, Wilson said the increase in cases which saw Mason County’s total climb to 39 last week, can more likely be attributed to “cluster,” associated with events such as church or people visiting a bar or other venue where they are in close contact.

Wilson described a cluster as a group of people who are infected at the same time and at the same place. She said through contract tracing they may find as many as 20 cases in one event. At least one local cluster was traced back to a church, Wilson said.

She said events like church services where singing is involved and bars where people tend to “yell talk” to be heard above the crowd, pose a risk because one of the known facts about the coronavirus is that it is spread through respiratory droplets.

Mason County isn’t the only county which has seen a significant rise in cases over the past few weeks. Both Lewis and Fleming counties also reported an increase in cases, Lewis going from cases in early June to 22 cases by July 1 and Fleming County from three to 21 in that same period.

Wilson believes much of the blame can be placed on not practicing suggested protocols like washing hands frequently, wearing a mask when out in public and practicing social distancing measures in stores and social settings.

“I will continue to advocate for those public health procedures,” she said.

For more information on COVID-19 visit https://governor.ky.gov/covid19