Below is a list of responses from local agencies and organizations to the recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This list is as comprehensive as possible with information provided to The Sun by these agencies. 

If your agency/organization is suspending programs, closing, no longer accepting visitors, implementing new policies/procedures because of this outbreak, etc. please contact us at news@winchestersun.com with that information so it can be added to this list.

 

NURSING HOMES/RETIREMENT HOMES

— FOUNTAIN CIRCLE CARE & REHABILITATION

200 Glenway Road, Winchester. (859) 744-1800. fountaincirclecare.com

The nursing home has limited access to its facility. Regular visiting hours have been suspended. Based on government safety instructions, no individual, regardless of reason, is allowed to enter except under specific circumstances such as end-of-life situations or when essential for a resident’s emotional well-being and care. Alternative means of communication with individuals include telephone and videocommunication.

— ROSE MARY C. BROOKS PLACE

200 Rose Mary C. Brooks Place (859) 749-4904

On the advice of the state government, Brooks Place is limiting visitation only to those loved ones who are receiving end-of-life care. Staff will screen all visitors to residents receiving end-of-life care and escort them to the resident’s room. Residents that show “active signs” of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter, according to a statement issued March 12.

 

EDUCATION

— BLUEGRASS COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE

2020 Rolling Hills Lane, Winchester. (859) 737-3098. bluegrass.kctcs.edu

BCTC students will be on spring break March 15-21. After spring break, March 22-April 4, instruction will be only online. The goal is to resume normal course delivery April 5.

Staff operations will continue as normal. BCTC-sponsored or -endorsed travel will be suspended until April 30, and travel decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis after that. All events scheduled during spring break, including the BCTC Job Fair at the Winchester Campus, are canceled. Workforce Solutions activities will continue as scheduled until further notice. The April 3 new student orientation will be rescheduled at a date to be determined, and those registered will be notified.

— CLARK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

1600 W. Lexington Ave., Winchester. (859) 744—4545. www2.clarkschools.net/home

Thursday evening, Clark County Public Schools announced it would close March 16-27 and remain closed March 30 through April 2 for spring break. The current plan is to return to school April 6. On Thursday, the Board of Education also unanimously approved applying for a non-traditional instruction days waiver from the state. If approved, it would allow the schools to close for 10 days related to the coronavirus, and students would not have to make up those days at the end of the school year. Instruction would take place in other ways, such as online or picking up and dropping off schoolwork. Those methods are being developed by district administrators.

 

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

— CLARK COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY

370 S. Burns Ave., Winchester. (859) 744-5661. www.clarkbooks.org

Effective March 12, the Public Library has canceled all programming and events. Even non-library groups will not be able to meet at the library. Outreach services to individuals and institutions have also been canceled. Staff will no longer be allowed to handle patrons’ personal devices such as phones or tablets or make physical contact. Daily operations, including circulating materials, will continue, but patrons are asked to observe all precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Patrons may stay up to date by visiting the website or Facebook page, www.facebook.com/clarkbooks.

— WINCHESTER-CLARK COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION

15 Wheeler Ave., Winchester. (859) 744-9554. winchesterparksandrec.org

Starting March 12, all Silver Sneakers and water fitness classed will be suspended until at least March 27. Starting March 14, open gym for basketball will be closed. The walking track, weight room, all other fitness classes, child watch and both pools will remain open for the time being. The facility will begin asking patrons to scan their own membership cards, maintain social distancing (no hugging, hand shakes or other casual physical contact), clean all surfaces, wash hands and wipe down equipment.

— CLARK COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION

1400 Fortune Drive, Winchester. (859) 744-4682. ces.ca.uky.edu/clark

Effective March 13, all Extension programs and meetings held at the office will be canceled through at least April 6.

 

HEALTH CARE

— CLARK REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

175 Hospital Drive, Winchester.

The hospital is working closely with the Clark County Health Department and the Department for Public Health and following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure it is prepared with appropriate plans to detect, protect and respond should anyone in the community contract or be exposed to the coronavirus and is developing its emergency operations plan. Based on CDC guidelines:

— Patients in the Emergency Department and inpatient units are screened based on their recent travel history.

— Personal protective equipment is available, including face masks and eye protection, for example.

— Hand hygiene products are easily accessible throughout the facility.

 

GOVERNMENT

— CLARK COUNTY DETENTION CENTER

30 Wall St., Winchester. (859) 745-0270.

Clark County Jailer Frank Doyle has canceled visitation at the local jail for the time being except for essential medical care. Attorneys, pastors and priests can visit inmates, but only from behind a glass partition. Friends and relatives may contact inmates by phone, but not in person.

 

— WINCHESTER CITY HALL

Monday’s Administrative Hearing Board and Licensing Board meetings have been canceled.

Tuesday’s workshop meeting of the Winchester Board of Commissioners has been canceled. The commission will still have its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m.

The March 24 Urban Renewal Board meeting has been canceled.

 

CHURCHES AND WORSHIP

— SALEM CHURCH AT PINE GROVE

312 Combs Ferry Road, Winchester. (859) 737-3004

The church has canceled services for March 15.

— ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH

248 S. Main St., Winchester. (859) 744-4917. stjosephwinchester.com

The Bishop of Lexington, the Rt. Rev. John Stowe, has said that for the time being, there is no moral obligation for Catholics to attend Mass, and Father Frank Brawner urges his parishioners to “err on the side of caution.” However, St. Joseph will continue to offer Mass at its regular times for now for those who wish to attend, but only the bread, not the cup, will be offered. Confession will continue. There will be no physical contact, and the church is working on plans for social distancing of parishioners.

— EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH

2410 W. Lexington Ave., Winchester. (859) 744-4889. episcopalwinchester.org

Emmanuel Episcopal will be closed for public worship, meetings and social gatherings for the next weeks. Father Jim Trimble encourages parishioners to say morning prayer on Sundays, March 14 and  22, and he will be live-streaming those at 10:30 a.m. on Facebook. These changes are based on the recommendations of the bishop, the Rt. Rev. Mark Van Koevering.

— WINCHESTER FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

On Sunday, March 15, Winchester First UMC will have morning worship at 10:15 a.m. but will cancel Sunday School. This also applies to First Fire and Trinity UMC. Pastor Farley Stuart asks that those who are sick or especially vulnerable to illness to stay home and not come to church.

 

ATHLETICS

— The girls and boys KHSAA Sweet Sixteen tournaments have been canceled.

— Winchester Youth Soccer League has suspended all practices and games until after students return to school April 6.

– Winchester Little League is postponing the start of its season because Little League International has placed a temporary suspension on all Little League activity until further notice.

 

BUSINESSES

— Gov. Andy Beshear has ordered all restaurants and bars to closed effective 5 p.m. Monday, March 16.

— Arts on Main has opted to close until March 24 because of the virus.

— Clark County Community Services will be closed to the public through the end of March. The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily to serve clients with basic needs. Clients are asked to park in the spaces on Taylor Avenue at the front of the building and wait to receive a number from a staff member. Staff will process orders and load vehicles for clients. If you walk or take a bus, wait in the waiting room at the center. The same process will be used for those submitting paperwork for housing or seniors picking up commodities for seniors. Those who cannot make the trip are asked to send a representative with their ID and a note.

— The Clark County Homeless Coalition is suspending all classes until at least April 6.

— Therapeutic Village will be offering mental health services through Telehealth to all clients. For more information, you can contact your provider at 859-595-5860.  Parenting Group scheduled for March 25 will be rescheduled in April.  For more information, you can contact your provider at 859-595-5860, or email us at TR1@therapeuticVillage.com, or visit our Website at TherapeuticVillage.com

— Winchester Therapeutic Massage will be closed until March 30.

 

EVENTS/MEETINGS

— The Winchester-Clark County Tourism Commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday morning has been canceled.

— The Clark County Democratic Party precinct convention originally scheduled for March 21 has been postponed. A new date has not yet been announced. 

— Leeds Center for the Arts has canceled its March 20 show with Buffalo Wabs and the Price Hill Hustle. Those who purchased tickets online will receive an email about how to be refunded.

— The SkyWarn class scheduled for March 17 has been canceled.

— The Honor Flight Kentucky scheduled for May 16 has been postponed.

— The ASAP Save A Life overdose prevention course scheduled for Monday has been canceled.

— The job fair scheduled for March 17 at the BCTC Winchester-Clark County Campus has been postponed. A new date has not yet been announced.

— The Republican Women’s Club meeting scheduled for March 19 has been canceled.