As another week passed, the Monroe County count of positive COVID-19 cases moved to 21 as of early June.

However, as Monroe County Medical Center is continuing free testing for coronavirus, numbers are expected to continue to rise with the added testing.

On Friday, May 29, one case was confirmed by the Monroe County Health Department’s Director Jill Ford.

Then on Monday, June 1, Ford released information that four additional cases had been confirmed, bringing the new total to 21.

Ford noted that six of the previously confirmed cases have recovered with several still in isolation.

She added that she and other health officials work closely with the Kentucky Department for Public Health to trace the recent history of the patient in an effort to identify and contact all those who may have been exposed to the virus.

Those individuals who may have been exposed are advised to monitor for fever and respiratory symptoms.

TIMES JOURNAL…

On Monday morning, June 8, around 2:30 a.m., two bodies were recovered from Lake Cumberland by search and rescue teams. The two people went missing on Lake Cumberland on Friday, June 5.

According to Russell County Emergency Management, four people were swimming in the lake when their houseboat began drifting away. State, Fish and Wildlife officers were first notified of the incident Friday afternoon around 4 p.m.

The pair had been swimming near Low Gap Island, between Jamestown Marina and Wolf CreedkDam. The two men noticed their boat drifting away. The men began swimming to shore, but were not able to make it. The other two swimmers were picked up by another boat.

Search and rescue efforts began Friday afternoon by Russell County Search and Rescue. The local squad was joined Saturday and Sunday by five other squads from around the state in searching for the missing men.

Reports stated that neither of the men were wearing life jackets.

According to Russell County Emergency Manager H.M. Bottom, both men were international students. The families of the students have been notified through their embassies.

The bodies were turned over to the Russell County Coroner for positive identification and an autopsies.