CADIZ — All of the COVID-19 positive cases associated with the Meadows of Cadiz nursing facility outbreak are now considered recovered by the Harrison County Health Department.

In early September, the health department reported nearly three dozen confirmed cases out of the assisted living facility.

There have been a total 34 individuals from the facility test positive for the virus — 19 facility residents and 15 staff members. However, six of the facility’s staff members are not Harrison County residents and were not counted on the county’s total cases.

Garen Rhome, administrator of the county health department, gave his weekly update on the virus within the county during Wednesday’s Harrison County Board of Commissioners’ meeting.

Rhome said there are now zero active cases associated with the Meadow’s outbreak.

“We have six active cases, zero of those active cases are associated with the Meadow’s care facility outbreak,” he said.

As of Wednesday, the county has a total of 68 confirmed cases, 59 recoveries and three deaths. There are currently six active cases, two of which remain hospitalized on ventilators, Rhome said.

Two of the county’s reported COVID-19 deaths are associated with the Meadows’ outbreak.

“There have been two confirmed positive (Meadows of Cadiz) residents who passed away, due at least in part to health complications associated with their COVID-19 infection,” Rhome said.

Although the care facility has zero active cases, Rhome said it continues to monitor and test its staff and residents.

“They (the Meadows of Cadiz) will continue that surveillance style testing, but right now there are zero cases associated with that care facility,” he said.

Rhome said the virus affects individuals differently. Some virus positive individuals are asymptomatic while others are very ill and become hospitalized.

“Of the six active cases in the community, the symptoms vary. You have people who are asymptomatic completely and then as I indicated, we have two people who are still hospitalized and on ventilators,” he said. “I think the severity of how we see it hit some people is really indicative and really should continue to push us to be absolutely careful because the way it (the virus) affects me, is going to be different than the way it affects you.”

Rhome urges residents to continue taking precautionary measures when out in public settings.

“Continue to try and practice those safe distancing practices. … Continue to make good choices because those weddings, funerals and things, (there are) tales across Ohio of outbreaks and fatalities associated with large gatherings and poor decisions. We don’t want to see that,” he said.

Rhome said he encourages residents to receive their seasonal flu shot. The health department is conducting its annual “Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic” from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Harrison County Government Center building located on North Main Street in Cadiz. The clinic accepts most private insurances. The cost to pay out of pocket is $25. For more information on the clinic, visit the health department’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HarrisonCoHealthDepartment.