New details emerge about Hardin County family in quarantine
More details are coming out after a Hardin County family went viral for not signing documents for self-isolation.
According to court records obtained by WQXE News, the Lincoln Trail District Health Department petitioned 9th Circuit court judge Ken Howard for an Order for Quarantine, which he granted on July 16th for Isaiah and Elizabeth Linscott, as well as their daughter. In the order, the court made several conclusions from the evidence they were presented, among these:
- The Lincoln Trail District Health Department had the authority to issue an order of quarantine to the family in question, and
- The court had both jurisdiction and power to issue the injunction compelling the family to comply with the order.
In the final paragraph of the document, it was ordered that the Lincoln Trail District Health Department would bear, “the logistical and financial responsibility for all necessary expenses related to the confinement or measures necessary to ensure compliance.” A third-party, Envivo Health, was responsible for the location monitors. This comes into direct conflict with widespread belief that the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, not the health department, was responsible for any tracking devices used for confinement.
The voluntary quarantine order, which was given to the family by the health department, was finally returned, with the recipients indicating that they declined the order. In various interviews, the mother reiterated the belief that she did not agree with the wording of the document. When the order was returned to officials, it was accompanied by a written statement:
“I will do my best to stay home, as I every other time I get sick. But I cannot comply to having to call the health department every time that I need to go out and do something. It’s my right and freedoms [sic] to go where I please and not have to answer to anyone for it. There is no pandemic and with a survival rate of 99.9998%, I’m fine. I will continue to avoid the elderly, just like PRIOR guidelines state, try to stay home, get rest, get medicine, and get better. I decline.”
The mother, Elizabeth Linscott, had tested positive for the virus around July 11th. It is possible that she had contracted the virus from attending church. In the court documents, the health department says the family’s church has seen 25 positive cases of COVID-19. The last in-person service was July 1st.
Officials caution motorists about driving through water
With more rain expected in the coming days, emergency officials are reminding residents to avoid flooded roadways. Meade county Emergency Management Director Ron Dodson says that motorist should avoid driving through flooded roadways for several reasons.
“It may not look very deep, but it may in fact it may be more than 1 foot or 2,” Dodson said.
The same guidelines apply to flooded parking lots as well.
“If they fill up with water, you really don’t know how deep it is.”
Dodson offers the simple phrase “Turn Around, Don’t Drown” as a useful reminder to motorists when faced with the decision of driving through flooded water.
“You really don’t know what you’re getting into until it’s too late.”
State officials provide more details for schools staff
Options will be available for school district in the face of COVID-19. Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman says district will have access to unlimited NTI days this year, and staff will be able to use as many quarantine days as needed if they contract the virus. A town hall, set for tomorrow, will feature Lieutenant Governor Coleman. Local districts are still finalizing plans, with Meade county just yesterday opting to move their start day back to August 25th.
Meade County moves back to school date
Just 2 weeks away from their start day, a local school district has changed the day students return. Meade County Schools announced Tuesday that the district is shifting course, with the Board of Education approving the new start date of August 25th. In a Facebook video posted yesterday morning, new Superintendent Mark Martin outlined the reason for the change.
“We must adjust to the virus,” he said, “the virus won’t adjust to us.”
Like many other district’s, meade will offer online, as well as in-person instruction when school returns. Meade county will return to school the same day as Elizabethtown Independent Schools, but at 50% capacity as part of a phased return.
