The Greater Greenbrier COVID-19 Task Force met this morning via conference call and reports the following information.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT: Caseloads continue to improve. Greenbrier County has 1,671 confirmed cases, 3 suspect cases, 779 probable cases, 2,372 recovered cases, 21 active cases, 0 hospitalized, and 60 deaths. (These numbers will be updated this afternoon.) COVID is still among us, but folks aren’t being tested as often. Please continue to take precautions and be tested so that we can keep numbers down. Over 40% of our county population has been vaccinated at this point.
VACCINE CLINIC: We are hosting a vaccine clinic this Thursday at the fairgrounds. At the end of the day if there are extra doses, we call folks on our waiting list to see if they can come get a shot in short order. We do this because we refuse to waste a single shot, even though it’s last minute. Thanks for your patience.
VACCINE HOTLINE: The state hotline for vaccinations is 833-734-0965 or www.vaccinate.wv.gov. Everyone must sign up through this system to get vaccinated. Vaccines are allocated based on signups in counties, so please do your part and signup.
INCENTIVIZE VACCINES: Some employers are asking what to do if their employees refuse to be vaccinated? Employers may want to consider incentivizing employees to be vaccinated. This will help us all get back to a sense of “normalcy” as soon as possible.
AM I ON THE LIST? If you signed up to receive a vaccination but have not received an appointment for a shot yet, call the Health Department at 304-645-1787 to ensure you are on the list.
TESTING: We have many testing sites throughout the county each day. Please utilize community testing at RCB Clinic, MedExpress, Greenbrier Physicians, Rainelle Medical Center, and Monroe Health Center (free daily testing from 1-3 p.m.).
WVSOM: All students have been vaccinated or are scheduled to be shortly. We do plan to proceed with in-person graduation on May 29, though that may change based on the situation on the ground. Strict guidelines will be in place.
RCB CLINIC: Patients are beginning to return for routine medical care. We encourage patients to do that as able. COVID testing continues onsite daily.
RAINELLE MEDICAL CENTER: We continue to offer free testing for COVID and encourage folks with symptoms to take advantage of that opportunity. We are doing a vaccine clinic on Wednesday in Fayette County. In the future, we may need some volunteers to assist with our vaccine clinics. Stay tuned and thanks for your support.
TUTORING: We decided to continue offering the tutoring program until all remote learners are back in school in-person five days per week.
MEALS FOR VACCINE CLINIC WORKERS: We are supplying free meals provided by local restaurants and paid for by local donors for all county health department vaccine clinic workers each week. Many thanks to Jen Mason for coordinating, Kelly and the State Fair for hosting the clinics, Kayla with GGLTRC for coordinating volunteers, and all local partners making these meals possible!
VACCINES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS: If you know a senior citizen who needs help getting a vaccine (either a ride or getting registered), please call 2-1-1 and Katie with United Way will assist you. Volunteers with Shepherd’s Center, the Committee on Aging, Rainelle Medical Center, and United Way will assist with transportation when needed. Also, the PSD office (in the old Kentucky Fried Chicken building in Fairlea) is happy to help senior citizens sign up for a vaccine using their office computers. Just stop by the office!
BROADBAND: If you’re interested in joining the effort to improve broadband, please email stephen.baldwin@wvsenate.gov. We have been meeting for nearly a month now organizing our efforts.
WV SENATE: All essential workers and residents with pre-existing conditions (such as immunosuppression) who are over age 16 are eligible to receive the vaccine now.
Submitted by Senator Stephen Baldwin, chair of the Task Force.
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