AUGUST 24, UPDATE
The Greater Greenbrier COVID-19 Task Force met this morning via conference call and reports the following information.
- GREENBRIER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. County number: 2,093 cases, 1,045 probable, 3 suspect, 2,929 recovered, 146 active, 4 hospitalized, 66 deaths. We’ve been in the red for several days and expect to stay there for a while. We are in an area of “substantial spread” and everyone should be wearing masks indoors. Over 90% of the new active cases we have are delta variant cases. We are busy with contact tracing in the office right now.
- BREAKTHROUGH CASES. There have been 85 breakthrough cases in Greenbrier County, out of over 17,200 fully vaccinated Greenbrier County residents. Vaccines are not perfect, but the efficacy rates of the COVID vaccine are exceedingly high. Only 0.49% of local citizens who are fully vaccinated have developed COVID.
- GREENBRIER COUNTY SCHOOLS. All students and staff will mask indoors and on buses through the end of September. Vaccine clinics continue to be available for students who are 12 and above. Our HVAC systems have been updated over the summer. Quarantine guidelines from the CDC are different this year, which will allow us to keep schools open when there are positive cases for students who are vaccinated and/or masked when in close contact with a positive case.
- GREENBRIER VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER. Our facility is closed to visitors right now in order to keep our staff and patients safe. COVID testing for surgical patients has been reinstated as a safety measure. We have six COVID positives in-house currently with 3 patients in the ICU.
- ROBERT C BYRD CLINIC. We had 18 new positive cases come in over the weekend from our testing, which continues on a daily basis. We urge folks to mask, get vaccinated, and take precautions. You can get a vaccine anytime by walking in and we also offer a vaccine clinic each Thursday.
- RAINELLE MEDICAL CENTER. We are doing free COVID testing daily from 10am-12pm and 1pm-4pm. Vaccines continue to be offered every Thursday by appointment only from 9am to 5:30pm. We are doing free sports physicals every day from 8am-6pm at our site (behind Eastern Greenbrier & Greenbrier East). Please call to make an appointment at 304-645-1052. On August 25, from 12-2pm we are hosting an open house at our school-based site for the community.
- COMMITTEE ON AGING. Both of our centers are open for activities and meals (Fairlea and Rupert). We are also continuing to provide all regular services. Masks are required at our facilities.
- THE HUB. Meals will begin again in a few weeks. The cafe, tech express, and dinner specials will be available throughout the 21-22 school year. We are taking a few weeks to make plans right now. Americorps positions are open now if you know folks who are interested.
- PFIZER. The Pfizer vaccine is fully FDA approved. That was announced this week.
- WV SENATE. Statewide, 0.44% percent of West Virginians who have been fully vaccinated have experienced a breakthrough case of the virus, while 0.007% of those fully vaccinated have died from the coronavirus. Where are the breakthrough cases occurring? In all sectors of society, but 53% of breakthrough cases are among those in nursing homes. Those who are fully vaccinated are less likely to contract COVID, less likely to be hospitalized, and far less likely to die from it.
- WEEKLY MEETING. Since we are in the midst of a surge, our Task Force meets weekly to stay on top of the situation.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.