October 5, 2021 Update:
The Greater Greenbrier COVID-19 Task Force met this morning via conference call and reports the following information.
— GREENBRIER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. We currently have 3,092 cases, 1,495 probable, 3 suspect, 4,304 recovered, 203 active, 13 hospitalized, and 83 deaths. We are “orange” on the map.
— BOOSTER DOSES. The health department will begin giving booster doses Wednesdays and Fridays to eligible citizens. Eligible citizens have completed the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination at least 6 months ago and meet at least one of the following criteria: 65 years of age or older, Reside in a long-term care facility, 18 years and older who have underlying medical conditions, 18 years and older who work in high-risk* settings. (*High risk is defined as first responders, education staff, food and agriculture workers, manufacturing workers, US postal service workers, public transit workers, grocery store workers.)
— GREENBRIER VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER. We have 13 COVID patients in the hospital currently. We are seeing these numbers begin to decrease. We are doing elective surgeries again. Tailgate trick or treat is canceled again this year. Monoclonal antibodies continue to be available. (We’ve administered this treatment to over 500 folks at this point.) No visitors are allowed in the hospital right now. Please only come to the emergency room for emergencies.
— ROBERT C BYRD CLINIC. We expanded our hours for COVID testing to 9 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m. Monday through Friday. We still offer the PCR tests with results in 24 – 48 hours. Rapid tests are available now. We continue to provide vaccines Monday-Friday as part of routine visits and vaccine clinics on Thursdays and Fridays. Booster doses are available also. We will begin offering monoclonal antibody injections next week when we receive our first shipment. Flu vaccines are available at any time. Just call to schedule an appointment.
— RAINELLE MEDICAL CENTER. Free testing times: Monday: 10 a.m.-noon & 1-4 p.m., Tuesday: 10 a.m.-noon only, Wednesday: 10 a.m.-noon & 1-4 p.m., Thursday: 10 a.m.-noon, and Friday: 10 a.m.-noon. Vaccine days: Tuesday: 1-4 p.m., Thursday: all day. We will also be giving flu vaccines as well & walk-ins are welcome. Booster doses are available. We have a limited supply of antibody treatments. Please call to schedule that treatment.
— COMMITTEE ON AGING. Our centers are now closed for activities and meals (Fairlea and Rupert), but we continue to offer in-home/delivery services. We are also continuing to provide all regular services. Masks are required at our facilities. We are actively seeking employees to continue providing services to our seniors. If you’re interested, please call 304-392-5138.
— THE HUB. We re-opened our Café this week. Wed-Thurs: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Fri: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. For this First Friday, Oct. 1, we are participating in offering samples of our pumpkin spiced lattes and fruit smoothies. We will also have stations for baby pumpkin painting for kids. Come on by! Grab and Go Dinner Specials are available W-Fri, $5 for community members and free for 18 and under. Order by noon. Now hiring young people in our Café and Tech Express youth training businesses, and hiring AmeriCorps volunteers. 304-647-4994
Submitted by Senator Stephen Baldwin, chair of the Task Force.
