The Greater Greenbrier COVID-19 Task Force met this morning via conference call and reports the following information.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT. Greenbrier County has 923 confirmed cases, 3 suspect cases, 456 probable cases, 975 recovered cases, 372 active cases, 26 hospitalized, and 35 deaths. (These numbers will be updated this afternoon.) Our infection rate and our daily positive rate continue to be “in the red.” Please take precautions, especially around groups for the holidays. We will be in for a long winter unless we take the necessary precautions.
PHONE CALLS. People are calling the health department asking when they can get the vaccine, leaving our limited phone lines tied up. We will release vaccine info regularly. We do not anticipate being able to offer the vaccine to the general public until March.
COVID ANTIBODIES. Some folks are asking if COVID antibodies are readily available locally? Yes, they are available. If you have COVID, please coordinate this with your local medical provider to see if you meet the criteria and can receive it.
CONTACT TRACING is done by the local health department and by the WV National Guard. Please be very transparent if you are part of contact tracing so that the job can be done comprehensively.
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.). Please do not show up to the Emergency Room for a COVID test.
GREENBRIER COUNTY SCHOOLS. We meet this Thursday to address options moving into next week. We are currently scheduled to resume school on Jan 4, but we realize that we are currently “red” and may be for a while. We will communicate openly with the community as soon as possible. We have put lists together of educators for the vaccine, which would allow us to open schools safely, and are awaiting further guidance on vaccine availability.
RCB CLINIC. COVID testing demand remains very high. We are seeing around 100 patients per day during our 9 a.m.-1 p.m. testing window. We do our best to move folks through as quickly as possible. Our staff is beginning to be vaccinated in accordance with state guidelines.
RAINELLE MEDICAL. We tested 168 people yesterday just during a popup free testing event. Starting next week, we will offer free community testing using a drive-thru method every Tuesday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. throughout January at the Rainelle clinic. Our staff is also beginning to receive vaccinations.
COMMITTEE ON AGING. We divided our staff into two groups so that in case we do have a positive in a group, we will continue to have staff available to provide services in the other group. We continue to provide all services to our seniors.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT. We continue to disinfect county government facilities as needed. Today, we have several such missions scheduled.
Submitted by Senator Stephen Baldwin, chair of the Task Force.
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