As of Saturday, March 14, 2020, 41 individuals in the Commonwealth of Virginia have tested positive for COVID-19 (coronavirus). Fortunately for our community, there are currently no known cases in Rockbridge County, Lexington or Buena Vista. However, to slow the spread of this virus and protect the most vulnerable in our community, people are encouraged to practice social distancing. Some local businesses have or will temporarily close or reduce hours of operation, and many public events have been canceled or postponed. Lexington has a list of local closures & cancellations that might affect Lexington residents on the lexingtonva.gov website.
Further, Governor Northam has declared a state of emergency and ordered the two-week closure of all K-12 public schools. For more information on how your local school system is responding to the coronavirus, please visit their website…
For individuals who may need assistance (financial, spiritual, nutritional, etc.) during these trying times, the non-profit organization 50 Ways Rockbridge has compiled and maintains an excellent contact list of Rockbridge community resources. They have also launched a community aid clearinghouse to match people needing assistance with local volunteers able to help.
The interactive map below is provided by the Virginia Dept. of Health and contains current information about the number of confirmed coronavirus cases reported in Virginia broken down by county. The map is automatically updated each day around noon.
Via Lexington City’s website, the following is a press release dated 3/11/2020…
Local Emergency Management officials are actively monitoring the public health concerns related to COVID-19. We are dynamically preparing at the levels recommended by the Center for Disease Control and the Virginia Department of Health. We will also continue to engage with our regional partners, including Carilion Clinic and primary / secondary education officials, to coordinate our activities and responses to any concerns that should emerge in the Rockbridge community. Additionally, we will utilize contingencies already built in to our emergency operations plan. For current and up to date information on COVID-19, please visit the Virginia Dept. of Health website.
The Virginia Department of Health has also activated a public information line, 877-ASK-VDH3, for questions from residents about the novel coronavirus situation. (Local businesses and providers may call the local Central Shenandoah Health District at 540-332-7830.)
A recent health brief, released from Carilion Clinic, states:
Stop the Spread of Germs: Here’s How You Can Help
While the coronavirus threat remains low in Virginia, the health and safety of patients, visitors and staff remain top priorities for Carilion.
As always, if you have flu-like symptoms, avoid close contact with others and wash your hands regularly with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
As an extra layer of defense, Carilion is enlisting the public’s help by issuing standard flu season precautions in addition to some travel screening reminders:
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If you are not feeling well, please refrain from visiting patients in Carilion facilities.
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If you are a patient seeking care and you have flu-like symptoms (cough, congestion, runny nose, fever, etc.), please ask for a mask and let patient check-in know of your symptoms before sitting in a waiting room.
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If you or an immediate family member have flu-like symptoms or have recently traveled abroad, please call the Carilion practice you plan to visit before using any walk-in services (e.g. VelocityCare urgent care services or walk-in primary care services). That will allow providers to perform a brief phone screening, ensuring staff are prepared to best serve you upon your arrival.
Carilion continues to offer patient travel screening questionnaires during the patient scheduling and registration process. Carilion teams are also monitoring seasonal illness and the coronavirus threat. They will provide updates should more stringent restrictions and screenings be implemented.
There are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and others healthy:
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Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
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Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
COVID-19 Precaution Recommendations:
- Wash your hands with an antiviral soap. Vigorously rub your hands together for a minimum of 20 seconds, and do not omit your fingertips and nails.
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol if soap and water are unavailable.
- Avoid near contact with persons that present with flu-like symptoms, this is to include limiting your contact with others if you are ill.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unclean hands.
- Keep your clothing clean. If suspected contact with an ill person, change your clothing and launder the clothing ASAP.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue. If no tissue is available, contain the sneeze or cough with your upper arm, not with your hands.
- Decontaminate equipment and surfaces using an antiviral / antibacterial cleaning solution.
- Employees should not report to work if they present with viral symptoms.
- If you are ill, stay at home. Contact your primary care physician for treatment courses and advice. Do not go to a hospital unless absolutely necessary or so advised by your physician.
For more information please visit the following links: