Summers County Health Department administrators and nurses have had their duties turned upside down since COVID-19 raised its ugly head in the Hinton area.
Chad Meador, who is charged with running the local Health Department says testing, tracing and followup is a time consuming and somewhat confusing process. Nurses say when someone tests positive and contact tracing begins it requires daily follow ups to check in on those required to quarantine.
Compared to many other towns, counties and states nationwide, Summers County’s virus totals haven’t hit huge figures, but numbers multiply quickly with this highly contagious virus. And once the asymptomatic test results prove positive a rather hopscotching game begins with the calendars. Meador says once test results received via fax from labs and databases are received TIMING is everything. It’s requiring all hands on deck to perform daily check-ins on infected residents and carries on throughout the weekends.
The clock works like this, says Meador: when testing results are received the infected individual is contacted immediately and contact tracing begins. The questions include “who have you been in contact with closer than six feet for longer than 15 minutes or more?” Depending on WHEN, it can get tricky, he says. “For an asymptomatic person tested on Monday with no symptoms, and results take 48 hours, and come back with positive results, the tracing begins. Tracing starts two days prior to the day you’re tested,” said Meador. “If you test positive, we tell the health department who you’ve been in touch with since Saturday. BUT it’s Wednesday by now. “
Let’s say you have symptoms on Monday, beginning with a sore throat, fever or cough, and you get tested Tuesday, when results come in positive on Thursday if symptoms began Monday the tracing begins two days before Monday which would be the prior Saturday. Who would you have been in contact with on Saturday? Meador says even with executive orders and mandates, face coverings and masks can’t be enforced. “We are all on an honor policy. We have to do more as citizens to follow regulations, mandates and orders.” As the virus mutates it changes daily, he said, “We are doing what we can to try to stop the spread but I thinks our citizens could do more. Wear masks and social distance.”
Peer pressure isn’t working, says Meador. “The Health Department can step in and require permits to new facilities to demand face masks, but existing businesses can’t be told what to do.”
Anyone in Summers County can be tested, at the hospital, at the health department, during special events designed for testing. “Whether you have health insurance or not, the county is doing a good job of offering accessible, affordable, reliable and timely testing.” Free testing is offered to those who need it. “I’m trying to do my best every day to help Summers County stay safe”. Meador sighed, “and our nurses, too.” The best advice he can offer is Wear a Mask, Wash Your Hands Often and Social Distancing, and for the latest updates on mandates and executive orders visit governor.wv.gov.
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