The winds of virus are breezing through Hinton and Summers County as increasing numbers of people learn they’ve either contracted the COVID-19 virus or have spread it to others. Summers ARH Hospital has moved its on-site free testing away from the main entrance to the north side of the hospital and set up two lanes of operations to test drivers and passengers as they wait in their cars. Nurses say “it’s just been that busy.” To reduce delays, nurses, when necessary, can swab people in two cars at a time. Of those tested Thursday the nurses explain that everyone tested claimed they had been exposed to the virus. Cases are on the upswing here and other hot spots in the state.
The Summers County Health Department confirms that the number of exposed citizens in communities are rising. Contact tracing continues but top administrator Chad Meador said the virus is spreading faster and tracing is becoming more challenging.
Imagine having lunch with a friend last week and receiving a phone call several days later informing you that they had been exposed and may have exposed others. Meador said he knows those phone calls are hard to make and many contacts’ contacts don’t come forward to report their suspected or confirmed exposure. If you have yet to seek testing, it’s painless and quick. However, when you truly believe you’ve been exposed waiting for results can create anxiety. Not only is the anxiety and stress rough on you personally, it’s obviously causing stress for healthcare providers. Available hospital beds are a big concern. Contact tracers spend a great deal more hours working to call and check on every person showing symptoms and placed in quarantine. Everyone is growing tired.
The other day someone sitting in his car in a parking lot asked this reporter if I think this virus thing is a hoax. The pressure shown by healthcare workers, and concern of folks locally who have battled the virus the past couple of months, confirms that it’s a painful and scary time.
Often the symptoms have been different for every member of the household.
For some, it’s breathing problems, pneumonia and even double pneumonia requiring trips to the emergency rooms. Others confide that pains and aches in hands and arms, muscles and joints become immobilizing, even if for a brief time. For these folks this virus is no hoax, and they are taking awhile to return to normal. Some report they’ve been really sick for weeks. Antibiotics and steroids appear to be what works best in the struggle to break free of the virus. Yet these treatments may come with side effects.
Social distancing, wearing a mask, and washing hands often for at least 20 seconds are strongly encouraged. As Governor Jim Justice said, “Drill a hole between your eyes and let it sink in: the virus is here and spreading.”
Health Department Director Meador said new information has been released by the CDC about how little exposure it takes to become infected: as little as 15 minutes even spread out in small periods of time. Three minutes here, five minutes there, seven minutes somewhere else ALL can add up to the 15 minutes to get the virus.
With the virus lingering around the area, health officials are worried about the risks of flu season. It’s easy to get flu vaccines. Most pharmacies, doctors and the Summers County Health Department are accepting appointments for those wishing to receive a flu shot. Contact the Summers County Health Department at 304-466-5517.
