Remote learning continues again this week in Summers County as healthcare workers warn COVID-19 is still spreading throughout the community.
Health Department Administrator Chad Meador and staff put in another intense week of contact tracing in growing numbers of outbreaks. Meador stated headaches come in at first place when it comes to symptoms associated with the virus, but the symptoms range from full body aches, loss of taste, often a fever.
“Fevers, however,” said Meador, “are no longer the initial sign of contracting the virus. Fevers with headaches are a good sign you should be seeking medical care….If you’re feeling any of the symptoms associated with the virus,” Meador explains, “stay home.”
Outbreaks are creating more intrusions into the daily lives of many in Hinton and Summers County, from schools, canceled gatherings and even temporarily closing restaurants. Kirks Restaurant reportedly will be closed for another week because of the virus.
An outbreak, Meador noted, can involve as few as one person in a nursing home, two or more in one school classroom, or on a bus it could be three or four cases.
“We are closely monitoring six outbreaks, one of which involved many contacts in just one case. The number of cases bounced from seventeen one day, followed by a single case the next day, followed by seven the next. One outbreak involved fifty contacts and we found it necessary to call in the National Guard to help with contact tracing.” Meador said, “this is the time for due diligence. We are experiencing a tremendous increase in cases in just the last couple of weeks.”
Meador keeps privacy and confidentiality close to the vest at all times, won’t name names or point fingers at anyone, any institution or business. He notes that people who fulfilled their time in quarantine with symptoms and go without a temperature for 24 hours can be released.
Of all of Summers County’s active cases thirteen active virus sufferers have been released with signs of symptoms. By Friday night Meador said of the 136 active cases here, 81 recovered and 55 are still active.
Calling in the National Guard to help with contact tracing is something Meador said they try not to do, but with the latest onslaught of cases the health department had no choice. He is again urging everyone to follow the guidelines: wear masks, wash hands, respect social distancing. The outbreaks are using up so many resources that, he stated, “We can’t let our guard down going into the holidays.”
