Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Alleghany Highlands, VA, COVID-19 Task Force, Update on Mitigation

Yesterday The Highlands COVID-19 Task Force met to discuss enhancing efforts relating to the following: resources available in the area, consistent public communication and ways to provide support/collaboration as the region works to mitigate COVID-19. The Highlands COVID-19 Task Force plans to convene conference call meetings weekly and increase the frequency as needed as the situation evolves. This will process shall continue as long as necessary for the region.

The Task Force covers Alleghany County, Town of Clifton Forge, City of Covington and Town of Iron Gate. Members are a diverse group ranging from local administrators, elected officials, School Superintendents, area first responders, area emergency managers, healthcare providers – including LewisGale Alleghany and state agency representatives. Each locality has developed a Continuation of Operations Plan (COOP) and all are working to adjust their normal operations as needed to foster and promote the mitigation strategies endorsed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

The Highlands COVID-19 Task Force, wants to remind everyone in the area, to practice and promote social distancing, frequent handwashing with soap and water, coughing or sneezing into your arm or tissue and staying home if you are sick. If you feel you have the flu, flu-like symptoms, high fever, cough and/or shortness of breath – contact your primary care physician or a local doctor’s office, to determine if you need to be seen and what they recommend. These are recommendations from the CDC and VDH that have remained consistent since proactive efforts began.

For more information on COVID-19, the following online resources are recommended, CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/ , or the VDH website: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/, for those without internet, VDH has a hotline that can be used, 1-877-ASK-VDH3.