Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department is announcing four (4) new cases of COVID-19 in Ohio County. Currently, the health department reports a total of 419 cases, including nine (9) probable cases and seven (7) deaths. Case surveillance, contact tracing, and monitoring continues for many of the reported cases.
Two (2) new positive COVID-19 cases have been identified within the Ohio County School system. One case is an adult employee at West Liberty Elementary School, who tested positive on 10/10/20 and the other case is an adult employee at Wheeling Park High School who tested positive on 10/8/20. The health department and school officials have investigated and identified staff at both schools that were direct contacts. Those individuals were contacted and placed in quarantine. No children were identified as a contact. School staff will conduct appropriate disinfection and cleaning of all areas within the school over the weekend. All students and staff should monitor their health. Anyone who develops symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested. Ohio County Schools and the County Health Department reminds all students and staff to continue to follow proper COVID-19 prevention and health practices including wearing face coverings, practicing social distancing, hand washing, and routine cleaning.
Investigation to date indicates that cases are associated with resident and nonresident vacation travel, group events including family gatherings, cases at higher education centers, and cases with no other risk factor, which can be an indicator of active community spread. The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department is monitoring three outbreaks among facilities in Ohio County. These facilities include two local long-term care centers and a local university.
Ohio County and Ohio Valley residents are advised to limit public contact, implement social distancing, work at home where possible, wear a face-covering when out in public, indoors, or at work, wash your hands frequently, and contact your personal physician if you become ill with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.
The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department is reminding Ohio Valley residents that if you are tested for COVID-19 that you are to remain in home isolation until you receive negative test results. Individuals who test positive will be contacted by a county health department and receive further instructions in regard to care and monitoring.
