WHEELING-OHIO COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

PRESS RELEASE

Tuesday, June 17, 2020 (1:30pm)

 

The Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department is announcing that the First Baptist Church in Wheeling, WV has an outbreak of COVID-19.

 

At this time, the health departments in Ohio and Marshall Counties are monitoring 4 positive cases of COVID-19 with many other tests pending. The outbreak investigation began on the evening of 6/16/20.  Cases associated with this outbreak were identified beginning as early as 6/10/20.  The church leadership is working with the health department to insure all people exposed have been contacted and tested.

 

The health department encourages all those who are having symptoms or feel as if they have been exposed to be tested.   The health department continues to advise everyone to practice social distancing, good hygiene and wearing masks while in public.

 

Currently, the health department reports 59 positive cases, including one death.  Case surveillance, contact tracing and monitoring continues for many of the reported cases.

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 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 contact by a county health department and receive further instructions in regards to care and monitoring.

You should restrict activities outside your home, except for getting medical care. Do not go to work, school, or public areas. If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19 prior to arriving at the facility. This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.

The off-site Wheeling Hospital COVID-19 testing clinic continues operations.  Ohio Valley residents who are interest in being tested at this location should call the one-call number at (304) 221-3995. Testing is also available at Doctor’s Urgent Care, call (304) 232-0725 for more information.  MedExpress in Elm Grove is also testing for COVID-19, for more information call (304) 242-4228.

Testing will also be held on Friday and Saturday, June 19 & 20, 2020, from 9:00am to 4:00pm.  The June 19th clinic will be held at the Exley Center in Hil Dar at 2155 Angle Ave.  The June 20th clinic is in the parking lot of Bethlehem Apostolic Temple’s North Wheeling Dream Center.  Traffic enters Garden Court; clinic is on West Street and traffic exits 4th Street.  These are free and open clinics with no residency restrictions.  The clinics are for those with or without symptoms and no insurance is needed.  Participants need to bring a driver’s license, photo ID or other proof of address.  Patients under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.  This is a mass drive up testing clinic and participants will be tested either in their personal vehicles or at a walk-up location near the testing site.  Locations will be announced later.