A client of Planet Fitness on Fort Pierpont Drive has tested positive for COVID-19, and Monongalia County Health Department is urging members who were there during a window of time to quarantine and watch for symptoms.
Anyone who was at Planet Fitness between 9 a.m.-3 p.m. June 24 should stay at home for 14 days since being exposed, which would be until July 8. They also should watch for symptoms of COVID-19, which include shortness of breath, fever, dry cough, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches and loss of smell.
“They also should do their best to stay away from others in their household,” said Dr. Lee B. Smith, MCHD executive director and county health officer. “Ways to do this would be to stay primarily in one area of the home and to wear a mask if you must be around others.”
About 205 individuals were at Planet Fitness during that window of time. They should not leave home unless to seek medical care, which they should only do after setting up an appointment with a health care provider and learning the correct protocol to be seen.
Individuals who develop symptoms should contact their primary care provider and get tested.
West Virginia, along with about half of the states in the nation, is seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases. In the past 10 days, the state has seen an increase of about 400 cases; in the 10 days prior to that, cases rose by about 240. As of late Saturday afternoon, the West Virginia case count was 2,782.
Monongalia County currently has 152 cases, up 21 cases in the past 10 days.
Everyone is encouraged to take precautions in order to avoid getting COVID-19, or, for symptomless individuals, giving someone else COVID-19. This includes wearing masks in public, washing hands thoroughly and often and maintaining a distance of six feet from others.
“These measures have proven to slow the spread of COVID-19,” Smith said. “If we want to continue to open up businesses and avoid the need to reverse some of the steps we have taken, people must take these precautions seriously.”
Anyone with questions can call one of two hotlines: WVU Medicine at 304-598-6000 and Mon Health System at 304-285-3798. More information can also be found at MCHD’s COVID-19 web pages, monchd.org/covid-19, monchd.org/covid-19-guidance and monchd.org/covid-19-stats. They also can follow MCHD’s social media: Facebook and Twitter @WVMCHD and Instagram at #WVMCHD.
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