If orange or red, temps taken, questions asked
KINGWOOD — COVID-19 policies on entering Preston County buildings are now tied to the governor’s color scale.
That’s with the exception of the courthouse, which falls under the governance of the State Supreme Court and Circuit Judge Steve Shaffer.
Preston commissioners also set policies Tuesday to be followed by organizations that lease county property and updated the employee handbook to include COVID-19.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice established the color-coded County Alert System.. Counties are either green, yellow, orange or red, based on the umber of COVID-19 cases reported in the previous week. Green is good; red is bad.
“Now that we have this tool, now that it’s updated regularly, this is what everybody in Preston County is really looking to as far as how they move forward as COVID goes,” County Administrator Kathy Mace said.
Beginning Tuesday, when Preston is green or yellow, there will not be anyone monitoring people as they enter the annex, animal shelter, Extension office and sheriff’s office.
Masks and social distancing will still be required. Masks will be available in offices for those who do not have their own.
If Preston falls into orange or red, the door will again be manned by a county employee, who will ask those entering questions about their health and take their temperatures.
“It makes sense, so people aren’t guessing what we’re doing,” Commission President Samantha Stone said. She and Commissioner Don Smith endorsed the change. Commissioner Dave Price was absent.
Preston is currently in the green.
Leased facilities
A COVID-19 policy was also approved for the McGrew House, Bretz Community Building and Wrestling Barn, all of which are owned by the county.
These facilities will have to follow the governor’s executive orders, such as requiring masks and limiting the number of people present to 25, and must follow social distancing.
Before anyone enters a leased building, the lessee must ask if the person has a fever, has been exposed to anyone with the virus within the last 14 days or has any of a list of symptoms. Anyone who answers yes to any of the questions is not to be admitted.
Employee virus policies
“We’re not sure how long this is going to last, but it looks as though it is going to last for a while,” Mace said.
With that in mind, commissioners updated the employee handbook on what county employees should do if they are sick, test positive for COVID-19, are identified as a contact of someone who tested positive, are placed into quarantine or travel overnight to a virus hot spot.
Employees who travel to these areas are to get a COVID-19 rapid test when they return home.
If they test negative, those who go to a hot spot are not required to quarantine when they return but a mask will be required at all times, must self-monitor and are not to meet with their colleagues for 14 days.
“We have really kind of leveled off in Preston County,” County Health Department Director V.J. Davis told commissioners, during his weekly report.
“We’re looking more at how many new cases we’re getting,” he said. Preston has had six cases over the last week, “so we’re averaging a little under one new case a day.” The county can average one new case a day and remain in the green on Justice’s scale, Davis said.
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