KINGWOOD — Preston County could be going from green to yellow on the state’s COVID-19 map by the end of the week.
County Health Department Director V.J. Davis said the county had four new COVID-19 cases Saturday and Sunday, three Monday and one Tuesday morning.
“We’re experiencing an uptick,” he said. “Two were prison related, three were from out of state travel and a couple we can’t figure out, so community transmissions.”
Davis, speaking at the Preston County Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting Tuesday, said the best way to stop the spread of COVID is by wearing a mask.
He said the majority of people he has seen without masks are those in the age group that can have COVID without showing symptoms.
“It’s here. It’s not going anywhere,” Davis said. “Some experts say we are going to have an upsurge this winter.”
He said the Preston County Health Department is currently working on plans to set up testing sites. The sites can also be used when a vaccine is available
Davis said he has also ordered a heated decontamination kit that can be set up in parking lots in colder weather to do testing and vaccinations.
Decontamination shelters are tent-like structures that can be deployed in any terrain and can withstand extreme weather and temperature conditions.
Preston County Health Officer Dr. Fred Conley said the highest risk is not from medical staff who have PPE and takes precautions.
“The highest risk is sitting with coworkers a foot apart having lunch,” he said.
Matt Murray, representing Preston County Schools, at the meeting, said only six cases have been reported since school started.
“None of the cases were student to student,” he said. “And some might have been false positives.”
Preston County Senior Citizens Executive Director Janie Lou White said her organization is serving 25% more meals than they did pre-COVID.
She said 350 homes receive food.
“The monthly give away food and Healthy Harvest have been very helpful,” White said.
She said transportation is ongoing and community service to other areas will be restarting soon.
“Our Morgantown route (Buckwheat Express) is continuing with no charge to riders,” White said.
She said all of the vehicles are fogged weekly with an anti-viral fogger.
Preston Emergency Management/911 Assistant Director Justin Wolfe said a new laptop paid for by a LEPC grant is currently up and running.
The next meeting of the Preston County Emergency Planning Committee will be 8:15 a.m. January 5.
TWEET@DominionPostWV
