If you are over 16 years of age and want to receive a Covid-19 vaccination:

Please visit www.vaccinate.wv.gov, call us at 304-478-3572 or your local provider or Walgreens in Parsons

             

Just a couple of reminders…

• Just because you have had COVID, it does not mean you cannot get it again.  We have seen multiply re-infections after 90 days of the first infection.  This confirms the importance of getting vaccinated as soon as possible.​

• COVID numbers are very good in our county right now, but we need to continue to be careful.  

 

We need to follow the precautions below.

​

PLEASE CONTINUE to:

• Get vaccinated when it is available to you

• Wear face coverings 

• Do not shake hands or hug others

• Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces

• Maintain a 6-foot distance between you and other people

• Avoid exposure to others who are sick

• Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds  

• Use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available

• AND GET TESTED, ESPECIALLY IF EXPERIENCING ANY SYMPTOMS

If you are a Tucker County Resident over 16 years of age and want to receive a Covid-19 vaccination, please register at: www.vaccinate.wv.gov or call:  1-833-734-0965

 

If you have issues with getting registered or need to confirm registration, please call us at 304-478-3572

 

New CDC guidance:  The following recommendations apply to non-healthcare settings.  Fully vaccinated people can:

• Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing

• Visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or physical distancing

• Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if asymptomatic

​​

For now, fully vaccinated people should continue to:

• Take precautions in public like wearing a well-fitted mask and physical distancing

• Wear masks, practice physical distancing, and adhere to other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease or who have an unvaccinated household member who is at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease

• Wear masks, maintain physical distance, and practice other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple households

• Avoid medium- and large-sized in-person gatherings

• Get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms

• Follow guidance issued by individual employers

Over the last three days, the Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of 0 additional COVID-19 positive cases of a Tucker County residents. Currently, we have NO active outbreaks in the county. Tucker County’s total case numbers are 507 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic, 6 active cases, 493 that have recovered and 8 deaths.

​​

Today, the Tucker County Health Department, St. George Medical Clinic, Preston Taylor Mountain Top Clinic, Tucker County OEM, Parsons Volunteer Fire Department, Tucker 911, City of Parsons Police, other county partners and many volunteers vaccinated 462 individuals (206 first dose and 256 second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine).  A huge thanks to everyone!  This clinic was a great example of the positive things that can happen when a community comes together. 

​​

In the coming weeks, this team will continue to provide these clinics weekly.  Scheduling will be done by using existing wait lists and the state’s new registration system, Everbridge. 

 

All West Virginians 18 years of age and older are advised to visit vaccinate.wv.gov or call 1-833-734-0965 to register for the COVID-19 vaccine. EVERYONE 18 AND OLDER NEEDS TO REGISTER, VACCINE DISTRIBUTION TO OUR COUNTY WILL BE BASED ON THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS REGISTERED IN THE EVERBRIDGE SYSTEM. 

​

REGISTER AT: vaccinate.wv.gov or call:  1-833-734-0965

​

PLEASE CONTINUE to:

-Get vaccinated when it is available to you.

-Wear face coverings. 

-Do not shake hands or hug others

-Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces

-Maintain a 6-foot distance between you and other people

-Avoid exposure to others who are sick.

-Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  Use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

-AND GET TESTED, ESPECIALLY IF EXPERIENCING ANY SYMPTOMS.

The Governor approved a revised Visitation Plan for Long Term Care facilities. We will no longer base visitation on the state map or phases. CMS has provided long-term care facilities with a Visitation Memo, which contains information to provide safe visitation for facilities that do not currently have an outbreak.

​

Cortland has been fortunate to be out of outbreak for the last several weeks and to be able to offer restricted visitation for the last several weeks along with communal dining, group activities and therapy, and beauty and barber services.

​

Beginning this week, in addition to Monday, Wednesday, and Friday visits, we will add Saturday and Sunday visits. Weekend visits will still need to be scheduled and offered on the hour for 30 minutes in a designated area. The weekend visitation hours will be 10 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm. 3 pm, and 4 pm. 

 

A few restrictions remain – just two visitors are permitted per resident and only one visit per hour. No one under the age of 12 is permitted to visit at this time. You can visit more than one time per week as long as there are open times, and it does not prevent someone who has not had a visit from receiving one. If you cannot visit on those days or during the listed times, please contact your resident care coordinator to schedule a visit.

​

We continue to allow homemade food to be brought to residents. The items must be an individual serving size, not something to share or consume over several days, and must be in a container that can be wiped down for sanitation.

​

Residents can receive flowers as long as they are in a container that can be disinfected before given to the residents. Please remember the residents on our Daybreak Unit cannot have glass vases or containers.

​

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to our Resident Care Coordinators by calling 304-463-4181. They welcome your calls and questions.  Families with residents on Daybreak (B Wing) and D Wing should contact Dana Quattro at extension 216. Melissa Harr is the family contact for residents on Wings A and C at extension 288.

In the coming weeks, the Tucker County Health Department will continue to provide vaccination clinics weekly.  At this time, per Governor Justice’s guidance, these clinics will be dedicated to individuals who are 65 years of age and older.  Scheduling will be done by using existing wait lists and the state’s new registration system, Everbridge.  All West Virginians 18 years of age and older are advised to visit vaccinate.wv.gov to register for the COVID-19 vaccine. Registration also may be done through the same system by phone, at 1-833-734-0965.

 

REGISTER AT: vaccinate.wv.gov or call:  1-833-734-0965

 

 

TESTING is available at St. George Medical Clinic 7 AM – 5 PM Monday – Thursday, 7:30 AM -4 PM Friday and St. George School Based Clinic 7:30 AM – 8 PM Monday – Friday and 8 AM – 12 PM Saturday.  St. George Medical Clinic is also offering testing at the Thomas Fire Hall on Tuesdays 8:30 AM -12 PM and at the Parsons Fire Hall on every other Wednesday 8 AM – 12 PM.  Mountaintop Health Center will be providing testing Monday – Friday (please call first 304-463-3331).

We are happy to report that all residents tested have once again come back negative! This continued positive news allows us to relax even more COVID restrictions and begin to allow more outside options.

 

Staff will continue to be tested twice a week in accordance with the Governor’s order. Residents will not be tested unless presenting symptoms or we enter outbreak status.

 

Starting next week, the Beauty Shop will be back in operation under COVID guidelines. In addition, we will resume restricted visitation starting Wednesday, January 27th with 30-minute visits on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. We ask that you only visit once a week until everyone has had a chance to visit at least once. Additional guidelines include just two visitors are permitted per residents and only one visit per hour. No one under the age of 12 will be permitted to visit at this time. Visitation hours are 9am, 10am, 11am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, 5pm and 6pm. If you are unable to visit on those days, please contact your resident care coordinator to schedule a visit.

 

As positive COVID results decline in Tucker County and around the state, we will once again allow homemade food to be brought to residents. The items must be an individual serving size, not something to share or consume over several days, and must be in a container that can be wiped down for sanitation. With little evidence to suggest that fresh flowers or plants transmit the COVID-19 virus, we will accept, but do not encourage, fresh flowers and plants. The vase or container must be able to be disinfected before given to the residents.

 

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, the Especially For You Gift Shop at Cortland is working on several gift ideas for purchase and delivery to Cortland campus residents. Please check our Facebook page or website for details.

 

Please remember that there remain several visitation options. Patio Chats during mild weather or Window Visits may be scheduled by calling the Ward Clerk at (304) 463-4181. Activities staff can schedule virtual visits using FaceTime or Skype.

 

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to our Resident Care Coordinators by calling 304-463-4181. They welcome your calls and questions. Families with residents on Daybreak (B Wing) and D Wing should contact Dana Quattro at extension 216. Melissa Harr is the family contact for residents on Wings A and C at extension 288.

 

Although it’s too soon to tell, we hope and pray that we’ve rounded a corner with COVID transmission. Continue to wear a mask in public, wash your hands regularly and maintain social distance. Hopefully before long, we can all look back at COVID as a distant memory.

Today, the Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of 1 additional COVID-19 positive case of a Tucker County resident. TCHD has investigated this case and has quarantined individuals who have been identified as close contacts according to CDC protocol. 

 

Currently, we have NO active outbreaks in the county. The additional positive case currently brings Tucker County’s total up to 443 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 20 active cases, 417 that have recovered and 6 deaths.

​

Also, today, Gov. Jim Justice announced West Virginia will roll out an online vaccination appointment system through a company called Everbridge.  West Virginia officials are aiming to have the system publicly available by 8 a.m. Monday, January 25, 2021.   Justice said older residents who are not comfortable online may still call for appointments.  And those who are already on waiting lists will not be bumped because of the new system, officials said.

​

Justice announced that 15 community vaccination clinics will be held for up to 12,000 people who work in the healthcare field. The state has scheduled and registered individuals for these clinics. Those clinics will be held on Friday and Saturday in Berkeley, Braxton, Cabell, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Kanawha, Logan, Mercer, Raleigh and Wood counties.

​

Next week, January 25-29, vaccine distribution will still be Regional (ONCE DETAILS ARE RECEIVED, THEY WILL BE SHARED).  Starting the week of February 1, 2021, VACCINE DISTRIBUTION WILL RETURN TO ALL 55 COUNTIES.

 

TESTING is available at St. George Medical Clinic 7 AM – 5 PM Monday – Thursday, 7:30 AM -4 PM Friday and St. George School Based Clinic 7:30 AM – 8 PM Monday – Friday and 8 AM – 12 PM Saturday.  St. George Medical Clinic is also offering testing at the Thomas Fire Hall on Tuesdays 8:30 AM -12 PM and at the Parsons Fire Hall on Wednesdays 8 AM – 12 PM.  Mountaintop Health Center will be providing testing Monday – Friday (please call first 304-463-3331).

The Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of a total of 0 new cases of additional COVID-19 positive cases of a Tucker County residents. Last evening, we did receive 5 new cases. TCHD has investigated these cases and has quarantined individuals who have been identified as close contacts according to CDC protocol. 

 

Currently, we have 1 active outbreak in the county. The additional positive cases currently bring Tucker County’s total up to 433 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 21 active cases, 407 that have recovered and 5 deaths.

​

Please take the following steps to try and slow this virus down and to protect yourself, your family, and your neighbors.

​

-Please get vaccinated when it becomes available to you.

- Wear face coverings. 

-Do not shake hands or hug others

-Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces

-Maintain a 6-foot distance between you and other people

-Avoid exposure to others who are sick.

-Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  Use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

TESTING is available at St. George Medical Clinic 7 AM – 5 PM Monday – Thursday, 7:30 AM -4 PM Friday and St. George School Based Clinic 7:30 AM – 8 PM Monday – Friday and 8 AM – 12 PM Saturday.  St. George Medical Clinic is also offering testing at the Thomas Fire Hall on Tuesdays 8:30 AM -12 PM and at the Parsons Fire Hall on Wednesdays 8 AM – 12 PM.  Mountaintop Health Center will be providing testing Monday – Friday (please call first 304-463-3331).

The Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of a total of 2 additional COVID-19 positive cases of a Tucker County residents.  TCHD has investigated these cases and has quarantined individuals who have been identified as close contacts according to CDC protocol. 

 

Currently, we have 1 active outbreak in the county. The additional positive cases currently bring Tucker County’s total up to 422 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 27 active cases, 396 that have recovered and 5 deaths.

​

Please take the following steps to try and slow this virus down and to protect yourself, your family, and your neighbors.

 

-Please get vaccinated when it becomes available to you.

- Wear face coverings. 

-Do not shake hands or hug others

-Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces

-Maintain a 6-foot distance between you and other people

-Avoid exposure to others who are sick.

-Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  Use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

 

TESTING is available at St. George Medical Clinic 7 AM – 5 PM Monday – Thursday, 7:30 AM -4 PM Friday and St. George School Based Clinic 7:30 AM – 8 PM Monday – Friday and 8 AM – 12 PM Saturday.  St. George Medical Clinic is also offering testing at the Thomas Fire Hall on Tuesdays 8:30 AM -12 PM and at the Parsons Fire Hall on Wednesdays 8 AM – 12 PM.  Mountaintop Health Center will be providing testing Monday – Friday (please call first 304-463-3331).

As 2020 comes to a close, I imagine everyone is looking forward to a brighter new year! As a team, Cortland Acres’ New Year’s Resolution is to remain flexible to change and continue to work to find outside-the-box solutions.

 

We are pleased to report that all residents tested for COVID have returned with 100% negative test results. We continue to test staff twice a week and are waiting for a few test results to return. We will administer the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine next week to those that received round one. We will also administer round one of the vaccine to any resident who did not receive it initially and would like to do so now.

 

As mild temperatures continue to pop-up from time to time, Patio Chats remain a face-to-face option. To schedule a Patio Chat, please call the Ward Clerk at (304) 463-4181. Our Activities staff can schedule and coordinate visits via FaceTime or Skype. Call (304) 463-4181 and ask for someone in Activities to schedule those visits. 

 

Window visits are difficult this time of year due to the snow and ice. So, if you want to plan a window visit, please call the Ward Clerk ahead of time to determine if it is possible. Your safety is important to us.

 

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to our Resident Care Coordinators by calling 304-463-4181. They welcome your calls and questions. Families with residents on Daybreak (B Wing) and D Wing should contact Dana Quattro at extension 216. Melissa Harr is the family contact for residents on Wings A and C at extension 288.

 

Wishing all of you good health and happiness through the coming year.

 

The Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of NO NEW CASES of COVID-19. Tucker County’s totals are now 287 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 30 active cases, 256 that have recovered and 1 death.

​

Across the state, things are not good right now.  Lots of new cases, hospitalizations are up, and we are seeing a lot of serious illness. 

 

What can we do to turn this around?

1.  Get vaccinated when it is available to you.

Stopping this pandemic requires using all the tools available. Vaccines work with our immune system so our body will be ready to fight the virus if we are exposed.

2. Social distance and wear a mask

- Wear face coverings. 

-Do not shake hands or hug others

-Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces

-Maintain a 6-foot distance between you and other people

-Avoid exposure to others who are sick.

-Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  Use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

3. If you have symptoms, get tested.

​

Testing is available at St. George Medical Clinic 7 AM – 5 PM Monday – Thursday, 7:30 AM -4 PM Friday and St. George School Based Clinic 7:30 AM – 8 PM Monday – Friday and 8 AM – 12 PM Saturday.  St. George Medical Clinic is also offering testing at the Thomas Fire Hall on Tuesdays 8:30 AM -12 PM and at the Parsons Fire Hall on Wednesdays 8 AM – 12 PM.  Mountaintop Health Center will be providing testing Monday – Friday (please call first 304-463-3331).

 

We’ve had an exciting week and are happy to report that all residents and staff that opted to receive the Pfizer vaccine were inoculated on Wednesday, December 16th. We will administer the required second dose with help from our local partner Preston-Taylor Community Health Centers in January.

​

Regular COVID testing continues twice a week for staff and weekly for all residents to internally contain the spread of the virus.

​

West Virginia was one of only four states to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine this past week. According to the BBC, nearly 3 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have been distributed to multiple locations around the country. Cortland Acres is one of the first nursing homes in the State to receive the vaccine and inoculate their front-line health-care workers and vulnerable residents. 

 

"Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can help protect you by creating an antibody response in your body without having to become sick with COVID-19," explains Cortland's Director of Nursing Robin Eye, RN. "The vaccine may prevent you from getting COVID or, if you get it, the vaccine might keep you from becoming seriously ill or from developing serious complications."

 

Federal officials expect 20 million people will get the first of two required doses by the end of the year. According to the Mayo Clinic, "vaccines to prevent the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are perhaps the best hope for ending the pandemic.

 

Cortland partnered with Preston-Taylor Community Health Centers to vaccinate staff members that opted to receive the vaccine. Using the 5,100 sq foot therapy gym to allow for social distancing, staff members received the vaccine on the morning of Wednesday, December 16th, and residents who consented received the vaccine that afternoon.

 

"It's a privilege to serve the community and to help in any way I can," exclaims Mike Dickey, a pharmacist at Preston Taylor. "This is an exciting and historic time."

 

According to the Washington Post, "West Virginia is expected to get about 17,000 doses in the first set of Pfizer vaccines. If the Moderna vaccine is approved, the State could get a total of 110,000 doses before the end of the year. That is enough to vaccinate 6.1 percent of the state population."

 

The Post goes on to explain that the first group "in line to receive a vaccine are100,000 health-care workers and 21,000 nursing home residents. Second in line include 56,000 essential workers, 48,000 teachers, and 15kFirst responders. The third and final line is 710k with preexisting conditions and 33,000 age 65+." Prioritization is based on the CDC advisory committee's guidance.

 

"I think there was a huge sigh of relief by those getting the vaccine," comments Cortland Administrator Beth Clevenger. "We work closely with our resident's day-in and day-out. You develop a bond with them. They become part of your family, and no one wants to expose any member of their family to such a disease. Even with the vaccine, there will continue to be lots of hand-washing, disinfecting surfaces, and continued mask-wearing. We like to err on the side of extreme caution when it comes to our Cortland family."

 

Data has shown that the vaccine starts working soon after the first dose and has an efficacy rate of 95% seven days after the second dose. This means that about 95% of people who get the vaccine are protected from becoming seriously ill with the virus.

 

Made up of medical and public health experts, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that health care personnel and adult residents of long-term care facilities be among the first phase of the vaccine. Other groups under consideration for early COVID-19 vaccination include workers in essential and critical industries, adults at high risk of severe COVID-19 due to underlying medical conditions, and adults age 65 and older.

 

Today, the Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of the death of our first resident due to COVID-19.  This resident was in their 70s and recently tested positive for COVID-19.  “Our hearts and prayers are with their family during this difficult time.”  TCHD was also notified of 4 additional COVID-19 positive cases of Tucker County residents.  TCHD is investigating these cases and has quarantined individuals who have been identified as close contacts according to CDC protocol. 

 

Currently, we have 5 active outbreaks in the county. The additional positive cases currently bring Tucker County’s total up to 268 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 50 active cases, 217 that have recovered and 1 death.

​

For seven month of this pandemic, Tucker County had one of the lowest infection rates in the state.  Currently, we have one of the highest.  Things are not good right now.  Our hospitalizations are up, and we are seeing a lot of serious illness.  What can we do to turn this around?

 

1.  Get vaccinated when it is available to you.

Stopping this pandemic requires using all the tools available. Vaccines work with our immune system so our body will be ready to fight the virus if we are exposed.

 

2. Social distance and wear a mask

- Wear face coverings. 

-Do not shake hands or hug others

-Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces

-Maintain a 6-foot distance between you and other people

-Avoid exposure to others who are sick.

-Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  Use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

 

3. If you have symptoms, get tested.

 

Testing is available at St. George Medical Clinic 7 AM – 5 PM Monday – Thursday, 7:30 AM -4 PM Friday and St. George School Based Clinic 7:30 AM – 8 PM Monday – Friday and 8 AM – 12 PM Saturday.  St. George Medical Clinic is also offering testing at the Thomas Fire Hall on Tuesdays 8:30 AM -12 PM and at the Parsons Fire Hall on Wednesdays 8 AM – 12 PM.  Mountaintop Health Center will be providing testing Monday – Friday (please call first 304-463-3331).

 

The Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of 11 additional COVID-19 positive cases of Tucker County residents. TCHD is investigating these cases and has quarantined individuals who have been identified as close contacts according to CDC protocol.  Currently, we have 5 active outbreaks in the county. The additional positive cases currently bring Tucker County’s total up to 242 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 72 active cases and 170 that have recovered.  

​

WE ARE SEEING AN ALARMING NUMBER OF POSTIVE CASES AND SOME SEVERE ILLNESS, IN THE PAST WEEK WE’VE HAD 6 RESIDENTS HOSPITIZED.  PLEASE TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS AND PROTECT YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR NEIGHBORS AND WEAR FACE COVERINGS. 

PLEASE WEAR A MASK

​

Governor Justice’s New Executive Order states:

-Face covering must be worn at all times in all public indoor places

-Does not apply to children under the age of 9 or anyone who has trouble breathing or otherwise unable to remove mask without assistance

-Does not apply when you are at a restaurant and actively consuming food or drink, or in a closed room by yourself

-All businesses must post signs and ensure requirement is being followed

 

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A FEVER TO BE POSITIVE FOR COVID

 

PLEASE BE AWARE and “Don’t think that your symptoms are only allergies and dismiss it as non-COVID-19 symptoms.  Many people who are POSITIVE for COVID-19 MAY NOT HAVE A FEVER, but have congestion, headache, cough, or other symptoms.  When in doubt, contact your health provider and get tested.”  GETTING TESTED is key in containing this virus.

​

Testing is available at St. George Medical Clinic 7 AM – 5 PM Monday – Thursday, 7:30 AM -4 PM Friday and St. George School Based Clinic 7:30 AM – 8 PM Monday – Friday and 8 AM – 12 PM Saturday.  St. George Medical Clinic is also offering testing at the Thomas Fire Hall on Tuesdays 8:30 AM -12 PM and at the Parsons Fire Hall on Wednesdays 8 AM – 12 PM.  Mountaintop Health Center will be providing testing Monday – Friday (please call first 304-463-3331).

 

Today, the Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of 6 additional COVID-19 positive cases of Tucker County residents (plus 1 that came in late last night (7 new since last evening’s update)). TCHD is investigating these cases and has quarantined individuals who have been identified as close contacts according to CDC protocol.  Currently, we have 7 active outbreaks in the county. The additional positive cases currently bring Tucker County’s total up to 208 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 66 active cases and 142 that have recovered.  

​

WE ARE SEEING AN ALARMING NUMBER OF POSTIVE CASES! PLEASE TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS AND PROTECT YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR NEIGHBORS AND WEAR FACE COVERINGS. 

​

PLEASE WEAR A MASK

Governor Justice’s New Executive Order states:

-Face covering must be worn at all times in all public indoor places

-Does not apply to children under the age of 9 or anyone who has trouble breathing or otherwise unable to remove mask without assistance

-Does not apply when you are at a restaurant and actively consuming food or drink, or in a closed room by yourself

-All businesses must post signs and ensure requirement is being followed

 

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A FEVER TO BE POSITIVE FOR COVID

 

PLEASE BE AWARE and “Don’t think that your symptoms are only allergies and dismiss it as non-COVID-19 symptoms.  Many people who are POSITIVE for COVID-19 MAY NOT HAVE A FEVER, but have congestion, headache, cough, or other symptoms.  When in doubt, contact your health provider and get tested.”  GETTING TESTED is key in containing this virus.

​

Testing is available at St. George Medical Clinic 7 AM – 5 PM Monday – Thursday, 7:30 AM -4 PM Friday and St. George School Based Clinic 7:30 AM – 8 PM Monday – Friday and 8 AM – 12 PM Saturday.  St. George Medical Clinic is also offering testing at the Thomas Fire Hall on Tuesdays 8:30 AM -12 PM and at the Parsons Fire Hall on Wednesdays 8 AM – 12 PM.  Mountaintop Health Center will be providing testing Monday – Friday (please call first 304-463-3331).

 

Tonight, the Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of 2 additional COVID-19 positive cases of Tucker County residents (7 total for today). TCHD is investigating these cases and has quarantined individuals who have been identified as close contacts according to CDC protocol.  Currently, we have 6 active outbreaks in the county. The additional positive cases currently bring Tucker County’s total up to 155 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 40 active cases and 115 that have recovered.  

​

WE ARE SEEING AN ALARMING NUMBER OF POSTIVE CASES! PLEASE TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS AND PROTECT YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR NEIGHBORS AND WEAR FACE COVERINGS. 

​

PLEASE WEAR A MASK

Governor Justice’s New Executive Order states:

-Face covering must be worn at all times in all public indoor places

-Does not apply to children under the age of 9 or anyone who has trouble breathing or otherwise unable to remove mask without assistance

-Does not apply when you are at a restaurant and actively consuming food or drink, or in a closed room by yourself

-All businesses must post signs and ensure requirement is being followed

 

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A FEVER TO BE POSITIVE FOR COVID

 

PLEASE BE AWARE and “Don’t think that your symptoms are only allergies and dismiss it as non-COVID-19 symptoms.  Many people who are POSITIVE for COVID-19 MAY NOT HAVE A FEVER, but have congestion, headache, cough, or other symptoms.  When in doubt, contact your health provider and get tested.”  GETTING TESTED is key in containing this virus.

​

Testing is available at St. George Medical Clinic 7 AM – 5 PM Monday – Thursday, 7:30 AM -4 PM Friday and St. George School Based Clinic 7:30 AM – 8 PM Monday – Friday and 8 AM – 12 PM Saturday.  St. George Medical Clinic is also offering testing at the Thomas Fire Hall on Tuesdays 8:30 AM -12 PM and at the Parsons Fire Hall on Wednesdays 8 AM – 12 PM.  Mountaintop Health Center will be providing testing Monday – Friday (please call first 304-463-3331).

 

The Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of 10 additional COVID-19 positive cases of Tucker County residents. TCHD is investigating these cases and has quarantined individuals who have been identified as close contacts according to CDC protocol.  Most likely, 2 more outbreaks will be declared from positives received today (currently, we already have 3 active outbreaks).  The additional positive cases currently bring Tucker County’s total up to 106 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic. 

​

Currently, we have 32 active cases and 74 that have recovered.  Also, today, TCHD received multiply positive cases of individuals that do not reside in Tucker County but do work here or attend school here.  Their contacts have also been contacted and quarantined.

​

WE ARE SEEING AN ALARMING NUMBER OF POSTIVE CASES! PLEASE TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS AND PROTECT YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR NEIGHBORS AND WEAR FACE COVERINGS. 

​

Governor Justice’s New Executive Order states:

-Face covering must be worn at all times in all public indoor places

-Does not apply to children under the age of 9 or anyone who has trouble breathing or otherwise unable to remove mask without assistance

-Does not apply when you are at a restaurant and actively consuming food or drink, or in a closed room by yourself

-All businesses must post signs and ensure requirement is being followed

 

PLEASE BE AWARE and “Don’t think that your symptoms are only allergies and dismiss it as non-COVID-19 symptoms.  Many people who are POSITIVE for COVID-19 MAY NOT HAVE A FEVER, but have congestion, headache, cough, or other symptoms.  When in doubt, contact your health provider and get tested.”  GETTING TESTED is key in containing this virus.

​

Testing is available at St. George Medical Clinic 7 AM – 5 PM Monday – Thursday, 7:30 AM -4 PM Friday and St. George School Based Clinic 7:30 AM – 8 PM Monday – Friday and 8 AM – 12 PM Saturday.  St. George Medical Clinic is also offering testing at the Thomas Fire Hall on Tuesdays 8:30 AM -12 PM and at the Parsons Fire Hall on Wednesdays 8 AM – 12 PM.  Mountaintop Health Center will be providing testing Monday – Friday (please call first 304-463-3331).

 

Today, the Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of 1 additional COVID-19 positive case of a Tucker County resident. TCHD is investigating this case and has quarantined individuals who have been identified as close contacts according to CDC protocol. The additional positive case currently brings Tucker County’s total up to 80 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic. 

 

Currently, we have 11 active cases and 69 that have recovered.

 

- WEAR FACE COVERINGS.

​

WE ARE SEEING AN ALARMING NUMBERS OF POSTIVE CASES ALL AROUND US! PLEASE TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS AND PROTECT YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONS.

​

Please Be Aware and “Don’t think that your symptoms are only allergies and dismiss it as non-COVID-19 symptoms.  Many people who are POSITIVE for COVID-19 MAY NOT HAVE A FEVER, but have congestion, headache, cough, or other symptoms.  When in doubt, contact your health provider and get tested.”  GETTING TESTED is key in containing this virus.

 

Today, the Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of 3 additional COVID-19 positive cases of a Tucker County residents. None of these cases are contacted to each other or any other known cases.  TCHD is investigating these cases and has quarantined individuals who have been identified as close contacts according to CDC protocol. The additional positive cases currently brings Tucker County’s total up to 76 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.

 

Currently, we have 8 active cases and 68 that have recovered.

 

WE ARE SEEING AN ALARMING NUMBERS OF POSTIVE CASES ALL AROUND US! PLEASE TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS AND PROTECT YOURSELF, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONS.

​

WEAR FACE COVERINGS. 

​

Please Be Aware and “Don’t think that your symptoms are only allergies and dismiss it as non-COVID-19 symptoms.  Many people who are POSITIVE for COVID-19 MAY NOT HAVE A FEVER, but have congestion, headache, cough, or other symptoms.  When in doubt, contact your health provider and get tested.”  GETTING TESTED is key in containing this virus.

 

TUCKER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Today, the Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of 1 additional COVID-19 positive case of a Tucker County resident.  TCHD is investigating this case and has quarantined individuals who have been identified as close contacts according to CDC protocol.  

​

The additional positive case currently brings Tucker County’s total up to 72 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 5 active cases and 67 that have recovered.

Please take extra precautions and protect yourself, your family and your neighbors and follow these precautions.

​

- WEAR FACE COVERINGS. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention release new information on Tuesday stating that evidence shows that wearing a mask can help protect you, not just those around you, from COVID-19. (The statement was an update to previous guidance suggesting the main benefit of mask wearing was to help prevent infected people from spreading the virus to others.)

-Do not shake hands or hug others

-Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces

-Maintain a 6-foot distance between you and other people

-Avoid touching your face.

-Avoid exposure to others who are sick.

-Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  Use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

 

Another important note, “Don’t think that your symptoms are only allergies and dismiss it as non-COVID-19 symptoms.  Many people who are positive for COVID-19 MAY NOT HAVE A FEVER, but have congestion, headache, cough, or other symptoms.  When in doubt, contact your health provider and get tested.”  GETTING TESTED is key in containing this virus.

 

If you are a close contact and your test comes back negative, do you still need to quarantine for 14 days after being last exposed?

YES, YOU MUST SELF-QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS SINCE LAST EXPOSURE. It can take up to 14 days after exposure to the virus for a person to develop COVID-19 symptoms. A negative result before end of the 14-day quarantine period does not rule out possible infection. By self-quarantining for 14 days, you lower the chance of possibly exposing others to COVID-19.

Cortland Acres has been informed of a COVID positive staff member.

Even though the county is listed as Phase GREEN on both the DHHR and school system maps, Cortland is now in Phase RED. 

​

Per protocol, Phase RED, the most restrictive phase, includes the following:

• Screen 100% of all persons entering the facility

• Screen 100% of residents at least daily

• Compassionate care only

• NO non-essential personnel

• NO salon services

• Only medically necessary trips outside the facility

• NO Communal dining

• NO Group activities

​

Resident safety has always been and remains our top priority. We will restrict all visitors except for compassionate care and have enacted other protocols to mitigate the virus's spread within our facility. We understand that you are concerned, and we continue to do everything within our power to reduce the spread of this virus.

​

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to our Resident Care Coordinators by calling 304-463-4181. They welcome your calls and questions. Families with residents on Daybreak (B Wing) and D Wing should contact Dana Quattro at extension 216. Melissa Harr is the family contact for residents on Wings A and C at extension 288.

 

Please remember that as our Indian Summer weather continues into an Indian Summer, Patio Chats are available and can be scheduled by calling the Ward Clerk at (304) 463-4181. For those who are unable to visit or would like to connect through FaceTime or Skype you can schedule those by calling the Activities department at (304) 463-4181.

With two weeks of limited visitation and minimum community spread, we are happy to announce the addition of Sunday visitation beginning November 8, 2020.

 

Visitation will be available Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sundays at 10 am, 2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm and 5 pm.

 

• Visitation may be scheduled by calling the Ward Clerk at 304-463-4181

• Visitation days will be Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

• The times will be at 10 am, 2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm, and 5 pm.

• Visits can only be made on the hour, for a maximum of 45 minutes

• Visitation limited to (1) resident per hour within the facility at a time

• Only one visit can be scheduled per telephone call

• We ask that you only schedule one visit per week to begin so everyone has an opportunity to visit.

• Appointments may be made up until the day before the scheduled visit. 

• Visitation is limited to (2) visitors per resident. NO visitors under the age of 12.

• Visitors will be screened before the scheduled appointment. Your temperature will be taken and a questionnaire must be completed upon entering the building.

• When visiting your loved one, you MUST wear your mask correctly, practice social distancing, present good hand hygiene, and refrain from touching or hugging your resident.

• Masks MUST be worn even when visiting outside.

• For the safety of visitors, residents, and staff, surfaces in the designated visiting areas are sanitized between visits

• We encourage you NOT to bring in food or items for your loved one, but if you feel you need to, the items must be in a container that can be disinfected. The container(s) should be given to the screener when you check-in and pre-labeled with the resident’s name.  The screener will disinfect the container(s) and give it to your loved one after your visit.

• No food or drinks can be given to your loved one during your visit.

• At this time, you still cannot bring or send live flowers or plants.

 

We respectfully ask that if you are experiencing ANY allergy or flu-like symptoms such as cough, runny nose, fever, body aches, etc.; please DO NOT visit.

 

We continue to actively monitor local infection rates and COVID protocols. While the rest of the country is experiencing a spike in COVID numbers, Tucker County is currently reporting four active cases. We continue to screen all staff and visitors entering Cortland Acres, as well as conduct monthly COVID testing of all personnel.

 

Please keep in mind these visitation guidelines may be changed at any time with or without advance notice as required by Governor Justice, WVDHHR, CDC, CMS, or the Tucker County Health Department.

 

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to our Resident Care Coordinators by calling 304-463-4181. They welcome your calls and questions. Families with residents on Daybreak (B Wing) and D Wing should contact Dana Quattro at extension 216. Melissa Harr is the family contact for residents on Wings A and C at extension 288.

As always, the health and safety of our residents is our top priority.

 

Please remember that Patio Chats are available and scheduled by the Ward Clerk by calling (304) 463-4181.For those who are unable to visit or would still like to connect through FaceTime or Skype you can schedule by calling the Activities department at (304) 463-4181.

 

As always, the health and safety of our residents is our top priority.

Today, the Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of 3 additional COVID-19 positive cases of a Tucker County residents.  Two of today’s cases have not been linked to any previous cases at this time and one is a household contact of a previously identified positive case.  TCHD is investigating the cases and has quarantined individuals who have been identified as close contacts according to CDC protocol.  Yesterday’s positive case and one of today’s positive cases are connected to Tucker County Schools.  However, the two cases have not been connected to each other at this time. Once again, close contacts are being contacted and quarantined according to protocol. The additional positive cases currently bring Tucker County’s total up to 58 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 9 active cases and 49 that have recovered.

​

Regardless of our color on a map, currently we are seeing many active COVID cases in Tucker County.  There has never been a more important time for us to be careful. Please take extra precautions and protect yourself, your family and your neighbors and follow these precautions.

​

- Wear face coverings. 

-Do not shake hands or hug others

-Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces

-Maintain a 6-foot distance between you and other people

-Avoid touching your face.

-Avoid exposure to others who are sick.

-Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  Use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

 

Another important note, “Don’t think that your symptoms are only allergies and dismiss it as non-COVID-19 symptoms.  Many people who are positive for COVID-19 may not have a fever, but have congestion, headache, cough, or other symptoms.  When in doubt, contact your health provider and get tested.” 

 

Remember, if you are a close contact and your test comes back negative, do you still need to quarantine for 14 days after being last exposed?

YES, YOU MUST SELF-QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS SINCE LAST EXPOSURE. It can take up to 14 days after exposure to the virus for a person to develop COVID-19 symptoms. A negative result before end of the 14-day quarantine period does not rule out possible infection. By self-quarantining for 14 days, you lower the chance of possibly exposing others to COVID-19.

We are happy to report that two rounds of resident COVID testing and one round of staff testing have come back 100% negative. We have begun the second round of staff testing. Per protocol, we remain in Phase RED until our entire facility tests negative for 14 consecutive days.

 

While in Phase RED, we

• Screen 100% of all persons entering the facility

• Screen 100% of residents at least daily

• Visitation is for compassionate care only

• No non-essential personnel

• No salon services

• Only medically necessary trips outside the facility

• No Communal dining

• No Group activities

 

As residents and staff continue to test negative, we may be able to change our color phase to match the Tucker County color code as early as Monday, October 19th. Depending on the color phase, visitation and other facility operations will follow the appropriate color guidelines.

 

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to our Resident Care Coordinators by calling 304-463-4181. They welcome your calls and questions. Families with residents on Daybreak (B Wing) and D Wing should contact Dana Quattro at extension 216. Melissa Harr is the family contact for residents on Wings A and C at extension 288.

As always, the health and safety of our residents is our top priority.

 

Please remember that while face-to-face visitation is currently restricted, Patio Chats is available by contacting the Ward Clerk. FaceTime and Skype are available by contacting the Activities department. Please call (304) 463-4181.

 

As always, the health and safety of our residents is our top priority.

Today, the Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of 2 additional COVID-19 positive cases of Tucker County residents.  These cases have not been linked to any previous cases at this time.  TCHD is investigating the cases and has quarantined individuals who have been identified as close contacts according to CDC protocol.  The additional positive cases currently bring Tucker County’s total up to 49 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 14 active cases and 35 that have recovered.

​

Regardless of our color on a map, currently we are seeing many active COVID cases in Tucker County.  There has never been a more important time for us to be careful. Please take extra precautions and protect yourself, your family and your neighbors and follow these precautions.

 

Another important note, “Don’t think that your symptoms are only allergies and dismiss it as non-COVID-19 symptoms.  Many people who are positive for COVID-19 may not have a fever, but have congestion, headache, cough, or other symptoms.  When in doubt, contact your health provider and get tested.” 

Today, the Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of 4 additional COVID-19 positive cases of Tucker County residents.  All four cases are connected to our county’s ongoing church outbreak.  TCHD is investigating the cases and has quarantined individuals who have been identified as close contacts according to CDC protocol.  The additional positive cases currently bring Tucker County’s total up to 47 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 18 active cases and 29 that have recovered.

​

Regardless of our color on a map, currently we are seeing a large increase in COVID cases in Tucker County.  There has never been a more important time for us to be careful. Please take extra precautions and protect yourself, your family and your neighbors and follow these precautions.

- Wear face coverings. 

-Do not shake hands or hug others

-Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces

-Maintain a 6-foot distance between you and other people

-Avoid touching your face.

-Avoid exposure to others who are sick.

-Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  Use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

 

Another important note, “Don’t think that your symptoms are only allergies and dismiss it as non-COVID-19 symptoms.  Many people who are positive for COVID-19 may not have a fever, but have congestion, headache, cough, or other symptoms.  When in doubt, contact your health provider and get tested.” 

​

One question we get a lot is…

"If you are a close contact and your test comes back negative, do you still need to quarantine for 14 days after being last exposed?"

YES, YOU MUST SELF-QUARANTINE FOR 14 DAYS SINCE LAST EXPOSURE. It can take up to 14 days after exposure to the virus for a person to develop COVID-19 symptoms. A negative result before end of the 14-day quarantine period does not rule out possible infection. By self-quarantining for 14 days, you lower the chance of possibly exposing others to COVID-19.

​

WE NEED TO TAKE ALL THE PRECAUTIONS WE CAN TO SLOW THE SPREAD, REDUCE ILLNESS AND SAVE LIVES!

This evening, the Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of 1 additional COVID-19 positive case of a Tucker County resident. This resident is part of a church outbreak in our county.  A church outbreak is defined as having 3 or more cases that are not of the same household in one church. TCHD also was notified of 1 student at Tucker County High School that tested positive for COVID-19 (that student is a resident of another county and does not count in our number of positive cases). TCHD is currently investigating each case and identifying contacts and quarantining individuals according to CDC protocol.

​

The additional positive case currently brings Tucker County’s total up to 30 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 15 active cases and 15 that have recovered. There has never been a more important time for us to be careful.  Cases are on the rise in our county and throughout the state and we must be cautious and take precautions like the ones below.   Tucker County has had 15 positive cases reported this week. 

​

Please take extra precautions and protect yourself, your family and your neighbors and follow these precautions.

​

Wear face coverings.  Executive order 50-20 requires face coverings in all indoor public places.  The order states that anyone over the age of 9 must wear face coverings in all public places where social distancing cannot be maintained.  (the order does exempt those with breathing issues that prevent safely wearing a face covering). The complete order can be viewed at https://governor.wv.gov

​

Wearing a face covering and the following these recommendations, are our best defense against COVID-19:

​

-Do not shake hands or hug others

-Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces

-Maintain a 6-foot distance between you and other people

-Avoid touching your face.

-Avoid exposure to others who are sick.

-Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  Use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

 

WE NEED TO TAKE ALL THE PRECAUTIONS WE CAN TO SLOW THE SPREAD, REDUCE ILLNESS AND SAVE LIVES!

As reported earlier this morning, on September 25, 2020, the Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) was notified of 2 additional COVID-19 positive cases and this morning we were notified of 4 more additional COVID-19 positive cases of a Tucker County residents (6 more total).   TCHD has investigated each case and identified contacts and quarantined individuals according to CDC protocol. One individual is associated with Tucker County Schools Transportation Department and the other is a household contact of this individual.  This case of a Transportation Employee, along with 2 previous positive cases, now meet the State’s definition of an outbreak.  A confirmed outbreak is described as two or more confirmed COVID-19 cases among students/staff from separate households, within a 14-day period in a single classroom, bus, or core group.  Also, all four of today’s cases are linked to other positive cases in our county.

​

These positive cases currently bring Tucker County’s total up to 29 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 14 active cases and 15 that have recovered. There has never been a more important time for us to be careful.  Cases are on the rise in our county and throughout the state and we must be cautious and take precautions like the ones below.   Tucker County has had 14 positive cases reported this week.  Please take extra precautions and protect yourself, your family and your neighbors and follow these precautions.

​

Wear face coverings.  Executive order 50-20 requires face coverings in all indoor public places.  The order states that anyone over the age of 9 must wear face coverings in all public places where social distancing cannot be maintained.  (the order does exempt those with breathing issues that prevent safely wearing a face covering). The complete order can be viewed at https://governor.wv.gov

​

Wearing a face covering and the following these recommendations, are our best defense against COVID-19:

​

-Do not shake hands or hug others

-Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces

-Maintain a 6-foot distance between you and other people

-Avoid touching your face.

-Avoid exposure to others who are sick.

-Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  Use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

 

WE NEED TO TAKE ALL THE PRECAUTIONS WE CAN TO SLOW THE SPREAD, REDUCE ILLNESS AND SAVE LIVES!

The Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) has been notified of 1 additional COVID-19 positive case of a Tucker County resident.   This individual is associated with the Tucker Valley Elementary Middle School.  TCHD is investigating the case and working to identify close contacts.  These contacts will be quarantined and will be monitored according to the CDC guidelines.  This positive case currently brings Tucker County’s total up to 23 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 8 active cases and 15 that have recovered. There has never been a more important time for us to be careful.  Cases are on the rise in our county and throughout the state and we must be cautious and take precautions like the ones below.   Tucker County has had 8 positive cases reported this week.

If you are traveling out of state, consider the following safety measures upon returning.

​

• Self-monitor your health 14 days following out of state travel. If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider.

• Stay home as much as possible and avoid contact with others.

• Avoid going into public places for 14 days following out-of-state travel.

• If you do need to go out into public, wear a cloth face covering when going into public places like stores, restaurants, and work/school.

 

Wear face coverings.  Executive order 50-20 requires face coverings in all indoor public places.  The order states that anyone over the age of 9 must wear face coverings in all public places where social distancing cannot be maintained.  (the order does exempt those with breathing issues that prevent safely wearing a face covering). The complete order can be viewed at https://governor.wv.gov

​

Wearing a face covering and the following these recommendations, are our best defense against COVID-19:

​

-Do not shake hands or hug others

-Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces

-Maintain a 6-foot distance between you and other people

-Avoid touching your face.

-Avoid exposure to others who are sick.

-Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  Use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

Since our update that was released earlier today, the Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) has been notified of 2 additional COVID-19 positive cases of Tucker County residents.   One is a household contact of a previously reported case. In investigating both cases, the source of the infection is unknown and suggests community spread.  Community spread means spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown.   These individuals are quarantined and will remain under quarantine until released by CDC protocol.  TCHD is investigating these cases and working to identify close contacts.  These contacts will be quarantined and will be monitored according to the CDC guidelines.  These positives currently bring Tucker County’s total up to 22 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 7 active cases and 15 that have recovered. There has never been a more important time for us to be careful.  Cases are on the rise in our county and throughout the state and we must be cautious and take precautions like the ones below.

​

If you are traveling out of state, consider the following safety measures upon returning.

​

• Self-monitor your health 14 days following out of state travel. If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider.

• Stay home as much as possible and avoid contact with others.

• Avoid going into public places for 14 days following out-of-state travel.

• If you do need to go out into public, wear a cloth face covering when going into public places like stores, restaurants, and work/school.

 

Wear face coverings.  Executive order 50-20 requires face coverings in all indoor public places.  The order states that anyone over the age of 9 must wear face coverings in all public places where social distancing cannot be maintained.  (the order does exempt those with breathing issues that prevent safely wearing a face covering). The complete order can be viewed at https://governor.wv.gov

​

Wearing a face covering and the following these recommendations, are our best defense against COVID-19:

​

-Do not shake hands or hug others

-Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces

-Maintain a 6-foot distance between you and other people

-Avoid touching your face.

-Avoid exposure to others who are sick.

-Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  Use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

Tucker County remains in Phase YELLOW

 

Based on the county alert system, calculating daily cases per 100,000 residents on a rolling average, Tucker County remains in Phase YELLOW for the week of September 21 thru 27.

ALERT from the West Virginia Healthcare Association:  NO CHANGE IN THE LONGTERM CARE (LTC) COLORS; Gold will be treated as orange for LTC reopening phases.

 

Yesterday, the Governor announced the addition of a fifth color (Gold) to the county school alert system. This will impact the weekly Saturday county map that LTC facilities rely upon in determining their applicable Reopening Phases.

 

We have been in contact with OHFLAC and the administration since the announcement, and it is the administration’s view that they do not wish to add a fifth phase to the LTC Reopening Phases. Instead, they wish to simply incorporate the gold counties into the Orange Phase.

 

Accordingly, going forward, counties in Gold and Orange will both move into the ORANGE PHASE of the LTC Reopening Plan for visitation phases. Facilities will continue to be guided by the Saturday map that was released last Saturday, and will remain guided by those colors until next Saturday’s map is released. 

 

The only exception to this rule is if a county moves into the RED during a daily map, in which case all facilities in that county must immediately move into the PHASE RED of the LTC Reopening Plan. Based upon this morning’s daily map, this would impact Kanawha and Monongalia counties.

Due to increased community transmission in Tucker County, Cortland Acres has entered Phase YELLOW of the West Virginia COVID guidelines. 

​

Beginning Monday, September 14th, visitation will revert to Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday by appointment only. Appointments may be scheduled for         10 am, 2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm, or 5 pm for a 45-minutes maximum. Please call the Ward Clerk at 304-463-4181 to make an appointment. Additional information surrounding visitation may be found by clicking HERE for more details.

 

As COVID continues to grip the nation, we ask that you adhere to the guidelines outlined above. Wear your mask properly indoors or outdoors, practice social distancing by staying at least 6 feet away from your loved one. 

 

If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to our Resident Care Coordinators by calling 304-463-4181. They welcome your calls and questions. Families with residents on Daybreak (B Wing) and D Wing should contact Dana Quattro at extension 216. Melissa Harr is the family contact for residents on Wings A and C at extension 288.

​

As always, the health and safety of our residents is our top priority. 

The Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) has been notified of 2 additional COVID-19 positive cases of a Tucker County resident. These positive cases are linked to one of our other positive cases.  These individuals are quarantined and will remain under quarantine until released by CDC protocol.  TCHD is investigating this case and has identified close contacts.  These contacts are quarantined and will be monitored according to the CDC guidelines.  These positives currently bring Tucker County’s total up to 15 confirmed positive cases since the beginning of this pandemic.  Currently, we have 4 active cases and 11 that have recovered. There has never been a more important time for us to be careful.  Cases are on the rise in our county and throughout the state and we must be cautious and take precautions like the ones below.

​

If you are traveling out of state, consider the following safety measures upon returning.

• Self-monitor your health 14 days following out of state travel. If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, contact your healthcare provider.

• Stay home as much as possible and avoid contact with others.

• Avoid going into public places for 14 days following out-of-state travel.

• If you do need to go out into public, wear a cloth face covering when going into public places like stores, restaurants, and work/school.

 

Wear face coverings.  Executive order 50-20 requires face coverings in all indoor public places.  The order states that anyone over the age of 9 must wear face coverings in all public places where social distancing cannot be maintained.  (the order does exempt those with breathing issues that prevent safely wearing a face covering). The complete order can be viewed at https://governor.wv.gov

​

Wearing a face covering and the following these recommendations, are our best defense against COVID-19:

-Do not shake hands or hug others

-Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces

-Maintain a 6-foot distance between you and other people

-Avoid touching your face.

-Avoid exposure to others who are sick.

-Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  Use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

​

WE NEED TO TAKE ALL THE PRECAUTIONS WE CAN TO SLOW THE SPREAD, REDUCE ILLNESS AND SAVE LIVES!

On September 2, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mandated every long-term care facility test all employees based on county spread of COVID-19. Since Tucker County is currently in Phase GREEN, we are mandated to test monthly. If the community spread changes, the frequency of testing changes too.

If an employee tests positive for COVID-19, then Cortland residents will be tested.

Cortland Acres will conduct the mandatory testing on all staff next week and continue to test per CMS guidelines for the foreseeable future.

Cortland will resume visitation beginning Wednesday, August 26, 2020, by appointment only with a new color-coded system to follow. The new system uses 4 color phases to indicate the level of community spread:

 

Green  (minimal community spread)

Yellow (increased community transmission)

Orange  (heightened community transmission)

Red  (substantial community spread)

 

This new Reopening Guidance plan utilizes the county-by-county School Alert color-coded system for public notification of Community Spread. The map will be updated daily on the DHHR website and the Department of Education website. To access the color-coded county map, please go to this website - https://wvde.us/school-reentry-metrics-protocols/.

 

The map color posted on Saturday nights will determine visitation for the nursing homes for the following week, Monday through Sunday. However, if the Daily County Spread ever turns RED, all facilities in that County will immediately enter the RED PHASE, regardless of the day of the week.

 

This new color system is the same as the previous color-coded system, but Phase BLUE is now labeled ORANGE to mirror the community spread color scheme on the school map alert system. 

 

Cortland’s Visitation Details

• Visitation may be scheduled by calling the Ward Clerk at 304-463-4181 

• Visitation appointments can be scheduled for 10am, 2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm, and 5 pm The above posted times allow for resident meals, activities, therapy, bedtimes & personal hygiene needs

• Visits can only be made on the hour, for a maximum of 45 minutes

• Visitation will be limited to two visitors per resident over the age of 12. Once school has been in session for one month or longer, we will look at visits for children under 12. If you have a special request for a visit for a child under the age of 12, please contact your resident care coordinator

• Only one visit can be scheduled per telephone call

• Visitors will be screened before the scheduled appointment. Your temperature will be taken, and a questionnaire must be completed upon entering the building

• Visitation limited to (2) visits per hour within the facility at a time

• All visitors must wear a face-covering properly, practice social distancing, present good hand hygiene, and refrain from touching or hugging

• Please bring your own face mask as our supply is limited

• There will be indoor and outdoor areas designated for the scheduled visits

• For the safety of all visitors, residents, and staff, surfaces in the designated visiting areas will be sanitized between visits

• Visiting requests will be rotated to enable as many different residents to receive visitors as possible

During his virtual COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced that he would again be shutting down visitation to all nursing homes in the state effective at midnight tonight, Wednesday August 12, 2020.

​

Looking forward, State health officials are looking to develop a nursing home alert system using county-by-county metrics to decide which nursing homes should be closed to visitation, in the future.

​

If you have questions or concerns please reach out to our Resident Care Coordinators by calling 304-463-4181.  They welcome your calls and questions.  Melissa Harr is the family contact for residents on Wings A and C, and Blackwater at extension 288. Families with residents on Daybreak (B Wing) and D Wing should also contact Melissa while Dana Quattro is on vacation, returning 8/17/20.

 

Please remember that social media options like FaceTime and Skype are still available by contacting our Activities staff at (304) 463-4181; ext. 218. Scheduled “Patio Chats” are another option for face-to-face time with residents. “Patio Chats can be scheduled by calling a Ward Clerk at (304) 463-4181. Non-scheduled visits to a residents bedroom window present a HIPPA violation and are not allowed.

Once again, we appreciate your patience and support and we look forward to seeing you.   

As you all know, COVID-19 cases are increasing in surrounding counties and nursing homes.  To help protect the Cortland residents, we are making several changes to our Phase Yellow visitation policy effective Monday, July 27th.

​

• New visitation days will be Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

• The new times will be at 9 am, 10 am, 2 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm, and 5 pm

• Visitation is still only on the hour and for 45 minutes to give time to clean between visits.

• Appointments may be made up until the day before the scheduled visit. Appointments can no longer be made the same day of the requested visit.

• Any appointments scheduled by you or your family before this phone call today will be honored for the remainder of this week.

• We ask and encourage you NOT to bring in food or items for your loved one, but if you feel you need to, the items must be in a container that can be disinfected.  The items will be given to the screener when you check-in.  The screener will disinfect them and give them to your loved one after your visit.

• At this time, you still cannot bring or send live flowers or plants.  Please let others know who may be visiting your loved one about our restrictions.

• NO FOOD OR DRINKS CAN BE GIVEN TO YOUR LOVED ONE DURING YOUR VISIT!

• When visiting your loved one, you MUST wear your mask correctly, practice social distancing, and refrain from touching or hugging your resident.

• Masks MUST be worn, even when visiting outside. 

• Please remember, if positive cases in our county increase or Cortland were to have a positive case, visitation would be restricted immediately.

• Please do not schedule immediately following your travel to a “hot spot” area.

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We realize that the restrictions are burdensome when you want to express your love and concern for your family member, but please remember the restrictions help minimize their risk.  You are in a position to help keep your loved ones healthy and safe, and we need your help and support to continue to do this.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our daily lives here in West Virginia and around the world. Some folks have started theorizing about the new normal as West Virginia slowly begins the process of re-opening. There is one thing that has remained constant during the pandemic...a strong Mountaineer spirit.

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 “We have been blessed throughout this ordeal," explains Cortland Administrator Beth Clevenger.  "Many local community members and businesses have donated hard-to-find supplies. We’ve received donations of bleach, hand sanitizer, and homemade face masks to boost our inventory. Just knowing that the community is thinking of us has made a world of difference."

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The Cortland family, which represents the nursing home, Rehab & Physical Therapy, Pineview, and the Pines thanks everyone that has us in their thoughts, prayers, and deeds.

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Generous support was provided by Preston Home Health, Davis Community Church, Dollar General, Kingsford Charcoal, Lowes, Nana's Daycare, Office of Emergency Management, Shop N' Save, Tucker County Health Department and WV Caring.

Individual support was provided by Phyllis Bager, Mary Bowley, Shirley Carr, Debra Huebner, Hugh & Sandy Kendall, Lois Nelson, Lisa Roth, Sue Reall, Donna Snyder, Donna Walker & Randy Whetzel for your thoughtful donations.

We had countless offers for homemade cookies, treats, and other delightful items. Unfortunately, with heightened infection controls in place for resident safety, we could not allow anything in the building that wasn’t prepackaged or able to be disinfected to enter the facility.

“It's times like these when you realize the importance of "community", states Clevenger. “Deep appreciation to everyone that has helped us along the way. I hate to think we’ve forgotten anyone, so please forgive us. All the well-wishes, calls, cards, letters, donations, and more have made a difficult time more bearable.”

Due to increased exposure concerns for the most vulnerable population in nursing homes, Governor Justice announced a phased plan for the gradual reopening of nursing homes to visitation and other services. The visitation will be phased in and there are many restrictions, but we are happy to have finally gotten to this point. Some circumstances extend the phases or may require a facility to go back to a more restrictive phase. In addition to the criteria given in the Governor’s announcement, Cortland is required to develop a plan that follows the current guidelines and provides facility-specific visitation rules.

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Beginning Wednesday, June 17, 2020, Cortland will drop back to "Phase Blue" with the following protocols:

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• Visitation is permitted for compassionate care only

Limited Group Activities & Therapy

• Group activities and therapy allowed if 6 ft. social distancing can be maintained

• Group activities and therapy must take place in a facility-designated location

• Proper hand hygiene must be used by residents

• Residents must wear face covering, as tolerated, to and from the activity or therapy

Limited Salon Services

• Beauticians can provide services to residents if the safety guidelines required for hair salons & barber shops, as applicable, can be maintained.

Limited Communal Dining

• Communal dining allowed with 6 ft. social distancing between tables

• Proper hand hygiene must be used by residents

• Residents must wear face covering, as tolerated, to and from the dining area

Trips Outside the Facility

• Only medically necessary trips outside the facility

 

These visitation guidelines may be changed at any time with or without advance notice as required by Governor Justice, WVDHHR, CDC, CMS, or the Tucker County Health Department. 

 

If you have questions or concerns please reach out to our Resident Care Coordinators by calling 304-463-4181.  They welcome your calls and questions.  Families with residents on Daybreak (B Wing) and D Wing should contact Dana Quattro at extension 216.  Melissa Harr is the family contact for residents on Wings A and C, and Blackwater at extension 288.

 

Visitation is still available using social media platforms, such as FaceTime and Messenger. Kindly reach out to our Activities Department at (304) 463-4181, ext. 218 to schedule your virtural visit.

 

As always, we appreciate your patience and support, and look forward to seeing you soon.  

Everyone at Cortland Acres understands how hard it is to be separated from friends and loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic.  However, we want to assure you that all of the residents are doing well and continue to be engaged, entertained, and active daily.  While you cannot physically visit Cortland at this time, we encourage you to schedule family time using Patio Chats, Skype, and Facetime video calls.  Simply call 304-463-4181 to set your appointment.

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As West Virginia gradually reopens for business, nursing homes have not relaxed their COVID restrictions. An official group has been formed to draft guidelines for reopening, and we look for more information to be provided in the next few weeks. Once we receive updated information, we will reopen according to the guidelines set forth by local and state officials to ensure the health and safety of our residents and staff.

As always, we appreciate the patience and support you have shown us since this began in early March.

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If you have questions or concerns please reach out to our Resident Care Coordinators by calling 304-463-4181.  They welcome your calls and questions.  Families with residents on Daybreak (B Wing) and D Wing should contact Dana Quattro at extension 216.  Melissa Harr is the family contact for residents on Wings A and C, and Blackwater at extension 288. If calling between June 2 - 7, please direct all calls to Dana Quattro at extension 216. 

As of this morning, in Tucker County we have tested 174 Tucker County residents, we’ve had 4 that tested positive (they all have recovered) and 160 that tested negative (in addition to that, Cortland Acres Long-Term Care & Rehab Center had 244 staff and residents that tested negative for COVID-19 (the majority of those are Tucker County Residents). 

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Many people feel that COVID-19 is over, but the numbers indicate differently.  Numbers of positive cases are rising in some of our neighboring counties and we must continue to be cautious.  THE TCHD STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT EVERYONE WEARS A CLOTH FACE COVERING WHEN IN PUBLIC.  We need to continue with hand washing and social distancing.

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TCHD and the county’s clinics are continuing an aggressive effort to test, identify and isolate new cases.   Our county’s clinics are in the process of testing essential workers in our county and TCHD is preparing to increase contact tracing and case investigation activities to respond to an increase in positive cases.  The goal is to continue to identify cases quickly and get those cases and their contacts under quarantine until they are deemed non-contagious by CDC protocol.

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We have received several calls on the following items:

-What does the 25-person group limit apply to…? Here is the answer received from State Health Department, the Governor’s office and the Governor’s General Counsel’s office:  “There are two categories: Essential businesses (which are named in phases by the executive order) and everything else is social. The 25-person limit applies to everything but essential businesses.” 

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-Executive Order 39-20 which was effective on May 21st, has terminated the requirement for individuals who were travelling from areas with substantial community spread of COVID-19 to self-isolate for a period of 14 days upon entry to West Virginia.

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-Private owned Campgrounds can allow out of state campers and are to use the guidance issued by the Governor (State Park campgrounds cannot allow out of state campers at this time).

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-On May 30, limited video lottery retailers, swimming pools, bowling alleys, roller rinks, pool halls and other indoor amusement businesses can reopen, and movie theaters will be allowed to reopen on June 5.

Beginning Monday, May 4th, the Rehab and Fitness Center at Cortland will reopen to physical therapy and rehabilitation patients after closing as part of   COVID-19 precautions. The reopening comes as part of the Governor’s West Virginia Strong – The Comeback plan allowing for a gradual easing of restrictions amid declining coronavirus cases in the State. 

 

Week One of the Governor’s plan allows for hospitals and outpatient health care operations, including physical and occupational therapy, to resume practice. The Comeback plan outlines additional business categories to gradually reopen Week 2 and continuing Weeks 3 through 6 guidelines across the State. 

 

“As healthcare professionals, our focus continues to be the health and wellbeing of our patients and staff,” explains PT Director of the Rehab & Fitness Center at Cortland, Alisha McCune. “As active members of the Tucker County community, we are also mindful of our responsibility to our families, friends, and neighbors. We look to provide rehab services to assist those with deficiencies caused by a recent injury or continuing from pre-COVID surgeries. We have put extraordinary precautions into place for outpatient safety and that of Cortland’s residents.”

 

The Rehab & Fitness Center at Cortland is trained in the following procedures – ASTYM therapy, Kinesiotape, Myofascial Decompression (cup therapy), and LSVT-Big for Parkinson disease.

 

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment at the Rehab & Fitness Center at Cortland, please call 304-463-4191.

The Tucker County Health Department (TCHD) and Tucker County Office of Emergency Management (TCOEM) with the participation of other essential personnel are leading a coordinated response to COVID-19. Monday night, TCHD & TCOEM facilitated the weekly tele-meeting for all responders to report and to plan our continued response to this current situation in order to protect our counties’ residents.  From that meeting, we felt we needed to address the following:

 

THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS (including residents returning from vacationing, a second home, etc.) who are travelling from areas with substantial community spread of COVlD-19 are required to isolate for a period of 14 days upon entry to West Virginia or for the duration of their visit, whichever is shorter.

 

There have been some confrontations between residents and individuals presumably from out-of-state.  These altercations may put the resident in additional risk of possible COVID-19 exposure or injury.  If a resident feels someone is in violation of the Governor’s Executive Order, they should maintain social distancing, avoid confrontation and contact law enforcement regarding the possible violation.

 

This coming weekend is the Easter Holiday weekend and we all want to travel and gather in large groups with all our loved ones, but we shouldn’t. Right now, the more of us that are in one place, the greater the risk of exposure and spread of COVID-19.

 

As of last night, Tucker County has NO additional confirmed cases of COVID-19, but the numbers of confirmed cases in West Virginia continues to rise, now reaching 412.

 

BUT, “WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS YET” and could see more cases at any time.  We need to continue to do what we have being doing and everyone MUST be social distancing and following these guidelines:  

 

-Wear cloth face covering

-Don’t shake hands or hug others

-Avoid crowds, especially in poorly ventilated spaces

-Maintain a 6-foot distance between you and other people

-Avoid touching your face.

-Avoid exposure to others who are sick.

-Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20    seconds.  Use an alcohol- based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

 

IF WE FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES, WE CAN SLOW THE SPREAD,

REDUCE ILLNESS AND SAVE LIVES!

The Tucker County Health Department and Tucker County Office of Emergency      Management are supporting the recommendation from the CDC regarding cloth face coverings. In continuing to respond to this situation, we recommend wearing cloth face coverings in public  settings, especially where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. 

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 “CDC continues to study the spread and effects of the novel coronavirus across the United States. We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of           individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms This means that the virus can spread between people      interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms. 

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In light of this new evidence, CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.”  -CDC Website

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According to the CDC, fabric masks are a crisis response option when other supplies have been exhausted. Local health departments, health care facilities, and hospitals can sterilize these masks and use them repeatedly as needed. Homemade masks will only be used as a last resort as they are not considered to be personal protective equipment since their capability to protect healthcare providers unknown. However, while we understand it is less than ideal, we want to do our best to protect all those providing care during this pandemic.

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This link has information on cloth face coverings, including how to make them at home.

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 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

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Orders for standard/disposable masks are on long back-orders, due to demand and supply chain issues. We are trying to protect our county’s essential service personnel on the front lines as we respond to COVID-19. 

 

YOU CAN HELP by sewing face masks that can be used if there are no other supplies available.  You can use the link above to see a pattern and make masks at home and then call any of these facilities about dropping off masks:

 

Tucker County Health Department 304-478-3572

Cortland Acres Long-term Care & Rehab Center 304-463-4181

Mt. Top Medical Clinic 304-463-3331

St. George Medical Clinic 304-478-3339

Tucker County EMS 304-614-2180

The Tucker County Health Department and Tucker County Office of Emergency Management continue to work with all county partners for a coordinated response to this situation.  Yesterday, Governor Jim Justice announced that effective today, March 24, 2020, that a “Stay at Home Order” would go into effect.  A “Stay at Home Order” is a mandatory order that requires West Virginians to remain in their homes and residences and leave only for ESSENTIAL SERVICES (a generalized listing of those services identified in Governor Justices Executive Order is provided with this update).

This is the time for us to do what we can to protect ourselves, our loved ones and all our neighbors. There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19 and no antiviral medication to treat COVID-19. The best way to prevent or reduce the risk of illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.  WE ALL MUST:

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-Comply with the “State at Home Order”, when out for an essential reason, use six-foot social distancing

-Avoid unnecessary travel, unnecessary shopping trips, and unnecessary social visits

-Continue illness prevention practices

 

•        Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

•        Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.

•        Avoid touching your face.

•        Avoiding exposure to others who are sick.

•        Staying home when you are ill.

•        Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

 

And the Bureau of Public Health recommends that all Individuals 60 years and older or people with compromised immune systems should avoid non-essential public places.

Friends and neighbors, we all need to do all that we can to protect ourselves, our loved ones and all our neighbors.

 

DHHR's COVID-19 information hotline 24/7, toll-free at 1-800-887-4304

There are two cases of COVID-19 in Tucker County. It is important for you to know that Cortland has not had any confirmed cases of COVID-19. We continue to restrict visitors and do a health screening of all employees and others entering the building who provide essential services such as our physicians and certain delivery personnel.

In order to continue to protect yourself, our residents and each other, please help us fight against the spread of COVID-19 by washing your hands frequently, keeping your hands away from your face, and practicing social distancing. If you are not feeling well or presenting any virus symptoms, please contact your doctor.

As we continue to face this COVID-19 virus, I wanted to reach out to as many of our residents as I can.  This is the time for us to do what we can to protect ourselves, our loved ones and all our neighbors. There is currently no vaccine to prevent or antiviral medication to treat COVID-19 and the best way to prevent or reduce the risk of illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

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Recently, I read a story that back in 1918, when the Spanish flu was plaguing the entire country, Philadelphia and St. Louis had two different approaches to the disease.  In September 1918, the city of Philadelphia threw a parade that drew 200,000 people, despite Public Health warnings regarding the Spanish flu.  Days later, hospitals in the area were filled with patients suffering or dying from the Spanish flu, more than 4,500 people in the Philadelphia area died from the virus.

St. Louis responded differently, after detecting its first cases of the Spanish flu in the community, St. Louis closed buildings such as schools, churches, courtrooms and libraries and recommended social distancing actions. The social distancing precautions had a positive effect, all these actions resulted in St. Louis experiencing one of the lowest influenza rates of cities compared to its size. Of the 31,500 who got sick in St. Louis only 1,703 died. 

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With all the social distance efforts going on around the country, St. Louis (more than 100 years ago) is proof why it can be so vital in saving lives. The Tucker County Health Department strongly recommends and strongly encourages social distancing and the following preventive actions to help impede the spread of COVID-19 in our communities such as:

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-Avoid all social gatherings of more than 10 people (and even be thinking of avoiding any non-essential social gatherings, think social distancing in EVERY situation.)

 

-Avoid unnecessary travel, unnecessary shopping trips, and unnecessary social visits

 

 -Continue illness prevention practices

• Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

• Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.

• Avoid touching your face.

• Avoiding exposure to others who are sick.

• Staying home when you are ill.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

 

And the Bureau of Public Health recommends that all Individuals 60 years and older or people with compromised immune systems should avoid non-essential public places.

 

Governor Justice just announced that effective 8:00 PM on March 24, 2020, he will be putting into effect a “Stay at Home Order”, which we all need to comply with.  This order can be found at governor.wv.gov.  Friends and neighbors, we all need to do all that we can to protect ourselves, our loved ones and all our neighbors.

“The health of the local community remains our number one priority. Tucker County is my home and I regard my role as a physical therapist as a responsibility and privilege to help my community. With confirmed cases of COVID-19 here in Tucker County, we want to protect our clients and the general public from any undue exposure to the virus. That’s why we have decided to temporarily close the Rehab & Fitness Center at Cortland until further notice.”

Alisha McCune, PT

Director of the Rehab & Fitness Center at Cortland

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Starting Friday, March 20th, McCune and her staff with be contacting existing clients by telephone to explain the latest decision and work to develop individual therapy plans that can be done from home. Telemedicine software platforms will be utilized to provide therapist-guided individual therapy plans.

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If you have any questions or concerns about the decision to temporarily close the Rehab & Fitness Center at Cortland, please call the facility at 304-463-4191.

Our local health department and emergency management office are working hard to provide the latest information on COVID-19.  They serve as a great source of guidance on the precautions to take to avoid and lessen the chance of spreading the virus.  The following update was received from James Snyder, Administrator of the Tucker County Health Department at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 20, 2020.

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Beth Clevenger, Administrator

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March 20, 2020 COVID-19 UPDATE

The Tucker County Health Department and Tucker County Office of Emergency Management announced two positive cases of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Tucker County. The husband and wife (52-year-old male and 60-year-old female) have a domestic travel history and have been linked to a confirmed case in another state.  Both individuals have been under quarantine since arriving back home to Tucker County and have been fully cooperative in following proper protocol to protect their neighbors and community.

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COVID-19 can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, including when an individual coughs or sneezes. These droplets may land on objects and surfaces. Other people may contract COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces, then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

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Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days following exposure. Most people recover from the COVID-19 without needing special treatment.

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The elderly and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems, lung problems, and diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.

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There is currently no vaccine to prevent or antiviral medication to treat COVID-19. The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The Tucker County Health Department as always recommends everyday preventive actions to help impede the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

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-Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

-Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.

-Avoiding exposure to others who are sick.

-Staying home when you are ill.

 

The CDC does not recommend that asymptomatic, healthy people wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.

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DHHR's COVID-19 information hotline 24/7, toll-free at 1-800-887-4304

Information about the coronavirus is not hard to come by these days. Knowing how to decipher fact from fiction and put the necessary steps in place to keep everyone safe is a whole different ballgame. Senior level management at Cortland Acres are constantly monitoring critical information from a number of local, state and federal sources in order to stay ahead of the spread of COVID-19.

 

“The enviable position of being the last state with no confirmed cases of the virus allows us to implement critical measures to help ensure the safety of our residents”, explains Cortland Administrator Beth Clevenger. We began restricting visitation for residents and all external group outings on March 12th. Staff were reduced to one point of entry and must submit to temperature screens and health assessment surveys daily.

 

Most recently, Cortland implemented the latest guidelines for nursing homes facilities from the CMS and mirrors the request of West Virginia Governor Jim Justice late last week.

• Cancel ALL communal dining

• Cancel ALL internal and external group activities

 

With communal dining restricted, residents may select their meals from The Café menu or opt for a daily meal special. CNAs use special tablets to place the order with the kitchen and then deliver the hot meal directly to each resident. Since Cortland had already cancelled all group activities, and internal activities like BINGO, reading of the newspaper and more are now being broadcast over Cortland’s internal television channel.

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In an effort to allow residents face-to-face time with their families while adhering to the strict guidelines involving resident safety, Cortland has instituted the “Patio Chat”. Taking advantage of accessible outside patio areas, families can schedule a date and time when they’ll be available to chat with their family on the other side of the window.

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“Face-to-face visits using our Patio CHATS helps residents and families stay connected”, asserts Clevenger. “The power of staying in touch with loved-ones is undeniable and helps counteract the tendency to feel alone in a crisis. So, plan a window visit soon, just remember to schedule your visit by calling 304.463.4181. Or call our Activities staff to Skype or FaceTime a resident. Same telephone number, and dial extension 218.”

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Communication with residents, their families and our own staff continue through a variety of mediums including external signage at points of entry, letters phone calls and emails to resident families, a recorded out-going message on our phone system, frequent posts to Facebook and our website, as well as an internal staff bulletin board.

There are currently no confirmed cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in West Virginia. However, this is a rapidly evolving national situation. The Tucker County Local Health Department is actively working with the Tucker County Office of Emergency Management, and all county partners for a coordinated response to this situation.

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The Bureau of Public Health has made the following recommendations for the Control of COVID-19 in West Virginia Communities.

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Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals.

 

Therefore, CDC, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.

 

Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social distancing.  When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual.

 

This recommendation does not apply to the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses. This recommendation is made in an attempt to reduce introduction of the virus into new communities and to slow the spread of infection in communities already affected by the virus.  This recommendation is not intended to supersede the advice of local public health officials. 

 

According to the CDC, the most effective means to prevent the spread of any respiratory virus, including flu, are:

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• Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

• Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.

• Avoiding exposure to others who are sick.

• Staying home when you are ill.

 

DHHR's COVID-19 information hotline 24/7, toll-free at 1-800-887-4304

For more information, please call

or visit the Health Department’s Website at tuckerhealthwv.com

As a result of the rapid evolution of this virus, we are announcing the following      functional changes at Cortland Acres:

 

· As of 4:00 p.m. March 12, 2020, there were no confirmed cases of COVID – 19 in WV.  WV is one of only 5 states without any confirmed cases. This and other current information can be    accessed at:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html  Those statistics are updated at 4:00 p.m. each weekday.

 

· A Task Force has been created to collect and disseminate information, as well as to implement recommendations

· ALL non-essential visitors are prohibited from entering the facility. This includes those visiting residents. The exception is to allow family members to visit a resident who is critically ill and nearing death. The other exception is to allow those visitors determined to be essential for daily operations which includes doctors, consultants, and vendors who deliver supplies, food, medications, mail, etc.

· We have instituted a “single point of entry” for ALL staff to enter through the front door. You MUST have your daily intital screening at the front door before entering the building. Once you have your initial screening, you may use the back door for breaks.

· ALL employees, essential vendors and consultant must submit for mandatory temperature screenings and key symptom survey questions upon entering the building

· Inventories of critical supplies are being monitored and vendors are being contacted for information regarding anticipated interruptions in deliveries.

· ALL group activities involving residents of Pineview and The Pines have been temporarily suspended.

· Signs have been placed at all entrances advising the general public of the visiting restrictions. A press release will go out to local media outlets and additional information is being disseminated through social media and the Cortland website.

Nursing homes and their staff are very familiar with infection control. After all, it’s their goal to keep those in their care healthy and well. So, when something like the coronavirus (COVID-19) comes along, they know that stringent infection control is important in preventing transmission of the virus to patients and fellow healthcare workers.

 

“The safety of our residents is our top priority,” states Cortland Administrator Beth Clevenger. “We recognize that the spread of COVID-19 is a critical issue and our number one goal is to keep the virus out of our facility. 

 

Using guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the American Health Care Association (AHCA), CMS, WVDHHR and others, Cortland Acres is taking the recommended steps to ensure the health and well-being of its residents during the coronavirus outbreak by restricting all non-essential visits to residents’ effective March 12, 2020.

 

Additional precautions have also been put in place to mitigate the introduction of the coronavirus at the facility, including the establishment of an internal Task Force to collect and disseminate information, as well as implement additional recommendations. Admission into the Cortland Acres Nursing Home by employees, essential vendors and consultants will be limited to a single point of entry and require mandatory screening of the key symptoms of the coronavirus.

 

Communication with residents about decisions to protect their wellbeing is ongoing. Families of residents are being informed (via telephone and letters) of the new protective measures, and in particular the restriction on visitation. Inventory of medical supplies are being closely monitored and vendors are being contacted for information regarding anticipated interruptions in deliveries.

 

“It’s very important that we restrict all family members and volunteers from visiting Cortland Acres for the time being,” explains Cortland Medical Director Dr. Margaret Kaiser. “We are in very close communication with local and state health officials to ensure we are taking all the appropriate steps. Our first line of defense is frequent hand-washing. After that, it’s a matter of simply using common sense – keep your hands away from your face, avoid physical contact such as handshakes and hugs, use alcohol-based hand sanitizers, cover your coughs, and disinfect the environment regularly.”