Contact tracing is crucial in slowing down the spread of coronavirus, but local health officials are questioning whether they have enough staffing. Ten people are dedicated to contact tracing in Kanawha County, and West Virginia has called in the National Guard to help.
Another resident has died from COVID-19 at Eldercare in Ripley. Nearly one-hundred residents and staff have tested positive for the coronavirus at the facility. Five people have died since the outbreak began. Three more people in West Virginia have died from COVID-19 in West Virginia, bringing the death toll to 29, and there are more … Read more
Williamson Memorial Hospital closed its doors Tuesday and it’s one of several West Virginia hospitals to close within the past year. Mingo County residents will now have to go out of their county to find one. This closure comes although the building was purchased earlier this month by Williamson Health and Wellness and there is … Read more
A Huntington veteran of the United States Air Force gave his stimulus check to a food bank this week. WCHS TV reported Shannon Harshbarger has become a regular donor at the Facing Hunger Food Bank and volunteers at other non-profits. When his government stimulus check for $1200 was deposited into his account last week, he … Read more
Kanawha County Schools has made the decision to hold graduation ceremonies in June, as long as state and local officials approve of social gatherings at those times. A statement on the district’s website says all of its high schools have backup graduation dates between June 24-27. The dates are tentative due to COVID-19 and will … Read more
Cabell County seniors can plan to graduate in person this summer. Superintendent Ryan Saxe addressed the class of 2020 in a YouTube video on the school district’s account and said the district is making plans to hold Huntington High School’s graduation June 25 and Cabell Midland High School’s on the 26th. Both ceremonies will be … Read more
The West Virginia Department of Education says it has postponed the Governor’s Schools programs planned for this summer because of COVID-19. The programs are usually held at West Virginia colleges and universities and state facilities. West Virginia University and Marshall University were scheduled to host Governor’s Schools residential academies this year, but with on-site instruction … Read more
Putnam County is lowering taxes to help people deal with the financial fallout of the pandemic. County Commissioners voted to cut property taxes by five-percent.
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department tested more than two dozen people for COVID-19 at a drive-thru testing site downtown. Another drive-thru site will be set up next week at Mary C. Snow West Side Elementary School. Widespread testing is a key component of easing social distancing rules.
The state Department of Health is issuing strict guidelines that will allow hospitals to begin non-emergency surgeries next week. Expanding hospital services is seen as first step in re-starting the state’s economy.