Health and Medicine

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Roanoke Sheriff: 12 jail staffers, 0 inmates test COVID-positive

Published July 28, 2020 | By Web Staff
Roanoke City Sheriff Tim Allen says 12 of his office’s staffers at the city jail have tested positive so far for COVID-19, but no inmates have returned positive tests.
NEWS RELEASE (Boldface edited for emphasis): The Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office administrative team, along with our medical staff, continuously review the CDC Guidelines and Recommendations for Correctional Facilities and adjust our operating procedures accordingly. In conjunction with these procedures, there have been several protective factors put into place to avoid or reduce the spread of COVID-19 within the facility. The measures begin upon entrance to the facility,where all individuals entering the jail receive a non-invasive temperature check by either their supervisors or the nurse stationed at the booking area. They are required to answer questions regarding their potential risk of exposure, and also must wear a mask prior to entering both the Roanoke Sheriff’s Office and the Roanoke City Jail facility. Anyone exhibiting a fever or other symptoms of COVID-19, or who are not wearing a face covering, are prohibited from entering the facility. In the event that the person exhibiting a fever or symptoms is an arrestee, they are immediately masked and quarantined in a designated pod for a 14-day monitoring period. All inmates receive a mask upon admission to the facility and are encouraged to wear them while in their assigned pod. However, they are required to wear them while being transported through the jail, such as when they are escorted to the court or medical areas. All incoming inmates also quarantine for a 14-day period prior to being housed in general population. In addition, any inmate returning from the hospital is quarantined for 14 days. Any inmate that complains of a fever and/or symptoms that may be consistent with COVID-19, in accordance with CDC guidelines, will be immediately relocated from their current housing location to designated housing for quarantine purposes only. Medical staff will continue to monitor these inmates regularly to ensure their symptoms do not become more severe. The COVID testing is conducted based on CDC recommendations, and will therefore be completed when there is a reasonable suspicion that an inmate has contracted COVID-19 based on symptoms and/or exposure. Our facility is staffed with nurses twenty-four hours a day who have been trained in how to properly respond to respiratory complaints at any time. Due to the proactive screening procedures the department has in place, any symptomatic employees also receive testing.
To date, 12 Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. As a precaution, employees who had the potential for exposure were also sent for testing and quarantined, per consultation with the Virginia Department of Health. Additionally, as of today, there have been 0 inmates that have tested positive for COVID-19. Consistent with our departmental infection control policy, decontamination procedures were followed in the affected areas. The Sheriff’s Office continues enhanced cleaning procedures in the housing units, as well as Sheriff’s Office workspace and public areas. We encourage our staff and inmates to continue practicing good hygiene and extra hand washing. We remain committed to transparent communication with our community, state and regional partners, and to stay abreast of the evolving health and safety recommendations. Our focus continues to remain on reducing the exposure of this virus to our inmates, staff and general public, while conducting the essential functions of the Roanoke City Sheriff’s Office

Northam orders new COVID-related restrictions in Hampton Roads

Published July 28, 2020 | By Evan Jones

Gov. Ralph Northam

Governor Northam says most of Virginia is holding relatively steady in the rate of new COVID-19 cases, but the situation in Hampton Roads is much different and very concerning, and as a result, he is reinstating a new set of restrictions for that region only. They include no alcohol sales or consumption in restaurants after 10:00 pm, closing all restaurants by midnight, and limiting indoor dining to 50% capacity.  Private or public gatherings must not exceed 50. These restrictions will take effect Friday.

Northam says the spread of COVID-19 in Virginia is much different now than it was in April, and different measures must now be taken in efforts to combat The governor says the clear majority of new cases is now among those in their 20’s and younger, and these new measures are designed to address this specific situation. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:

 

Healing Strides celebrates imaging changes with ribbon cutting

Published July 28, 2020 | By Gene Marrano

G Marrano photo

Healing Strides in Franklin County celebrated some imaging changes – and emerging from coronavirus restrictions – with a ribbon cutting today. That includes equine therapy and other mental health services that do not include riding one of the horses on the Healing Strides 22-acre farm just off US 220. Young says mental health therapy may be more important than ever right now as people deal with the pandemic’s impact. The Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce co-hosted the ribbon cutting event. Carole Young is the Healing Strides CEO – she says the name is the same, but a new logo features a person hugging a horse, and their updated tagline is “horses inspiring hope”:

Delegate Sam Rasoul tests positive for COVID-19

Published July 27, 2020 | By Gene Marrano

Del. Sam Rasoul

Roanoke Delegate Sam Rasoul says he has tested positive for COVID-19. Rasoul’s Facebook page says he and his family are recovering and completing their isolation period. He’s the second federal or state lawmaker from the Roanoke Valley to publicly acknowledge being COVID-19 positive.

Roanoke Valley’s overall coronavirus case count increases

Published July 22, 2020 | By Web Staff

According to the latest numbers released this morning from the Virginia Department of Health there are 29 new probable or confirmed coronavirus cases being attributed to the Roanoke Valley. State health officials report 14 new cases in Roanoke City, 12 new cases in Roanoke County, and 3 new cases in Salem. Numbers in Botetourt County remain the same.

Free Roanoke-area COVID drive-up testing returns this afternoon

Published July 21, 2020 | By Evan Jones

The Virginia Department of Health is conducting four free drive-up COVID-19 testing events this week and next in the Roanoke Valley. It starts today at the Botetourt County Health Department in Fincastle from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Dr .Molly O’Dell is Director of Communicable Disease Control for the state health department’s district that covers the Roanoke Valley, and while she wonders aloud if this is the best use of resources, she says there is a benefit for many who get tested, even if they are not currently showing any symptoms. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:

Future testing schedule:

July 23 — Northside Middle School 5:00-7:00 pm

July 28 — Roanoke City Health Department 5:00-7:00 pm

July 29 — Craig County Health Center 5:00-7:00 pm

 

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