Health and Medicine
According to the latest numbers released by the VDH, there are 7 new confirmed cases of coronavirus in Roanoke City, two in Roanoke County, and one new case in Salem. Botetourt County’s overall case count remains at 31. There are no new confirmed deaths in the Roanoke Valley.
The VDH is reporting there are 1,005 new coronavirus cases statewide bringing the commonwealth’s overall case count to 32,145. State health officials are also reporting over a 24 hour period, there were 27 new coronavirus related deaths bringing the overall number of dead in Virginia to 1,041
From Virginia Department of Health: (CHRISTIANSBURG, Virginia) – The New River Valley Public Health Task Force will host an interactive, virtual town hall on COVID-19 and local government, Wednesday, May 20 from 6 to 7 p.m. All area residents are invited to participate.
This is the third in a six-week series of town halls. Each has a specific focus and features a panel of local experts, who will offer remarks and answer questions. This week’s panel includes representatives from the Counties of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery and Pulaski, City of Radford and Towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg. Additional dates, topics and invited panelists are:
- May 27 – Local/Small Business – Downtown Blacksburg, Inc., Floyd, Montgomery and Pulaski County Chambers of Commerce, Giles County Tourism, Radford Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Development Center
- June 3 – Education/K-12 – Radford Public Schools, Floyd, Giles, Montgomery and Pulaski County Public Schools
- June 10 – Education/Colleges and Universities – New River Community College, Radford University, Virginia Tech
Submit your questions anytime, as follows:
- In writing athttp://montva.com/NRVtownhall;
- Record your question by voicemail at 540-391-0385; and
- On Twitter with the hashtag #NRVStrongerTogether.
Written questions can be submitted during each town hall (at http://montva.com/NRVtownhall), and will be addressed as time allows.
The town halls will stream live at www.youtube.com/montgomeryva, and will be archived on YouTube, agency websites and social media, and rebroadcast on local cable access stations including Comcast and Shentel Channel 190 (Christiansburg and Montgomery County) and Comcast Channel 2 (Blacksburg).
The New River Valley Public Health Task Force is composed of local health, public safety, education and government agencies that work to proactively provide local residents and communities with information about COVID-19, to coordinate efforts to reduce its local impact and to facilitate community recovery.
For more information, visit www.montva.com/coronavirus and www.vdh.virginia.gov, or call the New River Health District public health call center at 540-267-8240. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. After hours, leave a message.
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Photo: Rachel Hartley Instagram
NEW YORK (AP) — A nurse from Virginia took a unique path to travel to New York to help out during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rather than risk flying during the crisis, 26-year-old Rachel Hartley and her husband sailed hundreds of miles to Brooklyn last month.
Hartley, of Lynchburg, told the New York Post she left her job at a local hospital and has been working four 12-hour night shifts a week at NYU Langone Brooklyn.
She and husband Taylor have been living on the boat, a four-bedroom, 50-foot vessel named Turning Points, at a marina in Brooklyn Heights. Hartley said the marina owner has even waived thousands of dollars in monthly fees for the couple.
The trip took two days and featured cold temperatures and windy conditions. Hartley said it’s the hardest-working environment she’s experienced, but that it’s been well worth it.
“My ultimate desire is to give people help and love. For me, going to the epicenter of a pandemic was the best way to do that,” she said.
DMV photo
Virginia’s DMV will start reopening some of its offices Monday – nine of them around the state, including Roanoke – and for those who must attend to business in person, those customer service centers are going to look a lot different. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
If you have a license or registration matter that can be handled on line or by mail, you are currently required to do it that way, but if you must attend to things in person, you must first make an appointment. In- person business will mainly involve title returns, people moving to Virginia from other states and first-time drivers licenses.
When you walk in to the Roanoke office, there are ten counters set up with plexiglass shields — and a single chair eight feet behind each one.
DMV officials expect to gradually equip and reopen all customer service center by the end of July.
This is the day many Virginia businesses can re-open, including hair salons and barbershops. But in many places, getting your hair cut will probably not resemble what you are used to. Take the Hollins Barber Shop, where a lot has changed — like plastic dividers now between the five chairs and appointments for the first time ever. There is no waiting inside and no conversation that comes with it, something that Mike Hughes at Hollins says is often as important to customers as the haircut itself. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
VDH is reporting a second straight day of increased coronavirus case counts in Virginia, with 1,067 new cases reported as of this morning for a statewide total of 27,813. Over that same 24-hr period the number of deaths trended downward for a third straight day, with 28 reported bringing the total number of dead to 955.
Gov. Ralph Northam
Governor Northam says Virginia is now prepared to handle any increases in COVID-19 cases that might now occur, and that’s why he feels comfortable phasing in the reopening starting tomorrow — even as his administration plans to combat it well into the future. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
MGN
The Southwest Virginia and Bedford Regional Water Authorities are urging those businesses planning to re-open Friday to first run water through all the faucets for several minutes. Officials say chlorine levels dissipate in pipes that are unused for long periods, and that could diminish the water’s ability to remain free of bacteria. Opening the faucets lets you access more freshly-treated water already flowing through distribution lines.
NEWS RELEASE: As businesses begin preparations to reopen on May 15th, the Bedford Regional Water Authority and Western Virginia Water Authority (Authorities) are encouraging all businesses who have had reduced operations or had their doors shut since the Commonwealth of Virginia Executive Order 53 closed non-essential businesses on March 24, 2020 to flush the water that is in their internal plumbing pipes before they reopen. The residual chlorine level in the water that has been sitting unused in pipes for a long period of time may have dissipated to a point where the disinfection level is no longer effective at keeping the water within a facility free of bacteria. Therefore, the water in the plumbing pipes may be unsuitable for drinking, showering or other uses.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC): “Stagnant, or standing water can cause conditions that increase the risk for growth and spread of Legionella and other biofilm-associated bacteria. When water is stagnant, hot water temperatures can decrease to the Legionella growth range (77-108°F, 25-42°C). Stagnant water can also lead to low or undetectable levels of disinfectant, such as chlorine. Ensure that your water system is safe to use after a prolonged shutdown to minimize the risk of Legionnaires’ disease and other diseases associated with water.”
The water treatment process utilized by both Authorities ensures that water is safe and healthy to drink with regular usage. Since business closures on March 24, the residual chlorine in the water may have dissipated to a point where it is no longer effective at keeping the water within your facility free of bacteria.
To ensure that facilities are receiving fresh water, businesses are encouraged to run water through all points of use (faucets, spigots, shower heads, etc.) with both hot and cold water for several minutes prior to using the water. This will allow any stagnant water to be flushed from the pipes and replaced with fresh water drawn from the Authority’s distribution lines.
It is also important to clean and disinfect all water fountains, water features, eye wash centers, safety showers, etc. prior to use.
“Providing clean water to our customers is top priority for the Authority,” said Brian Key, Bedford Regional Water Authority Executive Director. “That is why it is so important for businesses to flush the water prior to their business reopening. We want to make ensure citizens are drinking the water that we treated yesterday and not water that has been sitting in their building’s pipes for a few weeks.” “The Western Virginia Water Authority’s mission provide safe and essential water supply to our customers is more important than ever as the communities and customers we serve are impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. We are here to provide important information and answers about your water quality, our treatment processes and the important steps you need to take to keep the water in your business or residence safe” stated Michael McEvoy, Executive Director for the Western Virginia Water Authority.
The Bedford Regional Water Authority and Western Virginia Water Authority are considered essential businesses and have been able to continue, and will continue, treating water and wastewater throughout the pandemic. Even prior to this health crisis, the water treatment process in place for both water and wastewater eliminates viruses such as COVID-19 along with other viral strains and harmful bacteria.
The CDC also has additional resources for businesses on how to prepare their water systems for reopening: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/building-water-system.html
Carilion is part of a national research study that aims to assess how recovered COVID-19 patients can help current ones battle the virus. It involves the blood plasma that takes antibodies from those recovered COVID patients and is infused into those who are seriously ill with it. WFIR’s Evan Jones has more:
NEWS RELEASE: Carilion is participating in a national research study assessing the use of convalescent plasma in the treatment of COVID-19. Hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 disease will have access to the therapy, which uses donated plasma from patients who have already recovered.
Plasma infusion takes antibodies from recovered patients and introduces them to those currently receiving treatment, helping fight infection for the sickest of the sick. This type of therapy has proven effective in the treatment of other viral infections, and researchers are investigating its application to the treatment of COVID-19.
Dr. Ekta Bansal, an Infectious Disease physician, is leading this trial for Carilion as part of the larger clinical trial sponsored by the FDA and Mayo Clinic; it includes more than 1,500 health systems across the country.
Plasma donations are needed. Patients who have recovered from COVID‑19 can donate plasma through the American Red Cross. Click these links to learn more about the research and how people can donate.