The New River Health District (NRHD) is comprised of the counties of Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski and the City of Radford, Virginia. District Office headquarters are located in the Montgomery County Health Department in Christiansburg.
As of February 26, 2020, 15 cases of COVID-19 have been detected in the U.S. One of the 15 cases is in a person who reportedly did not have relevant travel history or exposure to another COVID-19 patient. It’s possible this could be an instance of community spread of COVID-19, which would be the first time that has happened in the United States. It’s also possible, however, that the patient may have been exposed to a returned traveler who was infected. Additionally, 45 cases of COVID-19 have been detected among the 1,100+ people repatriated from Hubei Province, China, and the Diamond Princess back to the United States.
The current risk of COVID-19 infection to the American public is still considered low. As of today, there are no COVID-19 cases in Virginia.
The New River Health District continues to work with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to respond to the expanding global outbreak of COVID-19, caused by a new coronavirus. The vast majority of cases have occurred in China. However, community spread is being detected in a growing number of countries. Community spread means spread of an illness for which the source of infection is unknown. Destinations with widespread or sustained community spread of COVID-19 include China, Iran, Italy, Japan, and South Korea. Other destinations with instances of apparent community spread include Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The New River Health District’s public health response focuses on multiple areas, including daily coordination with VDH and CDC, internal NRHD preparation, working with community partners (local governments, hospitals, etc.), and traveler monitoring. Local health departments coordinate disease surveillance with CDC for travelers returning from China and people who may have had contact with a known COVID-19 patient. All flights from China are being funneled to 11 U.S. airports where on-site public health screening is conducted. Health district staff contact U.S. citizens and permanent residents from China who return to their health district and complete a risk assessment. Based on the risk level, the traveler may be asked to self-quarantine, practice social distancing and/or self-monitor for symptoms or signs of COVID-19.
On a case-by-case basis, the New River Health District works with local emergency departments, urgent care centers, private physician offices and other healthcare providers to evaluate people where there is concern about COVID-19. The health district has shared CDC criteria for a person to be tested for COVID-19 with local healthcare systems. Calls the health district receives regarding possible COVID-19 cases provide a good opportunity to discuss the situation and reinforce current testing criteria and infection control recommendations. If local healthcare providers have COVID-19 questions, the health district is a good place to get the answers.
Because this is an emerging disease, some aspects of COVID-19 are not well understood at this time. Currently, there is not a COVID-19 vaccine or specific treatment other than supportive care. Scientists are working on developing a vaccine and treatment. Public health experts around the globe are working vigilantly to find out more information about the virus, its transmission, and the illness it causes. A lab test for the novel coronavirus has been developed, and CDC currently performs all testing. It’s anticipated that Virginia’s state public health lab will have this capability in the near future.
This is a good time to prepare for the possibility of ongoing community transmission of COVID-19 in the United States. The New River Health District encourages community partners to review their emergency preparedness and response plans. The district encouraged all community partners to remain vigilant and keep informed of this rapidly evolving situation. General information is available at www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus, as well as guidance for travelers, healthcare professionals, educational institutions and businesses.
