FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (WOAY) – Today was the first day of the first phase of reopening. However, just in the past week, Fayette County has seen its first uptick in positive COVID-19 cases.
“We’ve seen a doubling of our numbers,” Fayette County Health Office Dr. Anita Stewart said. “We’re up to 14 cases. That puts us at about 0.95% positivity rate, but we have seen an upswing in the last week. We are seeing community transmission here.”
As the state begins to slowly open up, county health officials are telling the public to continue doing their part to slow the spread.
“I just want people to continue to be very cautious,” Teri Harlan, health department administrator, said. “I don’t think this is the time to let our guard down. I think we’ve done well, which I’m really proud of our community because we have done so well, but I think it is really important to stay the course at this point.”
On Monday, barber shops and salons are allowed to open back up as well as small businesses with 10 people and outdoor seating at restaurants.
These places have been given their own guidelines to sanitize and practice social distancing.
However, for individual consumers, the health department is still encouraging you to only go out for essential items, wear a mask when you do, and if you decide to eat at a restaurant, make sure it is with the people that you have been quarantining with.
“The virus is still here,” Dr. Stewart said. “It hasn’t gone anywhere. We’ve just done a really good job of limiting the spread and doing excellent social distancing.”
“Because of all this work we’ve done, we don’t want that to be for nothing, so please just be careful and we’ll keep you informed,” Harlan added.
As per the governor’s order, the health department has already begun testing day care workers which they are working in to the their drive-thru routine on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
If you have any questions or feel the need to be tested, you are encouraged to call the health department at (304) 574-1617.
