BECKLEY, WV (WOAY) – Today kicked off the beginning of a partnership between Beckley ARH hospital and the state of West Virginia. The partnership will increase testing resources to help slow the spread of COVID-19 as cases continue to spike.
Jim Justice has strengthened coronavirus resources as the state reports spikes in cases. According to ARH CEO, Rocco Massey cases are the highest since the pandemic started, and the daily positive test rate continues to rise.
“The National Guard facilitated the delivery of 500 testing kits for us. We will utilize this week to really improve the number of tests that we’re doing here in Southern West Virginia,” said CEO Rocco Massey.
The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources reported on August 2, 2020; there have been 291,071 total confirmatory laboratory results received for COVID-19, with 6,854 total positive cases and 117 deaths.
“Today, I expect us to see probably two or three hundred individuals here to be tested. We got Jan Care Ambulance here helping us, we have state resources, lab resources in addition to what we normally provide. So as you can see, sometimes we’re running as many as two and three lines at a time,” said Massey.
As case surveillance continues at the local health department level, residents are encouraged to get tested as much as possible to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“We also know that the virus is tricky and that you may not have any symptoms at all, so I think for patients who decide to come out and get tested, they’re protecting their neighbors, their families, and small businesses from exposure. The more that we can test in this area and the more that they know that they’re negative, they’re going to be a lot safer in terms of what they do in their daily activities,” said Chief of Staff Dr. David Blaine.
Drive-thru COVID-19 testing at ARH Southern West Virginia Clinic is open Monday-Friday 10 am – 2 pm.
