Late Sunday afternoon, the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department received notification two additional employees at the Kanawha Judicial Annex tested positive for Coronavirus. This brings the number of individuals in the annex or associated with an annex case to seven. The total number of confirmed cases in the county remains at 28.
Dr. Sherri Young, executive director and health officer at the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, said additional cases are unfortunate, but not unexpected. She praised the Kanawha County Commission for taking quick action to close the Judicial Annex and encouraged all employees to continue to isolate themselves until at least April 6. The Kanawha County Commission and the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals have been informed of the new cases.
“This epidemic is affecting our friends and colleagues,” Young said. “The best thing people can do to fight it is to stay at home.” Young encouraged those with symptoms—fever, cough or shortness of breath—to contact their health care providers.
Young said KCHD officials are working with businesses to provide guidance when they have employees test positive. She said some businesses are closing and others are providing education to their employees and customers or clients. She stressed that a business being closed does not necessarily indicate a Coronavirus problem. “Many businesses,” she said, “are closing because of a decrease in customer traffic or they are making a decision to keep their employees at home.”
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department has a 24-hour hotline to answer Coronavirus questions. The telephone number for the hotline is 304-348-1088