Community spread of COVID-19 is growing in the New River Valley. And the region’s health director says it could become more dangerous than the college-related spikes a few months ago.
In a statement, Dr. Noelle Bissell said the increase is not coming from college students. It’s coming from smaller gatherings of friends and families. Carpools and vacations are also producing increased cases.
Bissell reported eleven active outbreaks in the New River Health District, as of Tuesday. Five of them are in long-term-care facilities. Health officials fear increased community spread will mean more cases in medically vulnerable populations.
Here is the complete statement from the New River Health District:
COVID-19 has two story lines in the New River Valley: cases among college students and then cases in the general community. At this point we need to look at each separately because our investigations show that the two populations, even though they live and shop in the same places, have not really been spreading the virus between them. This is because our college students socialize with each other, and the same goes for our community members. And this is how COVID is transmitted, through that close social contact.
We have had community spread in the New River Valley since early summer, coinciding with the governor’s restrictions being eased and people traveling for vacation. This community spread has begun to rise. It is not crossover from our students; but instead, it’s coming from smaller gatherings of friends and families, and gatherings moving indoors as the weather gets colder. Last week I mentioned carpools as a significant source of COVID sharing. We are also seeing some families traveling on vacations while their school children are engaged in remote studies, and coming back with COVID.
Community spread
Our community spread has the potential to become more dangerous than the large student spikes from earlier this fall. This is because our general community, unlike our student population, is a mix of generations and contains more vulnerable people. It’s our role in public health to protect those vulnerable populations.
We are seeing cases rise across the country and around the world. In a pandemic, however, each community has its own, unique experience. Just because it’s rising everywhere else does not mean we have to accept the same in our communities. We must remain vigilant about practicing the public health precautions and not let it wear us down. We can beat COVID if we unite and take care of each other.
In the New River Valley, we have 11 active outbreaks:
·5 in long-term care facilities
·4 in congregate settings
·2 in higher education
Our schools are all engaged in some form of in-person instruction, and we are not seeing transmission within our schools. All of our schools have mitigation plans in place to protect faculty, staff and students.
However, the rise in community spread means that more people are encountering workplaces and other settings where there is a positive case. Testing is an effective tool in our containment and mitigation efforts when used properly. We ask that, if you or your family have been exposed, you quarantine and wait 5-7 days before being tested; and continue quarantining at least until your results come back. Getting tested sooner may give a false negative if the virus hasn’t reached a detectable level. On the other hand, if you have not had a close contact, have not engaged in risky behavior, and do not have symptoms, getting tested might give you a false positive.
At this point, we cannot eliminate COVID-19, but we can control it. We know that watching our distance works. We know that outside activities are preferred to inside. And we know that wearing a mask works to stop the spread and to lessen the viral load when it does spread. This means that wearing a mask protects the wearer. Wearing a mask means that, even if you do get COVID-19, it will likely be asymptomatic or a mild case. Wearing a mask may well keep you and your family out of the hospital.
We all have the power to control our own exposure. It’s not where we go, but what we do. Each individual and household should be evaluating our risk levels and altering our behavior accordingly. If we are high-risk, or interact with a high-risk individual, we need to choose lower-risk behavior. If we are uncomfortable with a proposed plan, we need to choose to not participate.
Just this week, we have run a triple threat with Halloween and Day of the Dead celebrations, plus a national, high-interest election. Now we also need to begin planning our actions around Thanksgiving. This year, celebrating Thanksgiving safely requires significant advance behavioral planning.
Thanksgiving planning
Although many families are choosing to not travel or gather, other people in our region will be traveling. Some families must balance the dangers of isolation of the vulnerable with the risks of the pandemic. In the New River Valley, our college students and their families need to prepare for the students to return for nearly two months. This takes planning. We ask every household that will be traveling or accepting travelers to be extra careful for at least two weeks before. This means that next week at the latest, these households should be engaging in the strictest possible behavior –even quarantining. Then, the travelers should plan their travel carefully, with food and comfort breaks. If high-risk individuals are involved, the newly mixed households may want to wear masks indoors and connect with each other in well ventilated areas, such as outdoors. We need to focus less on the meal because that’s when we take our masks off. Spread out well if indoors, or dine outside, weather permitting.
Many people are asking about getting tested. Anybody who wants a test can get one, but please remember that a test is just a single point in time. You can test negative today, but if you were at a risky gathering last week, you may test positive tomorrow. The safest course is behavioral control.
Please remember to wear a mask, watch your distance, and wash your hands. And please stay home if you are sick or have had close contact with a known COVID case.
—Dr. Noelle Bissell, Director, New River Public Health District.
