The number of COVID-19 outbreaks in the Roanoke region has ticked up in the past week.
Doctor Molly O’Dell reported 12 outbreaks, as of Tuesday morning, in the Roanoke City-Alleghany Health District. Three of the outbreaks are at Long Term Care facilities. Five others are at businesses.
There were 94 active COVID-19 cases in the district Tuesday morning, about the same as last Tuesday’s media briefing. But O’Dell says the health department is seeing more clusters around families, as well as events like funerals, weddings, baby showers and parties. "People are just tired," O'Dell told reporters during a weekly briefing. "They’re fatigued from the constraints that COVID is putting on lives. There’s no question about that."
O’Dell said it’s important for people to find ways to reduce the stress of COVID-19 while still safely preventing infection. "It's the socialization that people are starving for," O'Dell said. "We have to find what fills us up and do those activities and try to maintain our sense about being vigilant about hand washing, social distancing and wearing face coverings."
Halloween and Holiday Guidelines
On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control released aset of guidelines for Halloween and other holiday gatheringsthrough Thanksgiving.
O'Dell said the level of guidance is good. "I'm hoping that the guidelines are going to be useful for people to adhere to and people to be able to plan." O'Dell said she was glad that Trunk or Treat events were not included in the low risk category.
