Category: 2020 News Releases

Media Contact: Tara Rose, Tara.Rose@vdh.virginia.gov

The Crater Health District (CHD) is pleased to announce a new opportunity for collaborating and maintaining consistent messaging for all localities within the Crater Health District to include the cities of Emporia, Hopewell and Petersburg, and the counties of Dinwiddie, Greensville, Prince George, Surry and Sussex. The Crater Health District COVID-19 Marketing Taskforce is working together to improve strategic messaging for COVID-19 prevention and safety protocols.

“None of us have lived through a global pandemic of this magnitude.  We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with other Crater Health District localities, to craft and promote consistent messaging designed to slow the spread of COVID-19 and keep our citizens safe.” –  W. Kevin Massengill, Dinwiddie County Administrator

The Crater Health District’s goal has always been to keep everyone in our localities safe and healthy, and that is especially true in this challenging time.  The evidence shows that following the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Virginia Department of Health (VDH) guidelines for social distancing, hand washing and wearing a mask or face covering helps to protect our community. We all have an opportunity to help slow the spread of COVID-19 by following and promoting those prevention strategies.

“In order to ensure communications are relevant and timely, it is necessary that we come together and share information in a unified manner,” says Crater Health District Director Alton Hart, Jr., MD, MPH. “I am grateful that we have established a COVID-19 Marketing Task Force to create a collective voice for the Crater Health District.”

To lower the risk of spreading respiratory germs, including COVID-19, the Virginia Department of Health encourages the following effective behaviors:

• Stay home as much as possible, especially when you are sick.
• Avoid close contact with those who are sick.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer only if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Practice social distancing. Maintain at least six feet of space between yourself and other individuals when out in public.

For more information on COVID-19, please visit the following websites:  www.craterhd.net, www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Tara Rose, Tara.Rose@vdh.virginia.gov

PRECAUTIONS PROVIDE THE BEST PROTECTION

(Petersburg, Virginia) – We have made progress in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth; however, the Crater Health District (CHD) located within the Central Region is now experiencing an increase in COVID-19 community transmission.  We have an increase in new community transmission cases as well as new cases linked to facility outbreaks. Residents should assume the risk of exposure is everywhere and should understand that staying safe depends on their individual behaviors and precautions.

“Now that fall is almost here, we need to maintain our vigilance in following effective prevention measures to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said Crater Health District Director Alton Hart, Jr., MD, MPH.  “In particular, we must continue to stay home as much as possible, wear face coverings, maintain social distancing, and practice hand hygiene to help manage transmission of the virus.”

We all can take steps to protect our health; the Virginia Department of Health encourages everyone to:

• Stay home as much as possible, especially if you are at higher risk of serious illness. If you must go out in public, wear a cloth face covering;
• Stay home when you are sick and avoid contact with people who are sick;
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available;
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth;
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces;
• Practice social distancing by staying six feet or more away from others; and
• If you are experiencing symptoms, call your doctor;

“Individuals, communities, schools, businesses, healthcare organizations, and local governments all play an important role in slowing the spread of COVID-19, “ said Crater Health District Director Alton Hart, Jr., MD, MPH. “This is how we all work together to save lives. We all have a duty to protect ourselves and those around us.”

For the most accurate and up-to-date information online, visit, www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus, and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

For More Information Contact

• Toinette Waldon, Environmental Health Manager, Toinette.Waldon@vdh.virginia.gov
• Media Contact: Tara Rose, Tara.Rose@vdh.virginia.gov

(Surry, Va.)- A second red fox tests positive for rabies in Surry County. The female fox was collected from 2030 Cobham Warf Road on Friday, May 29, 2020. Just a few weeks earlier, the first animal was found near Otterdam Road. The Surry Health Department and Surry Animal Control continue to encourage animal owners to keep pets confined to their property and make sure that all pet vaccinations, especially rabies, are current.

“Please notify public health officials or animal control immediately if you live near Cobham Warf or Otterdam Road and think that you or your pet(s) had contact with the infected foxes. Your safety as well as the community is our top concern. Make sure to avoid any contact with wild animals or stray cats and dogs,” says Crater District Health Departments Director Alton Hart, Jr., MD, MPH.

“Rabies is a preventable disease, but once symptoms begin, it cannot be cured. We encourage all pet owners to vaccinate their animals to keep them protected,” shares Toinette Waldon, Environmental Health Manager, Crater Health District.

The Health Department strongly advises that people take the following steps to prevent families and pets from being exposed to rabies:

• Vaccinate all cats, dogs and ferrets against rabies and keep them up to date.
• Avoid contact with wild animals or stray cats and dogs.
• Do not feed wild animals or stray cats and dogs.
• Report stray animals to your local animal control agency.
• Eliminate outdoor food sources around the home.
• Keep pets confined to your property or walk them on a leash.

To report a stray and/or suspicious animal, please contact Surry Animal Control at 757-294-0158 or for emergencies call 757-294-5264. For more information on protecting your family from rabies call 804-863-1652 or visit Crater Health District online at www.craterhd.net

Media Contact: Tara Rose, Tara.Rose@vdh.virginia.gov

(Petersburg, Virginia)- The Crater Health District (CHD) is excited to announce it is participating in Resilience Week in Virginia.  Southside Trauma Informed Community Network (STICN) along with more than two dozen trauma informed community networks (TICNs) across Virginia help people learn about adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs. These adversities affect children and may include    •Emotional Abuse •Physical Abuse •Sexual Abuse •Emotional Neglect •Physical Neglect •Caregiver Divorce or Separation •Domestic Violence •Substance Abuse •Mental Health Challenge/Diagnosis and •Family Member Incarceration.  ACEs can cause trauma throughout a person’s life. Trauma is an event.  It is something that happened to a person (or people) causing them to respond a certain way and perhaps even develop certain habits that could affect their future health.

“We are in a pandemic which many people may view as a traumatic time in our history.  Some would say that COVID-19 and its effects will be long lasting and may cause a different type of adversity for our children and adults,” says Dr. Alton Hart, Jr. Director of the Crater Health District.  “We must respond to the needs of people and look beyond the way they behave sometimes when under stress,” says Brian C. Little, Sr., Chair of the Southside Trauma Informed Community Network (STICN).  He states that seeing people and letting them know they matter helps them feel acknowledged and that someone is paying attention to their concerns.  “I see you and you matter,” he further states is a way of bringing equality to a conversation and helping people begin to feel resilient.

Join us in celebrating Resilience Week in Virginia as our Southside Trauma Informed Community Network hosts the following events.

Tuesday, May 5 at 10 a.m.

COVID-19 Community Conversation

Featuring Petersburg Superintendent, Dr. Pitre-Martin, Petersburg Social Services Director Norris Stevenson, Kateland Woodcock with Central Virginia Legal Aid and other City of Petersburg Officials.  Theresa Caldwell, leader of the Petersburg Wellness Consortium, and Dr. Alton Hart, Jr., Director of the Crater Health District will moderate the conversation.  The public can listen and watch on Southside TICN’s Facebook Page.  We welcome questions from the community throughout the call.

Thursday, May 7 at 10 a.m.

Contagious Calmness: Finding Balance During COVID-19

Join Amanda Lynch, MA, RYT-200 from Greater Richmond Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN), for a wellness chat and check-in. There will also be relaxing meditation to calm the body and mind and focus on our breathing.  During this time, members of the community will be able to share in this healing/cleansing exercise with our trauma-informed leader.  This is a very gentle class and requires no standing. This session is open to everyone and we encourage families to join in.

For More Information about Resilience Week, log onto www.craterhd.net, or Facebook through Southside TICN.

To join either event, log onto the Zoom web address, or dial into the event

Join Zoom Events at 10am

https://childsavers.zoom.us/j/97508664521?pwd=Ly9kSkRNZlNTb09IUmRpcnFnN0dNdz09

 

Meeting ID: 975 0866 4521

Password: 185852

One tap mobile

+13126266799,,97508664521# US (Chicago)

+16465588656,,97508664521# US (New York)

 

Dial by your location

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

+1 646 558 8656 US (New York)

+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)

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+1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)

+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

Meeting ID: 975 0866 4521

• All participants must identify themselves as needed.

Coronavirus note-

The Crater Health District has activated coronavirus call center, staffed Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. to address questions from residents. Community members may call the Crater Call Center at 804-862-8989 or 877-ASK-VDH3, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

For more information on COVID-19, please visit the following websites:  www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Tara Rose, Tara.Rose@vdh.virginia.gov

A collaborative program with the Southside Trauma Informed Community Network

(Petersburg, Virginia)- The Crater Health District (CHD) is excited to announce that the Crater Health District is collaborating with the Southside Trauma Informed Community Network (STICN) to host a community conversation with the City of Emporia and Greensville County on Wednesday, June 3 at 10 a.m.  Community leaders and community voices will share insights, potential changes in services, and future ideas in health, education and welfare.  Invited speakers include William E. Johnson, Emporia City Manager, Brenda Parson, Greensville County Administrator, Shewanda Edwards, Director Department of Social Services, Dr. Kim Evans, Greensville County Public Schools Superintendent, John Emery, Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center CEO, Kristin Vaughan, YMCA Director and CHAT member, Rick Pinksaw, Emporia Police Chief and Timmy Jarratt, Greensville County Sherriff.   Dr. Alton Hart, Jr, Crater Health District Director is host and co facilitator with Denise Miller, Smart Beginnings Southeast Community Liaison.

“Although Virginia is slowly reopening businesses and services, we must continue to be cautious as we are still in a pandemic.  Many people may view this period in our history as a traumatic time.  Some would say that COVID-19 and its effects will be long lasting and may cause a different type of adversity for our children and adults,” says Dr. Alton Hart, Jr. Director of the Crater Health District. “Community conversations like this empower people to build resilience.”

Join us for the first COVID-19 Community Conversation in Emporia and Greensville. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Register today for this zoom meeting happening Wednesday, June 3, 2020

10 a.m. Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Use this link to register:

https://childsavers.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMrf-rqDMvEtcADluyKS5tgCzWup1MKqEI
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

For general questions about COVID-19, community members may call the VDH CHOVID-19 Hotline at 877-ASK-VDH3 or Crater Call Center at 804-862-898, or visit: www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus.