Serving Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell and Tazewell Counties “Protecting You and Your Environment ~ Better Health, Better Home, Better Horizons!”

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Click Here for the Most Up to Date Information Related to COVID-19 Vaccines in the Cumberland Plateau and LENOWISCO Health Districts.

 

COVID-19 Surge Resources

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Community Toolkit- COVID-19 Public Health and Safety

Concerns About Crowding or Face Covers? Take Action Here:

EXECUTIVE ORDER 63 – REQUIREMENT TO WEAR A FACE COVERING WHILE INSIDE BUILDINGS

Executive Order 63 requires any person age 10 or older to cover their mouth and nose with a face covering when entering, traveling through, spending time in, and exiting public buildings. This requirement does not apply to the following situations:

• While eating or drinking,
• While exercising/using exercise equipment,
• For any person who has trouble breathing, is unconscious, is incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove a face covering without assistance,
• For any person seeking to communicate with the hearing impaired and for whom the speaker’s mouth needs to be visible,
• When removal is required to obtain government or medical services, and
• For persons who have a health condition that prevents the safe use of a face covering (note: any person declining to wear a face covering due to a medical condition is not required to provide medical documentation)
• Employees working in non-customer facing areas

WHAT YOU CAN DO IF YOU SEE A VIOLATION OF AN EXECUTIVE ORDER

1. First, determine that there really is a violation. Different businesses and venues have different restrictions – review the summaries below and the Executive Orders and FAQs.
2. If an individual patron is not wearing a face covering, they may have a medical reason that prohibits them from wearing one. They are not required to provide medical documentation. Maintain at least 6 feet of distance and keep your face covering on yourself.
3. If an employee of a business in a customer-facing role is not wearing a face covering, ask the employee or the manager if they will wear one. You may wish to say, “I would feel safer if you/your employee would wear a face covering” or “There is a requirement that customer-facing employees wear face coverings – will you please comply with that requirement?”
4. Consider reporting violations on Virginia Department of Health’s online complaint form. Or call your Local Health Department’s COVID-19 Hotline at 276-415-3430 weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed on all state holidays).
5. Consider not patronizing businesses, establishments, and/or events that are not following or enforcing requirements of the Executive Orders, which are designed to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19. Advise the business of your decision. Feel free to adapt and send Cumberland Plateau Health District’s template letter to the business or event organizer.

Cloth Face Coverings and Masks

The CDC notes that purchased or homemade face coverings will not prevent individuals from catching the COVID-19 virus, but will help prevent people who have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.

• Wear your Face Covering Correctly
• Wash your hands before putting on your face covering
• Put it over your nose and mouth and secure it under your chin
• Try to fit it snugly against the sides of your face
• Make sure you can breathe easily

Wear a Face Covering to Protect Others

• Wear a face covering that covers your nose and mouth to help protect others in case you’re infected with COVID-19 but don’t have symptoms
• Wear a face covering in public settings when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when it may be difficult for you to stay six feet apart
• Wear a face covering correctly for maximum protection
• Don’t put the face covering around your neck or up on your forehead
• Don’t touch the face covering, and, if you do, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer to disinfect

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow Spread of COVID-19

Stay Home and Practice Physical Distancing

Virginia is in Phase Three of the Forward Virginia Blueprint. Read the frequently asked questions

Executive Order 67 provides for certain restrictions until further notice:

Restaurants and Dining Establishments can serve patrons indoors with all parties separated by at least 6 feet. Bar seats and congregate areas must remain closed except for through-traffic; non-bar seating in the bar area (e.g. tables not at the bar or food service area) may be used for customers as long as a minimum of 6 feet is maintained between parties. Tabletops, chairs, and credit card/bill folders must be cleaned between patrons. Hand washing stations of hand sanitizer must be provided for the use of patrons and employees. Employees in customer-facing areas must wear face coverings over their nose and mouths.

Farmers Markets may continue to operate. Employees and patrons must maintain at least 6 feet of distance between all persons who are not family members. Employees and vendors must wear face coverings over their nose and mouth. Vendors must supply hand sanitizer or hand-washing stations for patrons and employees.

Brick and Mortar Retail Business may operate if employees and patrons maintain at least 6 feet of distance between individuals who are not family members. Employees in customer-facing areas must wear face covering over their nose and mouth.

Fitness and Exercise Facilities may operate with a maximum of 75% occupancy. Patrons, members and guests who are not family members must remain at least 10 feet apart except where necessary for the physical safety of an individual. Employees must ensure cleaning and disinfecting of shared equipment after each use; equipment that cannot be thoroughly disinfected between uses (e.g. climbing ropes, exercise bands, etc.) are prohibited from use. Hand sanitizer or hand-washing stations must be provided for patrons, members and guests. Employees in customer facing areas must wear face coverings (instructors participating in exercise are exempt from this requirement).

Outdoor and Indoor Swimming Pools may be open with a maximum of 75% of the occupancy load. All swimmers must maintain at least 10 feet apart from others who are not family members. Hot tubs, spas, splash pads, spray pools and interactive play features must remain closed. Hand sanitizer or hand-washing stations must be provided for patrons, members and guests. Employees in customer facing areas must wear face coverings (lifeguards actively guarding are exempt from this requirement).

Personal Care and Personal Grooming Services must maintain at least 6 feet of distancing between workstations. Service providers and employees in customer-facing areas must wear face covers over their nose and mouths. These businesses must provide face coverings for clients or ask that clients bring a face covering with them. Services must be limited to those that can be completed while clients are wearing their face covering.

Entertainment and Amusement Businesses are restricted to the lesser of 50% of their occupancy or 1,000 persons. Visible markers for the line must be placed to separate people by 6 feet or more. Ten feet of physical distancing is required between parties where there is physical activity, singing, cheering, etc. Employees in customer-facing areas must wear face coverings over their nose and mouths. Hand sanitizer or hand-washing stations must be provided for attendees and employees.

Recreational Sports must maintain 10 feet of physical distance among all instructors, participants and spectators, where practicable. The total number of attendees (participants and spectators) cannot exceed the lesser of 50% of occupancy of the venue or 250 persons; for sports played on a field, attendees are limited to 250 persons per field.

Houses of Worship are allowed to hold in-person services providing that individuals who are not family members that are at least 6 feet apart when seated, and must practice proper physical distancing at all times. Seating and common areas where attendees may congregate must be marked in 6-foot increments to maintain physical distancing. Any items used to distribute food or beverages must be disposable, used only once and discarded. A thorough cleaning and disinfection of frequently-contacted surfaces must be conducted prior to and following any religious service. Additionally, any social gathering held before or after the service would be restricted to a maximum of 250 participants.

Grocery Stores and Farmers Markets

While there is no evidence that COVID-19 is spread through food or food from certain countries, any food can be a surface for the transmission of viruses if safe food handling practices are not followed.
To permit access to food while employing physical distancing and hygiene best practices, merchants and customers at grocery stores and farmers markets should follow these guidelines in addition to the ones directly above:

• Merchants should use gloves properly and in addition to washing or sanitizing. Change gloves frequently.
• Everyone should maintain personal space of six feet whenever possible.
• Merchants should discontinue sampling of cut or open foods.
• Everyone should use non-cash forms of payment when possible. Wash or sanitize hands immediately after handling cash or payment devices.
• Before preparing or eating, customers should wash all fruits and vegetables in accordance with FDA guidance for cleaning produce.

Prepare for Possible Quarantine or Isolation

During a local COVID-19 outbreak, stores may run out of some supplies, and residents may be asked not to leave their homes for an extended period. Residents should plan and prepare by doing the following:

• Have on hand enough food, household and pet supplies to last for two weeks.
• Gather enough medical supplies to last for one month, especially prescriptions and other medicines you may need.
• Identify a list of people who can help you or will need to be notified in the event of an emergency, including family, friends, neighbors, carpool drivers, healthcare providers, teachers, employers, the local public health department and other community resources.
• Identify people who may need help, like neighbors, friends, family and co-workers who are older adults, have limited resources, have special needs, don’t understand English well or are new to the area.
• Talk to your employer about changes at work, how family and sick leave will be handled and if there are plans to work from home or elsewhere.

COVID-19 Information

VDH Corona Virus COVID-19 Information Page
CDC Corona Virus COVID-19 Page
The World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19