April 16, 2020
Media Contact: Tammie Smith, public relations coordinator, tammie.smith@vdh.virginia.gov, 804-864-7963
CENTRAL SHENANDOAH HEALTH DISTRICT PROVIDES COVID-19 SUPPORT TO LONG-TERM CARE COMMUNITIES
(STAUNTON, Virginia) — The Central Shenandoah Health District has been working with all local long-term care facilities since the beginning of this COVID-19 outbreak to ensure they have the knowledge and resources to respond effectively. We have a history of working together to provide for the health and safety of residents and staff. The Central Shenandoah Health District has applied these collaborative efforts to a COVID-19 outbreak at Accordius Health in Harrisonburg, a local long-term care facility. Accordius Health agreed to be part of this press announcement.
Our response to this outbreak has been coordinated among multiple partners, including Accordius Health, the health department, local emergency management and the local hospital system. All these partners play key roles in providing for the health and safety of residents and staff, and for providing the resources necessary to accomplish that.
Working with UVA Health, the health system of the University of Virginia, the Central Shenandoah Health District has begun an aggressive testing campaign for residents and staff at the care facility. We look forward as we begin to receive and understand those results, to be able to fine-tune our response even more effectively. That data will help us to improve our ability to protect the health and safety of residents and staff.
To lower the risk of spreading respiratory infections, including COVID-19, the Virginia Department of Health encourages everyone to:
- Stay home as much as possible, except for essential travel;
- If you must go out in public, wear a cloth face covering;
- Stay home when you are sick;
- Avoid contact with sick people;
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing;
- 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 objects and surfaces;
- If you are experiencing symptoms, call your doctor;
- Practice social distancing. Maintain at least six feet of space between yourself and other individuals when out in public; and
- Avoid close contact with crowds of any size, and avoid any crowd of more than 10 people.
For more information on COVID-19 in Virginia, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.
Accordius Health and UVA Health, the health system of the University of Virginia, approved the content of this news release.