August 19, 2020
Media Contact: Breanne Forbes Hubbard, population health manager, Breanne.forbes-hubbard@vdh.virginia.gov, 276-759-8297
Large Increase in Galax COVID-19 Cases Due to Data Backlog
(Marion, Va.) – Galax has had only eight new cases of COVID-19 since August 1, and only two cases in the last 10 days. Presumably, there are only two active cases in Galax, but the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) does not release active/recovery data on COVID-19. Thirty-two new cases were reported in Galax today on the VDH website. These were backlogged cases from an outside lab that does not report directly to VDH, and are cases that occurred earlier in the summer. Although sometimes there is a lag or backlog in cases appearing on the VDH website, all positive cases are notified, investigated, isolated, and contacts traced and quarantined at the time the results are ready. The delay in data reporting on the VDH website does not reflect a delay in providing public health care to our community.
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