Central Virginia localities create unified team to address COVID-19

Government leaders in Henrico, Hanover, Chesterfield, Goochland and Richmond have joined with the Central Virginia Healthcare Coalition to activate the Central Virginia All Hazards Incident Management Team to help guide the region's preparations for, and response to, a potential local occurrence of COVID-19.

Last week, more than 50 emergency managers, first responders, health experts, and public information professionals from the region met to review roles and responsibilities. The state has had two confirmed cases of the virus, both in Northern Virginia.

The novel coronavirus causes mild illness in most people, though it can cause severe illness in some, including older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes.

The region’s health experts and emergency managers agree about some simple steps people can take to slow the spread of the virus:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Put your used tissue in a wastebasket, then wash your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hand.

• Stay home if you feel sick.

• If you have a fever, stay home until you are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

• Avoid close contact with others and seek medical treatment if necessary.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

The Virginia Department of Health has been monitoring the outbreak closely since mid-January, officials said, and many of its communicable disease epidemiologists, all its emergency preparedness staff and others are spending the majority of their time on the COVID-19 response. They are in constant communication with local health districts, governments, school systems, states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other partners.

To learn more about the coronavirus, visit:

• Virginia Department of Health (VDH): www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV
• World Health Organization (WHO): www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019