Covid19 Outbreak Reported At King George Rehab Center

PUBLIC NOTICE COVID-19 OUTBREAK/ KGALERT

May 4, 2020

As of the posting of this notice, the Virginia Department of Health has reported a COVID-19 outbreak at the Heritage Hall Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in King George County.

An outbreak was declared as a result of two staff members and two residents of the center having tested positive for the disease.

The two employees are isolating at home and the two residents are currently hospitalized. The Rappahannock Area Health District (RAHD) has notified the families of the facility’s residents. In addition, the health district is working closely with the center to ensure that all mitigation strategies are in place to prevent the continued spread of the disease amongst the residents and staff.

These mitigation strategies include testing every Heritage Hall resident and employee. This initiative will be executed this week with the assistance of the Virginia National Guard. In addition, Heritage Hall is making appropriate modifications to its facilities and staffing.

The King George County Emergency Operation Center will continue its assistance to the rehabilitation center. We will also keep the public informed as details regarding this situation progress.

Again, please closely adhere to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines that include hygiene recommendations; and more importantly, employing social distancing as methods to prevent community spread. Additional CDC guidelines can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html

NEIMAN C. YOUNG, PhD

County Administrator

King George County

As of 9 a.m. on May 5, 2020 The Virginia Health Department reported that King George County had reported 35 confirmed cases, 13 hospitalized and 4 deaths due to the Covid19.

Neighboring Westmoreland County reported 31 confirmed cases, 5 hospitalized and 0 deaths.

Richmond County however reported 145 cases, 7 hospitalized and 0 deaths.

On Monday May 4, 2020 Governor Ralph Northam announced he would extend Executive Order 53 until March 14. Northam still has not committed to a date when he will declare the state of Virginia to enter Phase One of CDC’s guidelines for Opening The Country!

Here is an explanation of Executive Order 53 from the VDH website:

“Governor Ralph Northam issued Executive Order 53 that orders the closure of certain non-essential businesses, bans all gatherings of more than 10 people, and closes all K-12 schools for the remainder of the academic year. Governor Northam is also urging all Virginians to avoid non-essential travel outside the home, if and when possible. Food establishments are mandated to offer takeout and delivery service only, or close to the public. This order goes into effect at 11:59PM on Tuesday, March 24, 2020 and will remain in place until 11:59PM on Friday, May 8″

Those living and working in King George are asked to keep abreast of this news, continue to follow guidelines for hygiene and social distancing.

The VDH will make every attempt to contact anyone who has been exposed through direct contact with known infected individuals. Those who haven possibly been exposed will be tested and further mitigation efforts will include notifying anyone coming in contact with those secondary individuals who they have came in contact with.