Council gets virus update

Big Stone Gap Town Manager Steve Lawson gave town council an update regarding the COVID-19 virus during council’s Tuesday night meeting, held via teleconference.

Lawson urged residents to continue with social distancing. “We have had several calls of people reporting groups of more than 10 people that police officers are responding to,” he said.

Lawson also stated that the town and police are receiving calls of concern about activity by people who are rumored to have tested positive for the virus.

He explained that neither he nor police can stop individual activities by anyone who might have tested positive. Also, because of federal laws regarding medical cases and individual privacy, he does not have the names of people who may have the virus or have been exposed to COVID-19.

Lawson stated that if someone believes a particular person is supposed to be at home under quarantine, it should be reported to the Virginia Department of Health. “This is not anything that council or the Big Stone Gap police can be involved in.”

He explained that a person enters a voluntary quarantine agreement with VDH. If a person under quarantine is reported to VDH for breaking that voluntary quarantine, the department can write an order of quarantine to the superintendent of health. Once the order of quarantine comes back, a health official and a police officer can go to the person’s house and the person can be charged with a misdemeanor.

Lawson also explained that when calling VDH to make a report, you must give your name. Calls are not anonymous.

“Also remember that people can come out of quarantine,” said Lawson.

CASE UPDATE

At press time Wednesday, 24 cases of COVID-19 had been reported in the LENOWISCO Health District: 15 cases in Wise County, six cases in Lee County and three in Scott County, with no cases reported in Norton.

There were 6,500 cases in Virginia, with 195 deaths. The VDH website does not report how many of those 6,500 people have recovered.