MORGANTOWN — While there are tests pending, Dr. Lee Smith of the Monongalia County Health Department, said there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 coronavirus in West Virginia — for now.
“So far the score is still zero -zero,” Smith said Friday. “But we feel fairly certain that the day will come, whether it’s next week or two weeks or whenever, there will be coronavirus in the community.”
He said the MCHD communications office is taking the role of “joint information command” and is working with West Virginia University, WVU Medicine, WVU Hospitals, the WVU School of Public Health, Mon Health Medical Center and the Red Cross to ensure the information being disseminated publicly is consistent.
West Virginia is waiting on billions in federal funding to reach the state level, where, Smith said, some $375 million needs to be spent in the next 30 days by West Virginia Public Health.
The virus is more infectious than influenza and is now in 78 countries. Worldwide, more than 100,000 are infected and more than 3,300 have died.
Part of the issue, Smith said, is that the infected can be contagious for days before they start feeling sick.
“I’ll feel good. I won’t be aware that I’m infected, and then I’ll become symptomatic, but now I’ll have left this trail, and that’s why it’s so difficult,” he said.
At present, diagnosis comes by process of elimination.
“It’s a diagnosis of exclusion,” Smith said, explaining that patients are tested for known illnesses, like mono or strep. “If it’s none of those then we have to wait for coronavirus testing. Right now, we do not have the capability of testing at the state level … I’m told by the state that West Virginia may have their testing next week. So you figure a week to work out the bugs, so maybe by the end of March we’ll be able to do testing at the state level.”
In the meantime, he said, wash your hands and frequently handled items.
“And the big thing, if you’re sick, stay the hell at home,” Smith said. “You don’t get an attaboy for going to work if you’re sick. Stay home.”
TWEET @DominionPostWV
