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Mon Health System CEO asks all patients to follow doctor’s orders and return for necessary care

Follow doctor’s orders.

That was the message Wednesday as David Goldberg, president and CEO of Mon Health System, told the Monongalia County Commission that nationwide, there has been a spike in medical emergencies due to people putting off medical issues due to COVID-19 fears.

“I know of people who’ve put off heart care, and they’ve dropped of heart attacks. I know of people who’ve put off issues related to blood pressure and they’ve had strokes. That’s what we’re seeing all over the country,” Goldberg said.

He went on to explain that emergency rooms across the country are 30-50% less busy in the wake of COVID-19.

“People are scared to come back. Don’t put off your healthcare,” he said. “You need your care.”

In other news, the county acknowledged receipt of a petition from the West Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club regarding solar and natural gas expansions to the Longview Power.

James Kotcon, who serves as chairman of the chapter’s conservation committee, said any PILOT, or payment in lieu of taxes, agreement between the county and Longview should address greenhouse gases.

Kotcon went on to say that the Sierra Club would like a public forum during which all parties can discuss the matter.

“The Sierra Club is opposed to tax breaks for fossil fuel facilities. We think we have to address climate change,” Kotcon said. “We recognize that is a difficult position and we would like to at least have a chance to talk over some of those issues.”

Lastly, Monongalia County Chief Tax Deputy Kelly Palmer said the timeline for rolling out the 2019 delinquent tax list has been thrown off due to COVID-19 restrictions, but the list is available for public view in the tax office and will be published in this
newspaper in the next 10 days.

The list represents past due real estate and personal property tax bills from 2019. She provided the list to the commission for review on Wednesday and will return on July 1 for approval.

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