Virus testing expands; one local case added

Health department officials will begin local community testing for the COVID-19 virus today and continue though May.

Because testing resources are limited, only those pre-screened and approved for testing will be admitted, and only by appointment, the Lenowisco Health District announced Wednesday.

People with these symptoms may have COVID-19 and qualify for testing: Cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

Those who are uninsured or underinsured, as well as those with symptoms of illness, are encouraged to call for an appointment.

To be approved for testing, you must call in advance for a screening interview. Those approved for testing will receive an appointment time, a testing number and/or an emailed authorization letter. If you do not have access to email, you must bring a valid ID to the testing site. To avoid lengthy wait times, please come to the site at your appointed time and bring your documentation with you.

Local testing dates, times and sites include:

• May 15: Litchfield Manor and John Vandiver Manor, Coeburn, 9-11 a.m.; Sheffield Acres Apartments, Coeburn, noon-2 p.m.

• May 19: Stonebriar Apartments, St. Paul, 9-11 a.m.; Clinchview Apartments, St. Paul, noon-2 p.m.

• May 20: Appalachian Towers, Appalachia, 9-11 a.m.; Inman Village Apartments, Appalachia, noon-2 p.m.

• May 27: Central High School, 9-11 a.m.; Hawthorne Acres Apartments, Norton, noon-2 p.m.

• May 29: Regency Towers, Norton, 9-11 a.m.; Ramsey Apartments, Norton, noon-2 p.m.

To schedule an appointment for any of these sites, call the Wise County/ Norton Health Department, 276/328-8000.

Also, on May 21, testing will be offered at Clinch River Health Services, Dungannon, 9-11 a.m. To schedule an appointment, call the Scott County Health Department, 276/386-1312.

CASES

After more than a week of holding steady, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Wise County has increased by one to 23, according to a Wednesday morning update of Virginia health department data.

The number of local deaths also doubled, to two.

Thanks to a recently added feature, the health department’s virus website section now shows that 10 of the local cases are located in ZIP code 24216, Appalachia, and nine are located in ZIP code 24219, Big Stone Gap.

No cases are reported in East Stone Gap, Coeburn, Pound or St. Paul.

What the new feature does not report is case numbers between one and four — the amount in ZIP code 24293, the town of Wise, according to website data.