This story was edited to include the number of pending test results that had not been returned as of the time of the commission meeting.
The Director of Social Services for Churchill County, Shannon Ernst, reported today at the County Commission meeting on the community-wide COVID-19 testing being conducted by her office. She said they are testing an average of 120 people every Tuesday evening, and open up for special testing on days when there is a demand for extra testing due to contact tracing or if there is some sort of exposure leading to several people needing to be tested.
So far, the community-based project has tested 2,369 individuals, with 2,095 negative tests, 36 positives, and 238 pending results. Testing in Churchill County for the Coronavirus is also done at the Renown Clinic, Banner Churchill Community Hospital, NAS Fallon, and the Fallon Tribe.
As of today, August 19th, there are a total of 44 active cases in the community, 44 recovered cases, and one death for a total of 89 positive cases since March.
“The labs are really slow,” said Ernst, so getting results and keeping accurate numbers is somewhat challenging and creates fluctuations in the data. She says the state is reporting every morning on the number of positive results, but Churchill County does not report numbers until each positive case is traced and confirmed to be a resident of the community. “We do not report until we confirm,” she said.
Commissioner Olsen said he has been asked by members of the public what they should do if they find that they have come in contact with someone who is positive for the virus and how long they should wait until they get tested.
Ernst said it is very important for someone to self-quarantine in this situation. If they have had contact with someone who is positive: if they have been within six feet of the person, with no mask on, for longer than ten minutes, they should self-quarantine for five days and then get tested. “The incubation period is five days, so you have to wait five days until you can get tested,” said Ernst.
The county staff is working on several media campaigns to help the community understand the steps to take to prevent the spread of the virus.
Staff is also working diligently to do contact tracing on each person who tests positive. “It is so important to get a thorough list from each person and get them tested as a priority, so they don’t spread it through the community,” said Ernst.
She also said she is concerned about a trend she has been seeing with people who are testing positive. “I’m seeing this larger trend of people who are in quarantine, waiting for their test results and they are feeling sick, but not reaching out to the hospital for care. Call the hospital if you feel sick or have symptoms and talk to them and get instructions on what to do, but go to the hospital if you are ill. It is much easier to treat the respratory symptoms early.”
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