Masks and more

A new request from the University of Virginia medical campuses: “We kindly ask you to wear a mask when you visit UVA Health and have a cough or fever.”

That said, good luck finding a mask. Some but not all local store shelves surrounding Rappahannock County are stripped bare of masks, hand sanitizers, latex gloves, zinc lozenges and more as the dreaded coronavirus begins to rear its ugly head throughout America.

Says UVA: “If you, or a close contact (friend, family, coworker), have recently traveled out of the country — and you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath — please call ahead before you enter any UVA clinic or the hospital. We can help decide the best way for you to receive care. When you enter the hospital or clinic area, please put on a mask and notify a team member right away.”

Meanwhile, Warren Memorial and Page Memorial hospitals in Front Royal and Luray respectively say of those experiencing coronavirus symptoms (mild to severe respiratory illness, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath): “If you come to a Valley Health facility, we will ask about your travel history.

“Valley Health is on alert, vigilant but not alarmed. We are closely monitoring Coronavirus reports from the CDC, Virginia Department of Health and West Virginia Department of Health. A system-wide committee representing emergency management, infection control, laboratory, pharmacy, and other functions at our hospitals, Urgent Cares and physician practices participates in statewide inter-agency calls and confers weekly to share updates and reliable information.”

According to the latest update from the Virginia Department of Health: “The potential public health threat posed by COVID-19 is high, both globally and to the United States. But individual risk is dependent on exposure. For the general American public, who are unlikely to be exposed to this virus at this time, the immediate health risk from COVID-19 is considered low.”

Stay tuned. And wash your hands.