HUNTINGTON, West Virginia. The Cabell-Huntington Health Department is notifying the public of the first case of COVID-19 reported in a Cabell County resident late last night. The person is a man in his thirties and is self-isolated at home. We wish him a speedy recovery. No other information will be provided about this individual at this time.
While this is the first report of a Cabell County resident contracting this disease, the health department is aware of and has assisted in the investigations of at least 5 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed at Cabell County testing centers and health care facilities, mostly residents of surrounding counties. “We have expected to have cases in Cabell County and have been working closely with the WV Bureau for Public Health, our Cabell County health care partners, and health departments in WV and across state lines to inform our public of the risks of this disease and ways to slow its spread,” said Dr. Michael Kilkenny, health officer for Cabell County and the City of Huntington. “We have been warning for days that the virus is present in our community, and most people are heeding the warnings and following the advice to stay home and take all recommended precautions.”
Most cases of this disease will be safely managed at home. Health care providers are rapidly adopting telehealth means of communicating with patients and health departments may also check in regularly with confirmed cases and their close contacts. “It’s important that we calmly and rationally assess our own symptoms and conditions when we get sick at this time. Don’t hesitate to call and discuss your symptoms with your health care provider and follow their advice,” Dr. Kilkenny added.
Cabell County Testing Sites are currently available at Marshall Health, Valley Health and Med Express. Please visit cabellhealth.org for hours, addresses and detailed information regarding testing.
Marshall Health- Call the COVID-19 information line (304) 696-2900
Valley Health –To schedule a telehealth assessment, patients must call (304) 399-3358
Med Express – Call Med Express first at (304) 522-3267 and then follow steps to come in for testing.
As part of Cabell County’s continued preparation and response for COVID-19, the health department is operating a call center to address general questions and concerns, hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm (304) 526-6544.
Disclaimer: This release may not be reflected in State totals reported by the WV Bureau for Public Health due to date and time of release.
