The City of Weirton continues to monitor the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) to our City by coordinating with local health officials. Hancock County Health Department reports there are no known cases of the Coronavirus currently in Weirton. Although there are no known cases of the virus in our city, Millsop Community Center, Weirton Transit, Mary H. Weir Library, and the Municipal Building are taking precautionary measures to protect the health of their employees and all who visit City facilities.
Executive Director of the Park Board Coty Shingle reports they have located hand sanitizing stations throughout the Millsop Center and use an effective disinfectant cleaner that kills blood borne pathogens when cleaning the Center that is included in all workout areas.
Weirton Transit Corporation sanitizes their buses on a regular basis. With the Coronavirus threat, Weirton Transit recently had all their buses disinfected and sanitized to combat the spread of germs and viruses.
Director Rik Rekowski of the Mary H. Weir Library takes the health of library patrons seriously. Gel hand sanitizing dispensaries are in centralized locations through the library, states Director Rik Rekowski. Additionally, Library maintenance personnel regularly clean and sanitize library areas, books, and materials utilized by the public.
City officials care about the health of employees and visitors who come to the Municipal Building, and are taking precautionary measure to protect visitors. City Maintenance personnel have ramped up the cleaning and disinfecting of commonly exposed public areas. In addition, city departments are keeping a supply of hand sanitizer and disinfectant to keep their departments protected from the possibility of germs.
Hancock Health Department and Hancock County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management both recommend citizens to use the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention best practices for everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses such as the Coronavirus. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has identified the following best practices:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects daily (e.g., tables, countertops, light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles) using a regular household detergent and water.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Always wash your hands with soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
The Hancock County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management encourages Citizens to use reliable news sources for information about the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), such as CDC.gov, and advises that the WVDHHR has a website dedicated to keeping everyone up to date regarding the Coronavirus in WV: www.coronavirus.wv.gov.
