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Randolph Co. COVID cases double in a week

ELKINS — Active COVID-19 cases doubled in Randolph County in the past week, and health officials are growing increasingly concerned.

A total of 53 positive cases in Randolph County were confirmed Monday, which is double that of the 26 reported last week.

“Only three of the active cases are above the 50 year-old age group,” said Bonnie Woodrum, the Randolph-Elkins Health Department’s infectious disease specialist. “We have some in the 40s, but we also have a 1-year-old, a 3-year-old, a 9-year-old, and an 11-year-old. And we also have an 18 year-old that went to one of the proms this past weekend on Saturday.”

Woodrum said adults making careless decisions are the ones infecting the younger population with the coronavirus.

“People need to know that it’s the adults that are causing this,” she said. “They are not taking precautions and they are not getting vaccinated. And now they are spreading it to the children. There are scuttlebutt that the children aren’t infected as much, but there is also a syndrome children get (from the virus) that comes later and it affects their organs, or their cognitive ability.”

With the number of active COVID-19 cases rising dramatically in Randolph County, Woodrum said vaccinations have become even more important.

“It’s imperative that those eligible get vaccinated,” Woodrum said. “It’s going up like crazy and we have a whole batch of new contacts and newly diagnosed people. And we’ve also had it in a couple businesses in the area.”

She added that things could get even worse after the state mask mandate is lifted in June.

“With the governor dropping the mask order in June and the numbers going back up, if we don’t get people vaccinated we’re going to be in the same boat we were,” Woodrum said. “A lot of people are acting like all of this is over and it’s not. People need to really be careful.”

A vaccination clinic will be held at the Rotary Amphitheater in Elkins Town Square on Thursday. No appointment is necessary and the event is open to the public. A free hot dog meal will be served in conjunction with the clinic, which will take place from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m.

“We’re trying to target some of the people who come to the Feed the City event they have once a month,” Woodrum said. “We want to try and reach that population of people and get them vaccinated if they haven’t yet done so.”

Partnering to present the event are the Randolph-Elkins Health Department, the Randolph County Senior Center and Davis & Elkins College. Medical personnel will also be offering blood pressure checks during the clinic.

Beyond Thursday’s event, Woodrum said vaccinations are also available at the Randolph-Elkins Health Department, Valley Health Care, local pharmacies, and through Davis Medical Center and its medical providers.

“The vaccine is available to anyone who wants it,” Woodrum said.

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