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The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged all of us, and the difficulty and danger of performing some jobs during the pandemic has given us a new appreciation of some local heroes. Those heroes who have exhibited bravery and determination in our area include healthcare workers, first responders -- and health department workers.
County health departments have been tasked with documenting positive COVID-19 cases, contact tracing of people who have been exposed to the virus, and now also coordinating COVID-19 vaccinations within the county.
On Thursday, the Randolph County Commission unanimously voted to approve the purchase of iPad tablets for the Randolph-Elkins County Health Department.
The iPads will be used for on-site documentation of COVID-19 vaccinations, which is required by the state and the CDC.
This decision by the commission was a welcome vote of confidence and support for the health department staff.
Just this week, Randolph-Elkins Health Department workers have been keeping track of the 204 active COVID cases in the county, as well as trying to follow close to 3,000 contacts associated with those active cases.
The department's recent vaccination efforts have included a mass vaccination clinic Thursday at the Phil Gainer Community Center. Seniors age 65 and up from Randolph and five surrounding counties were vaccinated by appointment only during the clinic.
In the previous two weeks, more than 600 Randolph County residents were vaccinated in a series of events, first held at the Randolph County Senior Center and later at the Phil Gainer Community Center.
Despite all their hard work during the pandemic, health department workers are often disrespected and even insulted, Bonnie Woodrum, the Randolph-Elkins Health Department's infectious disease specialist, said.
"People need to be aware that we have a very small staff here at the health department," Woodrum noted earlier this week. "We have been working seven days a week since this started, so calling and being angry with us doesn't give us any more hours in the day.
"We are doing our very best, so people who get upset because our numbers don't match the state's numbers, or something, that's way down on our priority list. So the public, our friends, and our supporters need to be patient with us."
The work being done by our local health departments is vitally important, and any support county and city governments can give them will be greatly appreciated.