from Curtis Sheets, Chief of Wintergreen Fire & Rescue

As media coverage regarding the coronavirus continues to heat up, I wanted to take a moment to give you information more specific to Wintergreen.

So far there have been no positive tests in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The threat level remains low. Thirteen people have been tested in our region.

With positive cases in North Carolina, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, positive tests in Virginia are all but certain. Wintergreen Fire & Rescue participates in scheduled conference calls hosted by the Virginia Department of Health and will adjust our operating procedures if that becomes prudent. As of right now, the larger risk is the flu, and it's not too late to get your flu shot.

Please do not assume that a lack of emails from Wintergreen Fire & Rescue on this subject means that we aren't paying attention. We recognize that you're already being flooded with information and it is currently very little we can add to the conversation.

If you should call 9-1-1 for a family member who has a fever, please make sure the dispatcher is aware. It's helpful for paramedic crews to know this information prior to arrival. Also, if you have recently returned from international travel please provide that information to the dispatcher as well.

The Thomas Jefferson Health District is staffing a COVID-19 hotline between the hours of 8 am and 4:30 pm at 434-972-6261.

The best online site for information specific to Virginia regarding coronavirus: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/surveillance-and-investigation/novel-coronavirus/

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