Health Department Identifies Case of COVID-19 in Kanawha County

On Friday, March 20, 2020, the county health department confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Kanawha County and the City of Charleston.

The patient was an adult woman. Health officials said she likely got the virus while she traveled out of state. She traveled in a private vehicle, not by air, and an ambulance did not transport her. She was in isolation, and news reports said she was being treated at a CAMC facility.

Epidemiologists started to identify her close contacts, such as family, friends and health care workers. Close contacts went into quarantine for 14 days and were monitored for symptoms.

The county health officer said the case was expected and that more cases were likely as more tests became available locally. City and county leaders asked residents to “pause in place” that weekend: stay home, limit outings to one trip for essentials, and check on neighbors, especially older adults.

The advice at the time included frequent hand washing, keeping away from sick people, staying home when sick, covering coughs and cleaning surfaces that people touch often.

Within two weeks the county count reached 50 cases. See Fourth Judicial Annex Building COVID-19 case and COVID-19 testing.

This guidance is from March 2020. It is kept here as a record and is not current advice. Check current guidance from the CDC or your doctor.

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