In mid-November 2020, COVID-19 cases in Kanawha County rose sharply. On Sunday, November 15, the health department reported 134 new cases, a record for one day at that time. Between 20 and 25 of them came from lab results that were entered late. Active cases rose to 988, and the county’s death total reached 122.
The county health officer said that case counts often rise after holidays, but that this rise was of special concern because Thanksgiving had not yet come. The health officer asked residents to avoid crowds, stay home when they could, stay home when sick, wear a face covering in public and wash their hands often. The health officer also asked people to use the testing events planned for that week.
Cases kept rising after Thanksgiving. On December 1, 2020, the health department reported 137 new cases, a new one-day record, and 1,199 active cases. The health officer said the county was starting to see the effects of holiday travel and gatherings. See also Operation Drumstick.
This guidance is from November 2020. It is kept here as a record and is not current advice. Check current guidance from the CDC or your doctor.