by KATE SHUNNEY
Fulton County went from a designation of “low” community transmission of COVID-19 during the week of October 23 to its current “substantial” transmission rates, according to a Pennsylvania Department of Health report. Fulton County, which borders Washington County, Md. and nearly touches Morgan County, W.Va. has never had a “Moderate” transmission level designation by the state.
Southern Fulton School District switched to full virtual learning last Thursday, November 12 and that will continue through next Tuesday, November 24. Students are on Thanksgiving Break at the end of next week, extending their time out of classrooms further.
Pennsylvania’s increase in case of the respiratory disease is in line with nationwide rises in cases.
On November 9, Gov. Tom Wolfe updated the state’s travel restriction recommendations.
“[T]he state added several neighboring states (New Jersey, Ohio and West Virginia) to a list of bordering states in which non-essential travel is highly discouraged,” the governor’s office said last Monday.
“It is important that people understand that this recommendation is in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania. A concerning number of recent cases have been linked to travel, and if people are going to travel, we need them to take steps to protect themselves, their loved ones and their community, and that involves quarantining,” state officials said.
Neighboring Washington County, Md. has issued a COVID-18 health alert due to rising case numbers as well.
Health officials are again urging people to limit indoor gatherings, consider cancelling get-togethers that aren’t essential, to work from home when possible, clean surfaces regularly, wash hands frequently and use hand sanitizer when that isn’t an option, and generally to maintain distance between yourself and others, especially indoors.
