Nursing home and long-term care facility testing to be completed this week in Kanawha County 

The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department announced Monday it is helping to test staff and residents of all nursing homes and long-term care facilities within Kanawha County. All testing within the county should be completed by Friday, April 24.

Last week, Governor Jim Justice issued an executive order that all nursing home residents and staff members were to be tested or retested for COVID-19. The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department was proactive weeks ago and began testing staff and residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities as soon as one positive case was reported.  

Once receiving the direction of the Governor last week that all nursing homes were to be tested or retested, KCHD worked this weekend to determine the number of tests that would be needed to complete the testing of nursing homes and long-term care facilities in Kanawha County.  

KCHD, with help from the Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority and Charleston Area Medical Center, is testing at two facilities, supporting testing at seven facilities and has completed testing at four facilities. The West Virginia National Guard also assisted in testing throughout the county.

“Taking care of our most vulnerable residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities during this pandemic has been our priority since day one,” said Dr. Sherri Young, health officer and executive director of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department. “We’re happy to help these facilities follow Gov. Justice’s executive order in testing staff and residents.”