Four Day Care Workers Test Positive for COVID-19

Four individuals utilizing the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department’s weekend drive-through testing are positive for COVID-19, according to Dr. Sherri Young, KCHD’s executive director and health officer. This was out of more than 200 tests performed on Saturday and Sunday. 

In Kanawha County, four day care workers tested positive. Each works at a separate facility. Two of those facilities,  Oakhurst First Presbyterian Child Development Center in South Charleston, and Morris Enrichment Center in Charleston have been closed because of the pandemic and will remain closed until further notice.  

Facilities which were open with employees testing positive include Fort Hill Child Development Center and the West Virginia National Guard Child Development Center. 

Parents have been notified and children were sent home from the two centers Wednesday afternoon. Young said families should make their children’s physicians aware of the possible exposure. Daycare workers should be tested. Appointments for testing may be made by calling the KCHD Coronavirus hotline at 304-348-1088. Young said each child’s physician should make the decision in conjunction with parents regarding the need for testing, but said KCHD would do testing. 

After a thorough cleaning and testing of employees,  the centers may be able to reopen as early as next week. 

Young said KCHD plans to continue to test day care workers, as the governor has directed.

Kanawha County Commissioner Ben Salango praised the professionalism of day care center personnel in addressing the outbreak. “It’s my understanding from health department officials the day care workers were already wearing masks and taking necessary precautions. When they were notified of a positive worker, the day care workers were most concerned about the safety of the children in their care.  KCHD was proactive in testing Day Care workers and began that testing on Friday, as a result we were able to identify four positive Day Care workers and immediately protect our children.” 

Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin noted, “COVID-19 continues to spread within our most vulnerable populations - including our day care centers. We must continue to provide opportunities for testing and follow the medical advice from experts like Dr. Sherri Young to slow this virus." 

County Commission President Kent Carper praised the cooperation between all facets of city and county government and the planning going in to addressing the pandemic. “Had we literally not worked nights and weekends, these individuals would not have been tested, and we couldn’t have taken the steps we’re now taking.”