On July 15, Randolph County Health Department Administrator Angela Oathout reported that there was a COVID-19 outbreak at the Chester Mental Health Center.
“We did have a meeting with the leadership of the facility and Department of Human services and have requested that they increase testing to identify potential positive cases at that facility,” Oathout reported, adding that she anticipated an increase in reported cases.
She also gave some statistics for the outbreak, noting that on July 14, reported as testing positive were 17 staff from Randolph County, five staff from Jackson County, one staff member from Monroe County and two center residents, for a total of 25 positive cases.
By July 15, the total number of positive cases had increased to 31. The increase was reported to have been three more staff from Randolph County and three more center residents.
For more on this outbreak, please see this week’s print edition.