Since July 2, Carroll County has seen an significant increase of coronavirus cases. As of Friday afternoon, there were 43 total confirmed cases of the virus that have been reported since the beginning of the pandemic. There are currently 32 active cases and 11 persons have been released from observation.
According to Carroll County Health Department Administrator, Roberta Hartwig, these positive cases are widespread throughout the county and are not isolated to one community. It is for this reason that the department releasing information on individual towns or how many in each of those towns have tested positive.
Several businesses have been impacted either by employees testing positive or contacts of those employees. Hartwig says there positive cases have been identified after several gatherings and events that recently took place throughout the county.
The department is asking anyone who may have attended a family or public gathering or event recently to monitor their symptoms. Anyone who has been named as a close contact, meaning they were within six-feet of someone who has tested positive for at least 15-minutes, is being asked to quarantine themselves for 14-days from the date of last exposure. Hartwig points out that testing negative does not remove the need to quarantine. It is the job of the public health department to follow up on these contacts. If you are not sure if you should get tested you’re urged to call 877-435-8411.
It is the public’s responsibility to adhere to guidance given by the Health Department. Everyone is urged to social distance; wash your hands frequently with soap and water and stay home if you’re not feeling well.