The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), Bureau for Public Health filed two orders to implement additional measures regarding the reporting and publishing of COVID-19 data.
The rule changes will allow for collection of additional data to assist in the implementation of public health programs and help control the spread of COVID-19. One order requires the reporting of any COVID-19 positive individual who died with the disease and another order gives DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health the ability to publicly identify long-term care facilities with COVID-19 positive cases among residents and/or employees.
“These orders align with Governor Jim Justice’s efforts to gather and report important data that will help in the implementation of public health programs to control the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Cathy Slemp, State Health Officer and Commissioner for DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health. “The rule changes also allow for a more comprehensive dashboard report which will include nursing home cases. We hope to share that very soon.”
Both rules are effective April 22, 2020. The orders may be found here:
http://apps.sos.wv.gov/adlaw/csr/readfile.aspx?DocId=53218&Format=PDF