COVID-19 Local Government and Community News as of Sept. 17, 2021

By Press release submission

Sep 18, 2021

Clarke County issued the following announcement on Sept. 17

Local and state COVID-19 updates and news are posted first, followed by Town of Berryville and Clarke County government information. This page also includes information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

As of 10 a.m. Sept. 17 (and since March 18, 2020) the Virginia Department of Health reports that Clarke County has 1,161 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 50 hospitalizations and 22 deaths. As of Sept. 17, 58.3% of Virginians are fully vaccinated; 54% of Clarke residents are fully vaccinated.

Free COVID-19 vaccinations are available for ages 12 and up at the Clarke County Health Department every Monday from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. Appointments are not required. The Health Department, located at 100 N. Buckmarsh St. in Berryville, is part of the Lord Fairfax Health District. Call the Clarke County office at (540) 955-1033.

Everyone in the United States can find free COVID-19 vaccinations using vaccines.gov. Virginia residents without computers should call (877) 829-4682.

Winchester-based Valley Health has web pages dedicated to COVID-19: Get Vaccinated and Frequently Asked Questions, or go to GetVaccineAnswers.org.

Virginia’s indoor mask mandate aligns with current CDC guidance. Fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance. All students, teachers, staff, and visitors must wear masks over their noses and mouths while on school property per Virginia’s Aug. 12, 2021, Public Health Emergency Order requiring universal masking in all indoor settings in Virginia’s K-12 schools.

Executive Order 79, which ends commonsense public health COVID-19 restrictions in Virginia, went into effect May 28, 2021, and remains in effect until amended or rescinded by further executive order.

The CDC provides guidelines for choosing safe activities for people who are fully vaccinated and for people who are not vaccinated. Because individuals and families must make decisions appropriate for them, the CDC also offers guidance for gatherings and celebrations.

TOWN OF BERRYVILLE & CLARKE COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Town of Berryville and Clarke County government offices at the Berryville-Clarke County Government Center (101 Chalmers Ct., Berryville) are open during regular business hours. Contact Town offices at (540) 955-1099 or customerservice@berryvilleva.gov. Contact County offices at (540) 955-5100 or info@clarkecounty.gov.

Individuals who are not fully vaccinated must wear face coverings and maintain social distance while inside any government building.

Find government meeting schedules at Berryville calendar and Clarke County calendar.

ADDITIONAL COUNTY INFORMATION

Chet Hobert Park (Al Smith Circle, Berryville) is OPEN dawn to dusk. Visitors who use the 102-acre park, its 2-mile walking trail, playing fields, tennis courts, etc., are asked to adhere to social-distancing standards. Dogs must be kept on leashes. Contact Parks & Recreation at (540) 955-5140 and ccpr@clarkecounty.gov.

Clarke County Animal Shelter (225 Ramsburg Lane, Berryville) is OPEN. Drop off donations — pet food, cat litter, etc. — in the bin by the front door. Contact the shelter at (540) 955-5104 or animalshelter@clarkecounty.gov. View animals available for adoption at petfinder.com.

Clarke County Building Department and Clarke County Department of Planning & Zoning (101 Chalmers Ct., Berryville) are OPEN. Call the Building Department at (540) 955-5112. Reach Planning & Zoning at (540) 955-5132.

Clarke County Convenience Center for household trash (90 Quarry Rd., Berryville) is OPEN 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays , 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays.

Clarke County Courts advises individuals with upcoming court dates to contact the court clerk’s office for information regarding modified procedures and protocols due to COVID-19.

• Circuit Court: (540) 955-5117

• General District Court: (540) 955-5128

• Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court: (540) 955-5136

Find the Circuit Court calendar here.

Clarke County Department of Social Services (311 E. Main St., Berryville) is OPEN for walk-in visits. Face coverings are required, and appropriate social distance will be maintained. Its hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call DSS at (540) 955-3700. NOTE: For immediate help on weekends, call the DSS hotline at (800) 552-7096.

Clarke County Economic Development & Tourism resource page for owners of small businesses includes links to agencies and organizations offering COVID-19-related assistance. Contact Director of Economic Development and Tourism Felicia Hart at (540) 955-5107 or fhart@clarkecounty.gov.

Clarke County Extension & 4-H offices (524 Westwood Rd., Berryville) are OPEN. Contact (540) 955-5164 or clefeve@vt.edu.

Clarke County Health Department (100 N. Buckmarsh St., Berryville) is OPEN and offers FREE COVID-19 vaccinations every Monday from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 1 to 3 p.m. No appointments necessary. Call (540) 955-1033. The Clarke County Health Department — part of the Virginia Department of Health — is within the Lord Fairfax Health District that serves the Northern Shenandoah Valley.

Clarke County Library in the Berryville-Clarke County Government Center (101 Chalmers Ct., Berryville) is OPEN 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Contact the library at (540) 955-5144 or ccl@handleyregional.org.

Clarke County Office of Elections in the Berryville-Clarke County Government Center (101 Chalmers Ct., Berryville) is OPEN. Contact the Office of Elections at (540) 955-5168 or vote@clarkecounty.gov. For information, go to Virginia Department of Elections.

Clarke County Parks & Recreation offers a wide variety of fitness classes, athletics, arts and crafts, general interest and children’s programs, special events, and trips. Find details in the Fall 2021 CCPR Program Guide. Contact Parks & Recreation at (540) 955-5140 or ccpr@clarkecounty.gov. Visit the Clarke County Recreation Center (225 Al Smith Circle, Berryville) to register for programs.

Clarke County Public Schools Food Service Program provides five day’s worth of FREE meals (five breakfasts and five lunches) to individuals under the age of 18 who are not enrolled in public schools. Meal pick up is 1:30 to 2 p.m. each Friday at Boyce Elementary School and Clarke County High School throughout the 2021-22 school year. One meal pick up per week. Registration is encouraged; use this application form. Call (540) 955-6100 for more information.

Clarke County Recreation Center gymnasium and fitness room are OPEN 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and closed on Sundays through Sept. 30. The recreation center is in Chet Hobert Park. Contact Parks & Recreation at (540) 955-5140 or ccpr@clarkecounty.gov.

Clarke County Sanitary Authority, which operates the public water and sewer systems in Boyce, Millwood, White Post (water only), and commercial uses at the Waterloo intersection, asks its customers to make payments by mail. Payments may also be made at the county Treasurer’s Office walk-up and drive-thru windows at the Berryville-Clarke County Government Center (101 Chalmers Ct., Berryville). Contact the CCSA at (540) 955-5185 or ccsa@clarkecounty.gov.

Clarke County Senior Center in the Clarke County Recreation Center remains CLOSED, but its “Meals on Wheels” delivery continues for its regular clients. Anyone over age 60 who needs meals is encouraged to contact the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging. Go to shenandoahaaa.com. Contact Clarke County Senior Center staff at (540) 955-3572.

DMV Select (Trip’s Auto Sales, 6103 Lord Fairfax Hwy., Berryville; 540-955-1367) is open by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Schedule an appointment online at berryvilledmvselect.as.me. Appointments are available between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays.

• You may arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment.

• Park in a designated DMV spot.

• Do not park in any other spot or along the road.

• Do not stand in line outside the office.

• Wait in your car until your appointment.

• Limit two (2) transactions per visit.

• For more information, go to dmv.virginia.gov.

FISH of Clarke County (36 E. Main St., Berryville) clothing store and food pantry are now OPEN 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday. All visitors are to wear face masks. Anyone not able to stop by when FISH is open may call (540) 955-1823 to schedule no-contact delivery.

FREE Food Bank at Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church in Berryville is CURB-SIDE PICK UP ONLY. To register, contact (540) 955-1823 or fishfoodpantry@comcast.net.

FREE Food Pantry in Millwood serves serves all Clarke County residents. Contact Christ Church at (540) 837-1112 or cccares@cunninghamchapel.org.

FREE public Wi-Fi in Clarke County is available at more than 15 locations. Park near the building, follow social distancing standards, and keep at least six feet from individuals who are not members of your immediate family. Wi-Fi networks are offered as-is with no guarantee of signal or speed quality.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COVID-19:

COVID-19 is spread person to person. An infected person sneezes or coughs, particles are in the air and/or land on surfaces. Other people inhale the particles, or touch the same surface, before touching their own eyes, nose, or mouth. COVID-19 symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure. Individuals who are most at risk are those ages 60 and older, those with chronic diseases, and those who have compromised immune systems.

COVID-19 symptoms:

• fever

• cough

• shortness of breath

• fatigue

• muscle or body aches

• headache

• sore throat

• new loss of taste or smell

• nausea or vomiting

• diarrhea

The most effective ways to avoid contracting and spreading COVID-19: