Franklin no longer a high transmission COVID community
Published 5:57 pm Tuesday, March 1, 2022
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Franklin City Manager Amanda C. Jarratt provided the City Council with a positive COVID-19 update during the council’s Feb. 28 meeting.
Amanda C. Jarratt
“I’m pleased to report that we are now down to averaging only one new case per day over a seven-day period, and today we had no additional cases of COVID in the city,” she said.
She noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its masking recommendations Feb. 28.
“So we’ll be reviewing those changes as a staff to see what works for us, but we’re no longer considered a high transmission community,” she said, addressing a classification that Franklin had previously fallen into.
She stated that now masks will not be required indoors.
“Certainly individuals that have immune disorders or want to wear masks should continue to do that, but the rules have changed starting today,” she said.
She added that the city is continuing to hold drive-thru testing and vaccination events throughout the community.
“So we would encourage you to seek those services,” she said to members of the public listening to the City Council meeting. “We’re sharing them regularly on the city’s social media pages. I would ask that individuals assist us in getting the word out there.”
In coordination with the Virginia Department of Health’s Western Tidewater Health District (WTHD), the city is holding a free drive-thru PCR COVID-19 testing event every Wednesday in March from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Armory Drive Recreational Park parking lot, which is located at 920 Armory Drive in Franklin. No appointments are required; walk-ups are welcome. For inquiries, call 757-514-4766 or 804-892-3682.
The city, together with the WTHD, will be holding a free community COVID-19 vaccination clinic March 17 from 2-6 p.m. at the Hayden Village Center, located at 683 Oak St. in Franklin. The clinic will include the Pfizer vaccines for people ages 5-11 and people ages 12 and older, as well as the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. First, second and third doses/boosters will be available. For more information, call 757-514-4766.
