Botetourt Employees filled work days during Covid-19

Employees Busy During Coronavirus Shut Down

Botetourt County’s employees have remained active and busy even though citizens have been unable to access most county facilities during the recent state-mandated shut-down caused by the world-wide pandemic created by the Covid-19 virus.

County Administrator Gary Larrowe told the Board of Supervisors at the May 26 meeting that county employees have been busy with maintenance chores that they often had no time for, such as painting, repairing ball fields and fences, and fixing curbing. They have also inspected fire extinguishers and fire apparatus, “things often overlooked,” Larrowe said. Additionally, staff has installed sneeze guards in areas that will have public access when county buildings open again.

The Botetourt County Library staff has remained on duty operating remotely via the telephone and on the internet, assisting people with job searches and holding children’s activities online, Larrowe said.

Botetourt County’s number of current active cases stands at one, Botetourt Fire and EMS Chief Jason Ferguson told the supervisors. (As of June 3, the county’s Covid-19 website is reporting four active cases.) The county has had a total of 38 cases, with four deaths.

The county current plans to reopen its facilities to employees on June 11, with public availability beginning on June 15. The public may have limited access in some circumstances.                                                          

                  — Anita Firebaugh, Special to The Botetourt Bee