The Galax Police Department is advising residents to avoid using city water for the next three hours due to an outage at the Galax Water Treatment Plant, police said Friday.

While the school year is starting off strong for many who attend schools in the Mount Rogers Health District, health leaders report daily case counts are increasing, hospitals are filling up and burnout is leading to staffing shortages.

GALAX, Va. – The Mount Rogers Health District issued a warning in the Galax area due to a fox that tested positive for rabies. On Wednesday, a gray fox attacked an Animal Control Officer on the 900 block of West Stuart Drive in Galax. The fox recently fought with other animals indicated by hair in its teeth, creating additional disease reservoirs that may become rabid in the following months. Health officials warn that rabies is fatal once symptoms appear. If any person or anyone’s pets have been in contact with the gray fox, you’re asked to contact the Galax Health Department at 276-236-6127.

MARION, Va. – The Mount Rogers Health District announced Friday it is making major changes to the COVID-19 contract tracing process, effective immediately. I mean, people need to take precautions – safety for themselves, their families and their loved ones,” said Dr. Karen Shelton, Director of the Mount Rogers Health District. Bland County, Wythe County, Carroll County, Galax and other localities outside of the WSLS 10 News viewing area make up the health district. “When you double your cases, you can’t provide the same level of thorough case investigation and contact tracing,” said Dr. Shelton. Information on isolation, quarantine, contact tracing, and other relevant COVID-19 topics is listed on the Mount Rogers website, https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/mount-rogers/.

GALAX, Va. The City of Galax has 80 reported cases of coronavirus according to VDH data released Sunday. The city has the third highest number of cases in our viewing area behind Roanoke Citys 120 reported cases and Roanoke Countys 85 reported cases. The Mount Rogers Health District director Karen Shelton addressed the communitys concern last week in a letter. Starting Monday, May 18 the Mount Rogers Health District will be offering regularly scheduled COVID-19 testing for active disease (PCR testing). Thank you for your interest,Karen Shelton MDDirector Mount Rogers Health District, Virginia Department of Health

GRAYSON COUNTY, Va. – Health officials have confirmed the first case of coronavirus in Grayson County. “Everyone should stay home and only go out for essential needs as rarely as possible,” said Dr. Karen Shelton, director of Mount Rogers Health District. If you have to go out for critical things like grocery shopping or medical care, wear a cloth face covering and stay at least six feet away from others. These personal precautions apply to all of us – stay home!”As of Monday at 9 a.m., there are 13,535 cases of coronavirus in Virginia. The health department has reported 458 deaths, and 80,180 people have reportedly been tested.

WYTHE COUNTY, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health announced on Friday that a Wythe County resident has COVID-19. Officials with the VDH’s Mount Rogers Health District said the person contracted COVID-19 during out-of-state travel. There is no evidence of community transmission in Wythe County at this time, according to the VDH. "...This reminds us how very critical it is that people follow public health guidelines on social distancing and good hygiene,” said Karen Shelton, M.D., director of the Mount Rogers Health District. “Social distancing is one of the most effective strategies in limiting the spread of COVID-19, and lessening the impact of this pandemic.”