Cabins, campers used for temporary quarantine housing in Clark County

CLARK COUNTY — The Clark County Combined Health District said it has utilized cabins at Buck Creek State Park, as well as a rental house, apartment and campers to temporarily house people while they are in isolation or quarantine from COVID-19.

Health Commissioner Charles Patterson said through contact tracing, health district employees identify household information about a patient. If it’s determined that it’s not safe for them to quarantine or isolate in their own homes – the health district will try to place them in a temporary housing option.

Reasons for the placement may include if someone else in the house in immunocompromised or if someone else in the home needs to stay health for their job, such as a nurse.

“So far we’ve had at least 20 individuals who have been isolated or quarantined outside of their primary residence,” Patterson told News Center 7′s Jenna Lawson.

While Buck Creek State Park was closed to the public, the health district placed individuals inside some of the cabins on the property.

But now that the cabins have reopened for guests, Patterson said they’ve explored other options like using a rental apartment and a rental home, as well as purchasing three campers for people to use at an undisclosed location.

“If we have a family unit and we can keep them together, we will put them in the house or apartment,” Patterson said. “If it’s just two people (from the same household) -- they could stay together in one of the campers we have.”

No matter what option a person is staying in, a professional cleaning service will deep clean it after the person has left.

Typically an isolation period is 10 days or less and a quarantine period is 14 days.

In addition to providing temporary housing, the health district will also deliver groceries to anyone in isolation or quarantine status.

A stockpile room in the health district is packed with non-perishable items, baby and cleaning supplies and refrigerated and frozen meats.

Much of the food is donated through the Second Harvest Food Bank, but the health district will also make accommodations for allergies or dietary restrictions.

The health district has also made pharmacy deliveries and includes a thermometer with some drop-offs.

“We try to give them every opportunity to steer clear of other individuals to refrain from passing the virus,” Patterson said.

Clark County has passed the 1,000 total case threshold for the virus and remains in a level 3 (red) public health emergency.

Cox Media Group