ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Belmont County Senior Services Director Dwayne Pielech reported the Barnesville and Bethesda senior centers will both be closed until Oct. 15 following a COVID-19 exposure.

“We had a senior Friday go into Bethesda and play cards, then decided to go to Barnesville and play cards, then Saturday tested positive,” he said.

He added a “handful” of seniors at each site may have been exposed and his office has contacted all involved and is checking up on them.

“Everything’s fine. We’ve been on the phone daily with the members. Everybody else is fine, but we still have to follow the (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines,” he said.

He said about 10 seniors visit each center. Pielech said both facilities have been sanitized and the staff is working on programs and activities, but not with seniors.

Active COVID-19 testing is done every two weeks at Senior Services of Belmont County regardless of vaccination status, and 15-20 staff participants get tested every two weeks.

For more information, call Senior Services at 740-695-4143.