►
Description
Daily media briefing from Buncombe County Health and Human Services and Emergency Services on updates concerning Coronavirus in Buncombe County.
A
Good
afternoon
everybody
it's
12:03,
so
we'll
go
ahead
and
get
started.
My
name
is
Stacey.
Wood
I
am
the
Health
and
Human
Services
public
information
officer,
and
today
we
have,
since
all
a
assisting
us
with
simultaneous
Spanish
interpretation
as
well
as
American
sign
language
interpretation
to
get
started.
I
want
to
acknowledge
our
city
and
county
leadership
here
in
the
room
with
us
today,
and
also
our
speakers.
We
have
dr.
Jennifer,
mullendore,
dr.
William,
Hathaway,
Fletcher,
tove
and
Tim
love
on
the
agenda
and
before
they
before
dr.
A
Mullen
door
begins
with
her
updates
I'm
going
to
ask
each
of
our
speakers
to
come
up
and
say
and
spell
their
names
and
along
with
their
titles
as
well.
So
for
those
of
you
calling
in
to
the
conference
line,
I
know
we
have
some
media
partners
calling
in
you
should
have
that.
Dialing
number
and
conference
ID
I
have
asked
today
that
you
text
directly
to
eight
to
eight
seven,
seven,
five,
one
three,
two
one
your
questions
during
the
Q&A
session
and
we
will
ensure
that
your
questions
get
answered.
A
C
B
B
Today,
the
state
website
says
that
there
are
63
cases
in
North,
Carolina
and
per
the
state
all
have
had
travel
outside
of
the
state
or
contact
with
a
known
case,
and
while
at
this
time
we
do
not
have
documentation
of
a
case
of
kovat
19
and
North
Carolina
that
lacks
any
travel
history
or
known
contact
with
a
case.
We
do
expect
that
there
is
community
transmission
occurring
in
North
Carolina,
and
we
should
all
act
accordingly.
B
B
B
C
Thank
You
dr.
Hathaway
bill,
Hathaway
I'm,
the
chief
medical
officer
at
mission,
health,
a
couple
of
updates
for
us
today,
which
I
think
are
important.
We've
been
getting
a
fair
number
of
questions
that
I
wanted
to
address
both
through
our
social
media
and
other
platforms.
First
and
foremost,
is
dr..
Mullendore
pointed
out.
We
have
no
cases
at
mission,
I
think
that's
important
to
say
in
no
cases
in
our
surrounding
hospitals.
We
have
many
patients
under
investigation.
C
Remember
that
when
we
do
a
test
on
a
patient,
they
become
a
Pui
a
person
under
investigation
that
number
Rises.
We
then
rule
them
in
as
a
positive
patient,
based
on
the
lab
testing
or
out,
depending
on
that,
we
frankly
have
had
a
little
bit
of
delay
on
the
lab
testing.
It's
still
taking
three
to
four
days
for
the
tests
to
come
back
so
I
anticipate
that
over
the
next
few
days,
we'll
get
many
more
negative
results
of
those
260
plus
cases
that
dr.
mullendore
referred
to.
C
We
probably
have
about
half
of
those
within
our
health
system
a
little
bit
less
than
half
that
have
come
through
many
through
the
emergency
department
or
through
our
mic
here
now
testing
sites,
because
we
have
a
case
in
Western
North
Carolina,
albeit
only
one
and
in
Macon
County.
We
have
changed
our
visitor
restrictions
and
our
facilities.
We
have
three
different
levels
of
visitation
level.
One
was
what
you
were
experiencing
previously,
which
was
screens
at
the
door
level.
C
Two
will
be
a
an
additional
level
of
restrictions,
predominantly
related
to
the
number
of
people
who
can
visit
patients
in
certain
circumstances.
We
hope
and
ask
that
you
appreciate
why
we're
doing
this
is
to
prevent
spread
to
our
healthcare
workers
and
our
patients
in
the
hospital,
so
that
we
can
continue
to
provide
the
services
that
you
need.
We've
been
getting
a
lot
of
questions
about
elective
surgeries,
there's
been,
as
you
probably
are,
well
aware,
a
request
by
the
Surgeon
General
to
consider
the
reduction
or
elimination
of
elective
surgeries.
C
We
are
actively
discussing
that
in
the
Health
System.
This
is
a
difficult
question
for
us,
because
the
definition
of
an
elective
surgery
by
most
people
is
one
that
is
simply
scheduled
rather
than
an
emergency,
and
it
is
our
opinion
that
not
all
scheduled
surgeries
are
something
that
can
be
delayed.
The
classic
example
is
the
woman
who
gets
a
mammogram
and
has
an
abnormal
mammogram
in
need
of
a
breast
biopsy,
while
that
is
scheduled
and
elective.
It
certainly
wouldn't
be
something
that
we
would
want
to
delay
unnecessarily.
C
So
the
simple
decision
to
cancel
a
surgery,
because
it's
labeled
elective
is
not
easy.
Our
approach
has
been
to
weigh
the
balance
between
treating
those
patients
now
who
are
in
need
of
these
procedures
and
and
and
giving
them
the
care
that
they
need.
So
we
don't
delay
and
then
incur
unnecessary
problems
for
them
later,
weighing
that,
against
the
risk
of
using
resources
that
might
be
needed
later,
it
is
a
difficult
decision
and
one
that
we're
weighing
every
day
based
on
the
utilization
of
resources
and
the
availability
of
resources.
C
It's
our
opinion
at
this
point
in
time
that
the
window
is
open
to
continue
to
provide
many
of
these
services,
but
we're
looking
at
it
on
a
case-by-case
basis,
because
we
don't
know
when
the
wave
hits
us
how
whether
we'll
be
able
to
provide
any
of
those
services.
So
while
this
window
is
open,
we're
being
very,
very
thoughtful
on
a
case
by
case
basis
about
how
we
approach
this.
As
that
changes
will
we
will
provide
updates.
E
We
have
right
now
to
slow
the
spread
of
kovat
19,
so
social
distancing
is
not
the
same
as
self
quarantine
or
isolation
to
other
practices
being
utilized
to
minimize
the
coronavirus
spread.
The
key
difference
is
that
quarantine
and
isolation
restrict
the
movement
of
people
to
a
certain
area
or
zone
to
limit,
transferring
and
spreading
an
infection.
E
E
It
may
be
hard
to
totally
change
your
habits
or
to
interpret
this
specific
advice
about
how
or
what
can
be
our
best
behavior,
and
the
fact
is
is
that
there
is
an
incredible
need
for
speed
for
social
distancing
for
everyone.
We
need
to
do
it
now
and
we
need
to
continue
doing
that
for
the
foreseeable
future.
E
The
federal
government
is
urging
anyone
with
serious
underlying
health
conditions
and
over
the
age
of
65,
and
some
of
those
health
conditions
may
include
lung
and
heart
conditions
and
weakened
immune
systems
to
stay
home
and
stay
away
from
other
people,
because
data
shows
that
these
groups
are
most
vulnerable
for
developing
a
severe
form
of
Kovan
19,
and
this
may
include
your
own
grandparents
and
family
members-
sorry,
grandchildren,
visitors,
just
stay
away
from
nursing
homes,
retirement
homes
and
other
long-term
care
facilities.
Unless
they're
going
to
provide
critical
assistance.
E
We
understand
this
is
tough
and
difficult,
because
social
isolation
is
already
a
problem
for
the
elderly,
whether
it's
a
FaceTime
call
Skype
streaming
movies
that
you
can
all
watch
together,
virtually
at
all
costs.
We
need
to
try
to
separate
those
most
at
risk,
65
and
older
from
our
day
to
day
lives
for
children.
E
E
Is
not
a
vacation.
This
is
a
specific
step
to
prevent
exposure
for
those
children
who
may
be
transmitting
that
disease
to
our
communities.
This
doesn't
mean
you
can't
let
your
kids
play
outside,
but
we
want
to
as
much
as
possible
make
sure
we're
maintaining
them.
You
know
six
feet
for
extended
periods
of
time
over
ten
minutes
and
for
everyone
as
individuals.
Again,
it's
okay
to
go
outdoors
for
fresh,
fresh
air
and
exercise
to
go,
walk
your
dog
to
go
for
a
hike
ride.
E
You
may
also
have
the
need
to
leave
the
house
for
medicines
or
other
essential
resources,
but
please
try
to
take
steps
to
keep
yourself
safe
during
these
excursions
and
maintain
your
social
distance.
When
you
leave
home
wipe
down
any
surfaces,
you
may
come
in
contact
with
disinfect
your
hands
with
alcohol-based
sanitizer
and
avoid
touching
your
face
and,
above
all,
continue
washing
your
hands
correctly
and
with
frequency,
especially
whenever
you
come
home
from
outside
before
you
eat
and
before
your
contact
with
the
very
old
or
very
young.
E
This
is
about
risk
mitigation
and
it's
a
community
effort
and
every
single
one
of
us
can
take
this
simple
step
to
protect
the
community
to
increase
social
distancing
in
Buncombe
County.
Welcome,
County
Public
Health
is
drafting
a
local
supplemental
order
to
Governor
Cooper's
executive
order
limiting
local
restaurants
for
dining
dining.
E
D
Good
afternoon
Tim
love
Buncombe
County
today,
I'm
going
to
speak
a
little
bit
about
business
continuity,
we're
all
aware
of
the
impacts
of
Cova
19
in
our
community
of
impacts
to
public
health,
to
our
medical
facilities,
but
also
to
our
private
sector,
in
particular
our
employers
and
their
employees.
And
so
we
want
to
talk
today.
We
want
to
recognize
that
our
community
is,
you
know,
based
on
small
businesses.
Retail
establishments
includes
bed-and-breakfast.
Hotels
also
includes
large
manufacturers,
and
all
of
these
entities
are
being
impacted
by
covin
19.
D
In
order
to
support
these
entities,
we've
stood
up
a
working
group
that
meets
daily
we're,
including
many
of
our
industry
groups
and
representatives
to
1
share
guidance
with
them.
This
is
a
dynamic
situation
as
we're
all
aware
to
make
sure
that
they
have
the
latest
guidance,
but
also
to
assess
input
from
them
about
what
their
needs
are.
What
they're
hearing
in
their
communities
as
to
items
that
I'd
like
to
share
with
you.
D
Over
the
past
days,
we've
been
pushing
out
through
our
website,
Buncombe
County
org
guidance
for
employees
impacted
by
kovin
19,
and
this
guidance
reflects
on
you
know,
what's
currently
in
place.
So
what
are
the
tools
that
folks
can
use?
They're
impacted
if
they
become
unemployed
if
they
lose
their
job?
Things
like
that
I'm
additionally
later
today
will
push
out
additional
resources
for
employers.
We
pushed
out
guidance
before,
but
we're
going
to
update
that
guidance
today
in
terms
of
what
our
specific
employer
resources
that
can
be
utilized
as
we
go
through
this
continued
Tom.
D
Something
I'd
like
to
stress
is
that
during
this
time,
our
support
services
remain
ready,
willing
and
able.
When
I
talk
about
support
services,
there
are
many
I'll
start
with
our
economic
services
group
within
our
Department
of
Health
and
Human
Services.
They
continue
to
operate
and
are
available
to
anyone
seeking
any
support
related
to
workforce
nutrition.
Things
of
that
nature.
Additionally,
NC
Works
is
sort
of
the
one-stop
shop
to
begin
your
unemployment
insurance
journey,
if
necessary.
D
Additionally,
the
Department
of
Employment
Security.
All
of
these
folks
are
still
in
operation.
They
have
physical
facilities
that
are
open,
but
additionally,
are
available
through
online
means,
as
well
as
telephone.
If
you're
uncertain
how
to
get
to
these
resources,
they
are
available
on
the
Buncombe
County
website.
Further,
if
you're
needing
help
navigating
the
system,
we
recommend
that
you
reach
out
to
2-1-1.
D
My
final
comment
would
be,
as
we
think
about
this
response.
I
also
want
to
mention,
if
you're
not
aware
that
our
local
utility
providers,
you
know
the
internet
providers,
energy
providers
have
been
making
available
on
their
website
information
about
how
they're
handling
disconnections
of
services
and
in
many
cases
are
not
during
this
difficult
time.
Thank
you.
G
G
B
G
You
change
that
as
far
as
who's
getting
tested
only
because
it
seems
like
there
are
a
lot
of
folks
that
are
asymptomatic,
that
we
do
now
have
kovat
19,
not
necessarily
here's
what
I'm
saying,
but
across
the
board
I
mean
we're
hearing
from
the
CDC
saying
that
a
lot
of
folks
that
are
asymptomatic
do
have
Cova
19
we've
heard
it
in
national
media
as
well.
So
is
there?
Are
we
testing
the
the
right
folks
just
because
they
don't
have
symptoms
or
what
does
that
process?
Look
like
so.
B
Based
on
what
the
current
CDC
and
the
State
Department
of
Health
and
Human
Services
guidance
is
testing
should
only
be
done
in
people
who
have
symptoms
at
this
time.
The
role
of
people,
transmits
transmitting
the
virus
before
they
develop
symptoms
is
actually
unknown.
So
again,
I
think
that
the
guidance
to
test
only
people
who
have
symptoms
is
appropriate.
A
B
So
child
cares
I.
The
question
had
to
do
with
concerns
about
child
care.
Centers.
So
I
spoke
about
this
yesterday.
There
is
guidance
that
was
put
out
Monday
by
the
North
Carolina
Department
of
Health
and
Human
Services,
it's
available
on
their
website,
its
interim
guidance
for
child
care,
centers
and,
basically
again
what
I
said
was
that
at
this
time
the
role
that
children
play
in
transmitting
kovat
19
the
virus
that
causes
Kovan
19
is
unknown.
We
do
know
that
they,
if
they
do
become
ill,
they
have
milder
symptoms.
B
B
The
current
guidance
is
that,
if
child
care
centers
want
to
remain
open,
if
the
owners
want
to
remain
open,
they
can
and
the
local
and
state
and
federal
public
health
agencies
support
that
there
is
guidance
on
how
they
should
exclude
high-risk
employees
and
high-risk
children.
There's
guidance
on
the
monitoring
that
occurs
in
terms
of
checking
the
children
for
symptoms,
there's,
there's
guidance
on
cleaning
and
disinfection,
and
so
I
know
that
our
local
child
carriers
are
taking
this
information
into
consideration
and
doing
the
appropriate
steps
to
keep
everybody
safe.
The
second
question
was
grocery
store,
grocery.
B
Again
I
mean
we.
We
need
food
right,
that's
one
of
the
reasons
that
grocery
stores
were
excluded
from
the
executive
order,
and
so
there
there's
guidance
again
for
for
these
yeah
there's
guidance
for
these
businesses
about
doing
again
everything
they
can
to
limit
close
contact
to
allow
for
social
distancing
in
these
settings
and
to
continue
with
disinfection
and
cleaning
processes
and
I
know
that
there
have
been
changes
in
ours
to
enable
them
to
to
address
some
of
these
mitigation
strategies.
A
E
E
So
there
is
no
interruption
at
this
time
to
national
supply
lines
of
communication.
We
know
if
you
go
into
the
grocery
store,
you
may
see
shelves
empty,
particularly
specific
items
that
that
is
not
indicative
of
a
disruption
to
national
supply.
That's
a
display
of
the
local
store
losing
their
supplies,
because
people
are
coming
buying
them,
so
those
supply
chains
are
still
operating.
Those
will
be
replenished
as
they
get
their
scheduled
deliveries.
I
do
want
to
point
out
that
we
need
to
be
people
shouldn't
be
hoarding
on
supplies.
E
You
need
to
buy
an
equality,
that's
appropriate
for
your
household,
because
what
happens
when
you
go
out
and
you
buy
out
a
store
on
stock,
think
about
the
most
vulnerable
think
about
the
high-risk
think
about
community
members
who
don't
have
the
resources
to
go
out
and
stock
up
on
things
like
that.
They
need
to
have
this
available
to
buy
as
they
have
the
capacity
and
as
their
schedules
allow
them.
So
don't
go
out
and
buy
out
stores
and
hoard
stuff.
E
You
don't
need
buy
responsibly,
think
about
what's
reasonable
for
your
household
and
just
buy
that
when
you,
when
you're
buying
everything
out
you're
kind
of
taking
stuff
away
from
other
people
who
may
not
have
the
resources
you
do.
This
is
a
community
effort.
We
need
to
be
thinking
of
others
right.
So
have
that
in
mind,
as
you
go
shopping.
C
At
this
point
in
time,
we
have
no
concerns
about
our
supply
for
personal
protective
equipment
for
our
staff.
That
is
part
of
the
equation
that
I
addressed
earlier
looking
at
future
needs
depending
upon
when
the
surge
of
patient
hits
us
hits
us,
but
we
have
no
concerns
about
that
at
this
point
in
time,
adequate
supplies
all
around
and.
G
E
Have
a
timeline
for
you:
we
are
drafting
the
guidance,
the
order
right
now,
looking
at
CDC
guidance,
state
guidance
or
also
a
spoke
of
County
Public
Health,
we're
making
a
determination
on
what's
best
for
welcome
County,
so
we're
taking
that
guidance
but
also
determine
the
best
steps
we
can
take
to
protect
a
community.
That's
a
process
involved
and
that's
the
process
we're
going
through
today
and
we'll
be
pushing
our
decisions
to
leadership
very
shortly.
Something.
E
G
H
So
at
the
County
Commission
meeting
held
yesterday
evening,
the
County
Commission
appropriated
$500,000,
these
funds
are
being
made
available
to
the
county
manager
and
her
department
heads
to
address
emerging
needs
in
response
to
code
19,
and
we
wanted
to
provide
a
level
of
flexibility
for
the
manager
because
we
won't
always
know
in
light
of
the
unusual
and
unique
nature
of
this
challenge.
What
some
of
the
different
needs
might
be.
H
The
county
does
have
the
authority
to
support
different
kinds
of
economic
development
projects,
and
we
already
do
traditionally
a
lot
of
different
things
to
support
business
expansions
in
the
community
to
make
loans
to
small
businesses
or
people
who
want
to
start
a
small
business.
So
these
are
areas
that
the
county
has
has
been
involved
in
for
a
long
long
time,
even
under
normal
circumstances,
so
yeah.
It
is
an
area
that
we
have
Authority
and
I.
Think
as
this
issue
involves,
those
will
all
be
things
that
we're
looking
at
to
do.
G
H
At
the
Commission
level,
we
have
not
had
a
specific
discussion
about
this,
yet
I
know
Tim,
love
and
other
people,
and
the
county
and
the
city's
economic
development
offices
are
thinking
about
these
questions.
Of
course,
this
is
all
moving
really
fast,
so
just
thinking
about
schools,
public
facilities,
you
know
these
kinds
of
decisions
have
been
the
real
focus
for
the
last
week
or
so,
but
we
know
this
is
going
to
be
with
us
for
a
while
and
so
in
terms
of
strategies
to
help
work,
workforce
and
local
businesses
navigate.
G
F
We
are
doing
the
same
thing,
coordinating
our
efforts
with
the
chamber
with
any
economic
development
group
that
we
can,
in
particular
the
state.
So
we
are,
as
Tim
said,
we
are
meeting
daily,
trying
to
gather
as
much
information
and
whatever
options
that
the
federal
government
state
government
but
locally.
We
don't
have
a
whole
lot
of
options
and
resources.
G
F
G
C
Don't
have
an
exact
number
for
you
on
the
respirators,
but
tens
of
thousands
I
mean
I.
Don't
I
can't
give
you
a
definitive
number
with
respect
to
the
ventilators.
That
seems
to
be
coming
up
frequently
so
I'll
address
it.
On
an
average
day
in
our
health
system
we
have
between
20
and
35
patients
who
need
a
ventilator.
C
We
have
capability
in
more
than
60
to
70
rooms,
to
put
people
on
ventilators
now,
and
we
can
expand
that
we
have
in
our
health
system
over
84
ventilators
at
this
point
in
time,
in
the
capacity
to
increase
in
combination
with
resource
from
HCA
healthcare.
So
we
have
the
ability
of
more
than
you
know
three
times
what
we
typically
use
for
our
ventilator
supply,
so
I
think
if
the
public
has
concerns
about
that,
I
hope
that
those
fears
are
laid
where
we're
that
we
have
an
adequate
stock.
A
E
Yes,
we've
seen
many
of
them
in
the
community
already
closed.
A
lot
of
businesses
across
the
board
are
being
proactive.
Taking
this
Kovan
19
threat
very
seriously.
The
purpose
of
our
supplemental
order
is
to
officially
make
that
up
mandates
to
protect
the
public
safety,
but,
yes,
they
should
close
and,
as
we
said,
many
of
them
already
taking
those
steps.
A
E
So
one
of
the
biggest
challenges
and
threats
is
rumors
and
misinformation
particular
on
social
media.
So,
if
you're
looking,
if
you
have
questions
or
you're
hearing
stuff
on
social
media
or
any
other
source,
if
it
is
not
coming
locally
from
Bubba
Buncombe
County
Public
Health
via
Buncombe
County
official
social
media,
it's
a
rumor.
So
if
dr.
Moreland
or
our
health
director
is
the
one
who's
notified.
If
we
have
positive
cases
that
will
be
pushed
immediately,
we're
not
immediately,
but
as
it
comes
down
to
be
pushed
through
official
social
media.
A
E
Use
sharing
information-
that's
not
vetted
by
experts,
so
I
always
appreciate
news
being
here
and
then
the
past
I've
welcomed
you
guys
as
allies
and
partners
and
part
of
our
community
response
effort.
Part
of
that
is
a
responsibility
as
your
as
media
to
vet.
Your
sources
make
sure
we're
sharing
vetted
sources
from
experts
at
all
levels
of
government
and
health
and
that
we're
not
propagating
and
given
a
platform
to
misinformation
and
anything
of
that
nature,
and
we
appreciate
your
help
in
that
effort.
Thank
you.
E
So,
as
a
nation
we've
seen
a
dramatic
increase
and
malware
fishing
and
other
kind
of
cyber
attacks
preying
on
people's
fear
of
kovat
19,
so
everybody
needs
to
enhance
their
awareness,
their
situational
awareness
of
phishing
attempts
of
attacks
on
their
software
infrastructure.
We
know
people
are
specifically
targeting
at
this
time:
hospitals,
health
care,
employees,
local
governments.
So
this
is
a
real
threat
week.
We
can't
afford,
as
government
or
any
health
care
system,
a
cyber
type
attack
that
will
lock
up
or
impair
our
operations.
So
everyone
needs
to
be
aware
of
this
threat.
E
I
know
the
Department
of
Homeland
Security
move
this
up
prosecution
of
these
types
of
attacks
to
a
priority
this
week,
so
cyber
attacks
and
cyber
predatory
practices
preying
on
people's
fears
of
kovat
19
are
on.
It
have
seen
a
dramatic
increase
so
again,
as
media
partners,
we
ask
you
not
to
play
into
those
fears,
push
accurate
information.
Thank
you.
G
Sorry
for
sheriff
Miller
I
know,
there's
a
lot
of
discussion
yesterday
after
the
announcement
with
judge
Hill
I'm
talking
about
with
the
inmate
population.
Can
you
give
us
an
update
on
where
we
are
with
that
I
think
yesterday,
you'd
said
between
30
to
50
or
so
low-level
offenders
have
been
released.
Basically,
people
who
had
missed
Court
dates
things
along
those
lines.
Is
that
still
happening,
and
where
are
you
all
at
with
that?
Yes,.
A
A
Just
as
a
reminder
to
the
community,
we
ask
that
those
who
are
not
being
tested
for
Kovan
19
not
coming
to
the
testing
area
and
leave
the
staff
to
their
important
jobs
of
serving
our
community,
and
that
applies
to
media
as
well,
and
at
this
point
we
are
done
for
the
day
and
we
will
change
the
format
tomorrow
and
we
will
be
in
touch
with
our
media
partners
about
what
that
format
will
look
like
all
right.
Thank
you
for
coming.