Buncombe County Government, NC Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates, 13 Aug 2020

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From YouTube: Buncombe County COVID-19 Community Update (August 13, 2020)

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Speakers for today's Community Update are.

· Stacie Saunders, Buncombe County Public Health Director

· Ashley Thubin, Communications Director for Asheville City Schools

· Dr. Tony Baldwin, Superintendent for Buncombe County Schools

· Fletcher Tove, Buncombe County Public Health Preparedness Director

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My mask protects you, your mask protects me: covid19 can spread. Even if you don't have symptoms wearing a face covering is the best thing you can do to help stop the spread of kovid in our community, though, you should also practice preventative measures like frequently washing your hands and maintaining six feet of distance from others.

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These simple acts can save the life of a neighbor, a friend or a member of your family. We are firefighters, emergency service workers, teachers, nurses, law enforcement officers and more, and we work hard to keep our community safe. Do your part to protect us visit bunkumready.org for local, updated, covid19.

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Good afternoon and welcome to the august 13th community update, my name is stacy wood and I serve as a public information officer here in the emergency operations center.

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This community update is available in spanish on the buncombe county, health and human services, facebook page and that can be found on facebook at bchhs, and all of these community updates can be found on the buncombe county government youtube channel.

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Today's updates will be provided by stacy saunders, buncombe county public health, director ashley, michelle sublin communications, director of asheville city schools, dr tony baldwin, buncombe, county superintendent for buncombe county schools. Excuse me and fletcher to buncombe, county public health preparedness director and we'll get started with an update from stacy.

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Thank you for joining us today for the community briefing for those tuning in, for the first time, I'm stacey turpin, saunders, buncombe county health director.

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Today, I will be presenting our update for those who are wondering dr jennifer mullendore is not in attendance today, because she is enjoying some well-deserved, most earned and no doubt very welcomed time off this week.

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Over the past week, we continue to see hopeful trends in buncombe county and some of our important covet 19 data.

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Roughly a month ago, we were experiencing an average of 40 new cases per day. In the last couple of weeks. We are hovering around 30 new cases per day. This is a hopeful sign, but but must be reviewed with caution, since all specimen collected during the most recent period may not have been reported. Yet as of noon today, dhhs is reporting, 1965 lab, confirmed cases of covid in buncombe county.

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Sadly, buncombe county has experienced 52 covid related deaths.

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Another trend we have been following has been the percent of tests that come back positive for covet 19, also known as the percent positivity.

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Recent percent positivity published on the north carolina cova dashboard, shows seven percent of the covid19 tests performed are coming back positive in north carolina.

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This percentage for the state has ranged from 7 to 10 percent over the last month.

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In buncombe county during most of july, five percent of tests came back positive for covet 19, which was up from two to three percent in june.

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Over the last couple of weeks, our percent positivity has decreased slightly to 4.5 percent.

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These are promising signs that we are seeing a decrease in spread in our community, but in order to continue to see those promising signs, we have to remain diligent and we must stay attentive to the three w's and other precautions.

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Now is not the time to let our guard down.

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If we want to continue to slow the spread of covet 19, now is the time to stay committed to our efforts. Please continue to do your part to limit your exposure to others outside your household and remember, to wear weight and wash as a reminder. Testing for covid19 is available if you have symptoms of covid or have been in close contact with someone with with someone with a confirmed, positive test.

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If you do not have a health care provider who offers testing for cova 19 and you meet criteria to get tested, you can use the state's find my testing site website to find kova testing near you.

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There are many places in our county offering testing for covit 19., including primary care providers. Community health, centers, urgent, cares hospital systems and pharmacies.

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If you do not have health insurance and are worried about the cost of testing, we encourage you to contact your closest federally qualified health center or one of our local clinics that offers discounted fees or programs that cover the cost of testing.

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These would include mercy, urgent care range, urgent care and mayheck family health center at biltmore. You can now also schedule an appointment at one of the county community testing sites.

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The new screening and appointment process for the community testing site is working well and we are seeing a reduction in wait times from the long wait time in line to get the actual test to getting test results back here are the steps to get tested at one of the buncombe county community testing sites, step one complete the buncombe county, self-checker online or over the phone to make sure you should be tested.

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The buncombe county self-checker can be found online at buncomberready.org.

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If you need help completing the self-checker, you can call the ready team at 828.

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From 8 30 to 5 pm monday through friday, step two once you complete the self-checker online or over the phone, and your answers indicate that you should be tested, you will fill out a registration form step three once the registration form is complete and submitted. A representative from the ready team will contact you over the phone to schedule a date and time for testing.

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Please do not show up at the sites before making an appointment with a member of the ready team and receiving your assigned appointment time. This is especially important over the weekend at the sunday site.

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If you do not receive a call back from the ready team, you do not have an appointment yet step. 4 show up at the testing site on your scheduled date and time and get tested.

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Community testing sites are available on sundays, at a b tech tuesdays at the ingles in swannoa and thursdays at the buncombe county sports park.

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Cost is not a barrier to testing at these sites. There is no out-of-pocket cost to the testing. If you have insurance, it will be billed to cover the cost of the test.

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Spanish medical interpreters will be at the testing sites for more information about cova testing in buncombe county. You can visit buncomberready.org.

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Remember if you are getting tested, because you are symptomatic or have been exposed to a known positive case, then you should isolate after being tested and remain isolated until you receive your test results with further instructions about next steps.

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Once a case is identified, local public health works with the case to identify their close contacts and contact tracing then begins.

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This is the process of contacting individuals who are in close contact of the known positive. Individual contact tracing is a very important part of stopping the spread of virus in our community.

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Unfortunately, we've been notified of scams where people have been called by individuals posing as contact tracers.

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These scammers are telling people that, in order to complete contact tracing, they must give their credit card information or pay for these services. This is simply not true. Contact tracers working with public health will never ask you for your credit card information or payment contact tracing is provided to individuals at no cost.

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If you are called by one of these scammers, we encourage you to contact your local law enforcement to report the incident and provide them with any information you can to help identify these scams.

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As we look forward to to the start of school and in-person learning, let's do all that we can to keep ourselves and others safe.

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We want to outline what will happen if a positive cova case occurs in the school setting and what that response will look like.

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It is important to know that every response will be based on the unique circumstances of that occurrence of the virus, and there is no single response to all cases that occur in school settings.

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If there is a positive cova case in a student or staff, member buncombe, county health and human services, as required by north carolina, general statute, 138-136 will be notified and the communicable disease staff and school nurses will work to identify the details of the exposure.

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Public health will begin case investigation, including identifying onset of symptoms and when the positive test result occurred and will work with the student, the family and staff, to identify close contacts, which means those within six feet for a period of 15 minutes or longer.

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Public health will take information and determine the extent of possible exposure and will identify actions that need to be taken to contain the spread.

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The school administrators and school nurse, along with public health nurses, will craft a communication to share with those identified as close contacts.

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This includes impacted teachers.

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Students, staff and anyone else identified as a close contact.

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Anyone identified as a close contact will be instructed to self-quarantine until they can get tested.

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The school will send a general general notification to families and staff if an outbreak, as defined as five or more positive cases, occurs at a school.

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This notification will not include identifying information such as the student staff, coach or grade public health will remain in communication with those who have been identified. As close contacts, please understand that covet 19 is primarily spread through droplets, which means, if social, distancing wearing face coverings and hand hygiene guidance is followed.

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There may be no need to close the school if the closed contacts have been excluded and there is sufficient space to continue normal operations.

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Again, every response will be based on the unique circumstances of the occurrence. There is no single response to all cases that may occur in a school setting.

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We need our students and those who care for them to do their part at school and at home to maintain social distance from others outside their household wear, face coverings and wash or sanitize hands, often to prevent the spread of covid19.

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The goal of every action in this sequence of events is to protect our students and staff and get back to classroom learning and activities as soon as possible, also with the start of a new school year. We cannot emphasize enough how important it is for everyone in our community to be fully protected from vaccine preventable diseases.

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Please make sure that you and your family are up to date on all age. Appropriate immunizations, getting immunizations is easy and cost is not a barrier, as there are programs that can help to cover or pay the cost of vaccines for children 19 and under.

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If you have questions about vaccines for you or your child, please call your doctor or the immunization clinic at 828.

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This uncertain time has added stress to all of our lives and it is important to take care of ourselves and our mental health now and always connecting with others, is one of the best ways to ward off feelings of loneliness and isolation.

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We encourage you to reach out to those healthy influences around you when you need to anyone living in western north carolina can call via 24 7 access care line as well at 1, 800 849 one two, seven, you can also call two one one for connection to resources and assistance.

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In summary, while we are hopeful to see improvement in numbers and trends, this is not the time to let our guard down in order to continue moving in the right direction. Now is the time to further commit our efforts to slow and stop the spread of covet 19 in our community.

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I have been learning so much in these first two weeks about buncombe county and the people who make up this incredible area. I have heard that buncombe county can do really hard things if they are the right things to do. Please do everything you can to limit your exposure to others outside your household and practice. The three double three w's when you must be out in public around others, remember to wear a face covering wait, six feet apart and wash your hands. Often we continue to need your help in stopping the spread of covet 19..

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We can't do this without you, one bunkum, working together with each other and for each other. Thank you so much for your time today. I will now ask ashley michelle thublin communications director at asheville city schools, to provide an update on their back to school status and plans.

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Good afternoon my name is ashley michelle fublin and I'm the executive director of communications for asheville city schools. Just as soon as our students left for summer vacation, I'm sure you can imagine we began receiving dozens of emails from both our parents and staff members asking about our return to learn plans.

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Understandably, I've heard quite a few concerns asking how we're going to keep everyone safe without a doubt. This school year is starting, unlike any other you and I have ever experienced.

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However, please know the safety and well-being of our students and our staff members remains our district's number one priority in order to do just that, asheville city schools believes that plan c is the best way forward, with the fewest negative impacts for our cougar family.

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This means that all instruction for students in kindergarten through 12th grade will be delivered remotely, with a combination of scheduled online whole class sessions and independent at-home learning.

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Please understand that this false instruction will look quite a bit different from the remote learning that happened in the spring, but one thing I hope that does not change is how understanding adaptable and resilient our cougar family has been this semester.

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Each day will begin with scheduled instructional sessions for classes in the morning and time in the afternoon, for students to complete both individual, as well as group work and meet with their teachers for additional support and feedback.

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If you have a child within our district, more information about your school's daily remote schedule, because each school has a slightly different daily schedule, has been shared by your school's principal.

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Although our schools will be learning remotely, please know that our teachers will be delivering instruction from their classroom.

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We have absolutely the best staff and we want to provide them with the best resources and the safest environment possible through parent and staff surveys. It was shared that students are much more engaged when they are receiving whole class sessions from that classroom setting.

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However, since the spring, we have also received state and local guidance, as well as implemented safety protocols that permit our staff to work on campus.

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In fact, we've created a comprehensive covid19 employee manual, which is intended to be a one-stop shop. To answer the numerous questions and concerns that have arisen throughout the kovit 19 global pandemic.

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Once again, I want to explain that we are beginning with remote learning, but our goal is for our students to begin transitioning to a hybrid model where some students begin returning to in-person learning as early as the start of our second semester.

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Of course, these plans, just like everything else with covid19, are subject to change and will be contingent on the latest guidance from governor cooper, the north carolina department of health and human services, the north carolina department of public instruction, as well as our very own buncombe county health department. At that time of the anticipated transition.

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Additionally, I would be remiss if I didn't let you know that our outstanding school nutrition staff, who served more than and forty thousand meals this spring and summer, all at absolutely no cost to our families they're gearing up for our back-to-school food distribution sites.

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Grab-And-Go meals will be available monday through friday, beginning this upcoming monday august 17th through the 31st at pisgah view apartments, hillcrest apartments, herb watts park and klondike apartments. Additionally drive. The drive-through meals will also be available at isaac, dixon elementary school claxton, elementary school and vance elementary school from 11 to 1 p.m.

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More information about our sites can be found on our district website and on our social media sites.

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All in all, we know this year is going to require a lot of flexibility, not only from our district staff, but also from our outstanding students and their wonderful parents, but please understand that each and every tough decision that our district is making is rooted in trying our absolute best in doing what we believe our students need.

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Once again, I would like to reiterate that we fully understand that no return to learn plan is perfect. Definitely, however, we are dedicated to keeping our students and our staff members safe, educating your children and being as absolutely transparent as possible, more information about asheville city schools, plan c and how we're continuing to support our families throughout this challenging time can be found on our district's website.

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Ashevillecityschools.Net return to learn again, that's asheville city schools, return to learn. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share, and I couldn't say I'm part of the asheville city schools- family. If I didn't conclude with the cougar pride up next we're going to have dr tony baldwin, the superintendent of buncombe county schools, to share a bit more about their school.

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Thank you ashley good afternoon, everyone. While we remain in unprecedented times, we are excited to welcome back students and staff to the new school year. Our teachers return to their classrooms on monday of this week and they will be joined with additional support staff tomorrow after considerable work. This summer, final preparations are being put in place to welcome those students who have opted for plan b beyond next week.

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There are few important reminders that we want to share with you. Our students will notice many enhanced safety procedures as they enter the school campus, for example, before any student staff or visitor enters the building. They must have their temperature taken and register within normal range.

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In addition, all students, staff and visitors must wear a face covering while they are in our schools, with limited exceptions, including eating or drinking. Likewise, students will be allowed to take briefly timed face, covering breaks entirely, based upon social distancing measures being fully in place.

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Additional components of health and safety. Precautions will include frequent hand washing and hand sanitation throughout the day, a rigorous cleaning and sanitation schedule maintained by our custodians and staff, cnas or personal care. Aides will be stationed at each school and will assist our team of wonderful school nurses.

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Increased outside air flow will be integrated within the ventilation system of each school building on a daily basis, hallways classrooms and common areas have been marked or arranged for physical distancing.

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We should note that our classrooms have two different options for social distancing.

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Our maintenance department has either removed some classroom furniture, so all desks and chairs in the room are at least six feet apart or if the furniture remains in the room. Students will be seated at least six feet apart at all times. Parents and students should reach out directly to their school administrators with any questions or concerns.

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Under our return to learn plan, the majority of our bunking county school teachers will be working in their classrooms during onboarding and remote learning days. That said, if a faculty or staff, member or member of their family has a medical condition that places them at higher risk for covid19.

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Individual workplace accommodations will be developed in consultation with their principal and supervisor.

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Unlike this past march, when our schools were closed under the statewide phase, one guidelines buildings are now open and operating with all the aforementioned safety protocols in place.

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While we applaud our incredible teachers dedicated efforts to provide a quality instruction last spring in lieu of the crisis management having direct access to classroom resources, tech support and collaboration through their professional learning communities raises the expectations for a much higher and much approved quality of remote instruction. Under our six week, plan b and beyond forty percent of our students district wide who have chosen the remote only option will receive instruction remotely beginning next monday, the 17th for the remaining 60 percent of our students.

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They have been placed either in an a or b cohort group. A students will attend school in person monday and wednesday, while group b students will attend tuesdays and thursdays grades. Kindergarten through 8th will be provided this on-boarding opportunity for the first week of school on an abbreviated day schedule of 8 o'clock in the morning to 12 30 in the afternoon for the next five weeks, following all bcs kindergarten. Through eighth grade, students will receive remote instruction.

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High school students in grades 9 through 12, will onboard over the first two weeks of school, also on an abbreviated day. Schedule of nine o'clock in the morning to one o'clock in the afternoon each day that our high school students attend will be structured to meet only within a single class period in an effort to significantly reduce the commingling.

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That naturally occurs with multiple class changes on the days either group a or group b are not in the school building for onboarding purposes. They will learn remotely beginning week. Three all through week, six all buncombe county school high school students will receive remote instruction.

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Our school meal program and I've also got a brag on our child nutrition staff. They served 1 million meals between the dates of march, the 16th and june the 3rd. They continue on full speed ahead. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for students who are in the school building during their cohort onboarding days.

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Students who are learning remotely will be provided a curbside pickup option at all schools from august 17th through the 21st from 11 o'clock to noon. Please visit buncombeschools.org for a specific schedule for the next several weeks.

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We also know that children may be a concern. Children's child care may be a concern for parents and staff. If you'll visit return to learn.buncombeschools.org, we have posted an updated list of child care options in our area.

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Speaking of I want to take a minute to thank our community partners, including the ymca and our faith-based community, who have provided a myriad of services to our staff, families and students during this very difficult time. We can get through this global crisis together, but we must do it as a community.

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This school year will be, unlike any other we've ever experienced, while the circumstances surrounding our new school year are unprecedented. Our mission as a school system is the same. We are here to teach, support and nurture the students of buncombe county schools. Thank.

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Good afternoon my name is fletch tove, I'm the buncombe county public health emergency preparedness director last week in response to growing complaints regarding local restaurants, not complying with state and local orders.

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We formed a multi-agency task force to evaluate and assess the level of compliance in the community and to determine whether or not to recommend additional restrictions or requirements on restaurants and breweries.

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This task force was composed of members of public health, the sheriff's department, asheville police department, city, fire marshals and alcohol law enforcement, the ale since last friday. The task force has assessed 30 restaurants in breweries in downtown asheville, greater asheville and buncombe county jurisdictions.

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Overall, observations indicate a high level of compliance and an eagerness to come into compliance. Wherever a deficiency was identified, the most common non-compliance issues were lack of required signage and we were able to provide this required resource on the spot.

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We also saw a failure to post the newly defined maximum emergency occupancy, which is generally set at 50 percent of normal capacity.

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There were a few locations that had issues with patrons outside of the establishment. For various reasons. We addressed these problems directly with those restaurants and provided ideas and strategies to resolve those issues.

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We will be following up to ensure that they have been resolved at all evaluated establishments. We emphasize with management the importance of keeping guests seated at their assigned tables, with a reminder to stay vigilant, especially later at night to prevent guests from mingling in the establishment from developing into a bar type environment.

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All locations which were evaluated were given a written warning indicating which requirements they were failing to meet even restaurants that met all requirements during the evaluation were given the warning document, with a focus on maintaining compliance.

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There were no citations issued based on the observations and the results of the restaurant task force. Public health has recommended to county leadership to continue aligning with executive order number 153, which curtails the sales of alcoholic beverages at 11 pm.

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We will continue to follow up on complaints as we receive them. Persons who wish to report what they believe to be violations of current orders can email ready at buncombecounty.org, that's r-e-a-d-y at buncombecounty.org, or call the ready team directly at 828-419-0.

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828-419-0095 as always, stay smart stay safe and let's take this step by step. Thank you.

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So, in conclusion, thank you for tuning in to today's community update. We will provide the next community update on thursday august 20th at 3 p.m, and I want to wish everyone a healthy and safe weekend, and I would also like to wish our county manager avril pinder a very happy birthday today. Thank you and we'll see you next thursday.