Buncombe County Government, NC Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates, 25 Jun 2020

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From YouTube: Buncombe County COVID-19 Community Update

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This is the June 25, 2020 Community Update.

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Good afternoon and welcome to the June 25th community update, my name is Stacie. Wood and I serve as a public information officer here, along with dr. Mullen, Dora and Fletcher, who will be providing updates to you here shortly to reach our spanish-speaking audiences. This community update is also available in real-time in Spanish on the Buncombe County Health and Human Services Facebook page, and that can be found on Facebook at BC HHS. Let's go ahead and get started with an update from dr. mullendore.

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Good afternoon, as of noon today, there have been 523 lab, confirmed cases covered 19 in Buncombe County residents. 92 of these individuals are currently in isolation.

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51 percent of those who have been diagnosed with kovat 19 in our County have been between the ages of 18 and 49.

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Across the country there has been an increase in kovin, 19 and young adults, while the illness often is less severe and younger people. Some do get very sick and some do die.

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Younger individuals also may be more likely to show no symptoms yet still spread the virus. Anyone can be infected with kovat 19 and spread it to others. Even seemingly healthy people with no symptoms.

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All of us, regardless of our age, need to take this pandemic seriously and take action to keep to keep ourselves from being infected and spreading that infection on to others.

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There are now outbreaks at seven long-term care facilities in Buncombe County. An outbreak is considered to be two or more cases in a facility.

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Sadly, 37 Buncombe County residents have died from Kovan 19, including 32 residents of three long-term care facilities that are experiencing outbreaks.

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Buncombe County Public Health is aware of ever 15,500 kovat 19 tests that have been performed on residents of Buncombe, County and staff who work in long-term care facilities in Buncombe County.

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Since the start of this pandemic response, kovat 19 symptoms may include fever, chills, cough shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell nasal congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea testing is available for those who have any of those symptoms of kovat 19, as well as those who are without symptoms or do have those symptoms and have had close contact with someone known to have Kovan, 19 or those who may have been exposed to kovat 19 as a result of their occupation or activities.

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We are also encouraging individuals and historically marginalized populations that have been disproportionately impacted by kovat 19, so black indigenous and people of color to get tested. If your health care provider does not offer testing contact, one of the local urgent cares or clinics offering testing in our community. This information is available at Buncombe, ready, org, Buncombe, County, goverment and Western North Carolina community health services will offer community-based kovat 19 testing in several locations throughout the county over the next ten weeks.

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These sites are primarily for drive-thru traffic, but are located in close proximity to the bus line and will be open on varied days and hours to prevent and control the spread of code 19 to older or high-risk adults. It is important that people who work in long-term care or congregate care settings get tested for kovat 19.

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So designated times for staff of these long-term care and congregate care facilities will be offered at the two testing sites, one on Tuesdays and one on Thursdays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

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the locations days and times of these community testing sites are as follows: East Buncombe at 22, 17, us 70 Swannanoa and the Ingles parking lot every Tuesday beginning June 30th testing for the general public will be from 10:30 in the morning until 1:30 in the afternoon, its Southwest Buncombe at 58, a Peck Drive in West Asheville at the Buncombe County Sports Park, every Thursday, beginning July, 2nd and again testing for the general public will be from 10:30 in the morning until 1:30 in the afternoon and then in central Buncombe County at a BTEC on Genevieve circle in the allied health building parking lot every Sunday, beginning July 5th, and that testing will be from 1:30 in the afternoon until 5:30 p.m.

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as a reminder. There is no out-of-pocket cost for the testing at these community testing sites, but we do ask that those who have health insurance, including Medicaid or Medicare, bring their insurance cards with them.

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To those who are looking for practical advice on how to stay safe during this global pandemic, here's the vite the advice that I offer as a respiratory virus, kovat 19 spreads through coughing sneezing and, even speaking so face coverings or masks, are recommended for people who are around others outside of their immediate household or in public, especially in areas where keeping six feet of distance from others isn't possible.

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The best thing we all can do to get our economy and schools back open is to wear a face covering when you're out and about wearing a mask or a face covering. As dr. secretary Cohen said, the other day is a simple but powerful action, one of the most important actions that each of us can take to gain control over this virus.

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If you must go out, don't go into large crowds, keep that distance of 6 feet or more between yourself and others.

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Every contact counts so continue to reduce your contact with others outside of your household, to keep your risk lower and wash your hands. You have the ability to protect your friends, your family, our entire community and our economy. By following these simple steps, slowing the spread of this pandemic means getting back to work and back to school. We can all do this and we can do it safely.

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Thank you and stay safe.

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Good afternoon I'm Fletch Tove public health emergency preparedness coordinator. Yesterday, governor Cooper signed executive order, number 147, which will go into effect. This Friday at five pm Buncombe County, will be fully aligning with executive order number 147.

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This new order extends phase two of reopening for three more weeks until July 17th. This means that for the most part, things for the next three weeks will look, just as they have for the last five weeks under executive order. Number 141, which put us in the face to the safer at home recommendation, still stands.

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Mass gathering limits remain at no more than 10 people indoors and 25 outdoors.

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Restaurants, pools and retail businesses will continue to operate at a 50 percent capacity, with additional guidance, salons, barbers and other personal care services will also continue to operate at 50% capacity under additional guidance. Some industries, such as bars, gems, indoor, fitness facilities and entertainment venues must remain closed.

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North Carolina and Buncombe County will look very similar next week to how it looks this week. There is, however, one large and important change as part of executive order. Number 147 governor Cooper has mandated the use of face coverings statewide.

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This means that people are now required to wear face coverings and public spaces, whether inside or outside, when physical distancing of six feet is not possible.

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This requirement is applicable, but not limited to retail business, restaurants, personal care, grooming in tattoo studios, childcare facilities, state government, employees, transportation, manufacturing, construction and agricultural settings, meat and poultry processing plants and long-term care facilities.

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If you're outside by yourself or with your immediate family, you not need a face covering, but if you will be passing within six feet of others when outside in public, you are required to wear a face covering.

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There are some exceptions for this face covering mandate a face covering does not need to be worn by workers, customers or patrons who meet one of these following exceptions: persons with any medical or behavioral condition or disability, including, but not limited to any person who has trouble breathing or is otherwise unable to put on or remove a face covering without assistance, persons under 11 years of age, people who are actively eating or drinking people who are strenuously exercising people seeking to communicate with others who is or someone who is hearing impaired in a way that requires the mouth to be visible.

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People given a speech for broadcast or to an audience people working at home or a personal vehicle, and if someone is temporarily removing their face covering to secure government or medical services or for identification purposes, a person who that would be a risk from wearing a face cover network, as determined by local state, federal regulations or workplace safety guidelines.

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Anyone who has found that their face covering is impeding their visibility, inability to operate equipment or a vehicle and finally, a child whose parent or guardian is responsible or the responsible person, has been unable to place the face covering safely on the child's face.

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If someone claims an exception, no proof nor documentation is required, but that business or vendor can determine how to best manage service delivery. For that client.

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This means someone who cites an exception doesn't necessarily get service as usual, for example, someone who goes to a retail store and has an exception may be asked to remain outside, while they're requested goods are brought to them or they may be brought in and restricted to a small section of the store. The business gets to decide how to best ensure a service delivery to those clients with face covering exceptions.

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Citations related to this order can be written to businesses or organizations that fail to enforce this requirement. If a client tells the business, they have an exception, the business can take that statement at face value and will not be cited. However, a business or organization, that's blatantly, disregarding this order can be cited and fined law enforcement personnel cannot criminally enforce a face covering requirements under this order against individual workers, customers or patrons.

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However, if a business or organization denies entry to a customer or client and they refuse to leave law enforcement may enforce trespassing laws against that person.

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So essentially, we have three more weeks of Phase two, but now with a statewide mandate for face coverings. At that time, the governor will reassess our state data and metrics to determine the next steps from North Carolina in Bochum county will determine the best steps for Buncombe County.

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The fourth of July is just around the corner. In this year it will look very different for us. Our cookouts will be limited to smaller groups, we'll be wearing masks and keeping a safe distance from our families, friends and neighbors.

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We're also going to have to enjoy fireworks in a different way, as we start to reflect on the significance and meaning of the date. July 4th I want to make a point other than voting. We're in a mask when in public is the most patriotic thing you can do this year across the nation. A common enemy is ravaging our most vulnerable and each and every one of us has the capacity to fight back. In fact, the only way we can fight back is if we all work together.

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Our weapons in this fight are the three WS they're the best tools we have to combat kovat 19, wear a face covering weight, six feet apart and wash your hands with increased frequency.

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This is a small sacrifice to protect our most vulnerable a summer of small sacrifice so that our children can return to school safely in the fall a summer of small sacrifice that we continue to open up our economy to support our local small business so that we don't go into flu season with our health care systems being unduly burdened, so that we can protect those most at risk, whether they are family, friends, co-workers or even those we have never met so be a patriot, wear a face covering and, as always, stay safe, stay smart and let's take this step by step.

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Thank you for tuning in today to the community update. We will provide the next community update on Thursday July, 2nd at 2 p.m. there are a variety of resources available at Buncombe, ready, org for local businesses and industries looking for signage, and we will continue to add additional signage, emphasizing the use of face coverings when in public. So please check Buncombe, ready org for this information and thanks again for tuning in.