►
Description
Daily community and media briefing from Buncombe County Government with updated information on Coronavirus efforts and status in Buncombe County.
A
Good
afternoon
today's
date
is
March
19th.
Then
we
are
here
together
to
provide
an
update
to
our
community
and
media
partners
related
to
the
Cova
19
response
in
Buncombe
County
with
us.
Today
we
have
dr.
Jennifer,
mullendore,
Buncombe,
County
medical
director,
an
interim
public
health
director.
We
have
vayas
chief
medical
officer,
dr.
Craig,
Martin
dan
Laroy,
president
and
CEO
of
United
Way
of
Asheville
bunkum,
Fletcher,
Tove,
Buncombe,
County,
Health
and
Human
Services,
public
health
preparedness,
director
and
also
chairman
brownie
Neuman.
B
B
Community
transmission
means
that
the
person
did
not
travel
to
a
highly
impacted
area
and
had
known
own
contact
a
case
of
kovin
19
at
the
start
of
this
outbreak.
As
with
any
outbreak,
our
efforts
focus
on
containment
of
disease.
We
want
to
know
who
has
the
illness
and
how
they
got
it.
We
isolate
those
with
illness
and
quarantine,
their
close
contacts.
B
Now
that
we
know
that
we
have
community
spread
in
the
state,
we
need
to
continue
our
efforts
to
reduce
the
impact
of
infection
on
the
general
public
and
the
healthcare
system
as
a
state
and
a
county.
We
have
already
put
into
place
many
actions
as
if
we
knew
we
already
had
community
spread,
we've
reduced
the
size
of
mass
gatherings
and
closed
restaurants
and
bars
to
dine
in
service.
B
The
goal
of
all
of
these
efforts
is
to
protect
you,
the
public,
as
we
continue
into
this
phase
of
response.
Testing
for
people
with
mild
illness
will
become
less
important.
We
continue
to
have
testing
sites
today
at
UNC,
Asheville
and
Biltmore
church
in
Arden
that
will
continue
until
6:00
p.m.
or
until
supplies.
Last.
B
These
efforts
over
the
past
two
days
have
led
to
a
total
of
246
specimens
being
collected
which
are
being
sent
for
testing
in
our
County.
Over
the
last
several
days
we
have
tested
over
500
people,
both
Buncombe
County
communicable
disease
staff,
as
well
as
local
health
care
providers
and
Mission
Hospital
have
been
this
testing.
B
B
B
C
Thank
you
very
much,
I
really
appreciate
being
here
to
try
to
share
the
message
of
hope
and
I'm
appreciative
of
this
partnership
and
the
amount
of
patience,
kindness
and
compassion
that
has
been
displayed
during
a
time
of
increasing
anxiety.
The
recommendations
you're
hearing
today
are
based
on
science
via
health
is
a
publicly
managed
health
care
organization
that
serves
22
counties
in
Western,
North
Carolina.
We
serve
people
who
have
mental
health
substance
use
disorders
and
who
are
struggling
or
coping
with
intellectual
and
developmental
disabilities.
C
Our
goal,
of
course,
is
to
help
everyone
stay
in
recovery,
particularly
during
a
time
of
crisis.
To
assist
in
that
we
have
an
axe
Caroline
where
people
can
call
if
they
need
assistance
with
mental
health
or
behavioral
healthcare
issues,
they
can
call
that
number
24/7
and
it's
staffed
with
trained
staff
as
well
as
licensed
counselors.
The
number
is.
C
Center,
it
is
safe
and
available
for
people
356
that
Baltimore
is
available
for
people
who
need
that
at
Biltmore.
We
also
want
to
make
sure
that
we
maintain
our
providers,
so
they
have
the
robust
services
necessary.
We
have
over
a
hundred
people
who
prove
hundred
different
providers
and
agencies
in
Buncombe.
C
So
with
that,
let
me
say
thank
you
very
much.
Our
goal
is
to
help
preserve
our
higher
level
of
healthcare
needs,
such
as
emergency
departments
in
hospitals,
for
those
who
truly
need
that
level
of
care
without
further
delay.
Let
me
please
introduce
Dan
leroy,
who
is
the
president
and
CEO
of
United
Way
of
Asheville
Buncombe.
D
D
One
is
an
information
referral
service,
that's
operated
by
United
Way
of
North
Carolina,
where
families
and
individuals
can
obtain
free
and
confidential
information
on
Health
and
Human
Service
resources
within
their
community
24
hours
a
day,
seven
days
a
week,
365
days
a
year,
we're
available
in
most
any
language.
All
you
need
to
do
is
dial
2-1-1
from
any
phone,
and
you
will
be
connected
with
a
trained
resource.
D
Specialist
I
will
say
that,
because
some
areas
right
now
are
experiencing
phone
and
fiber
problems,
I'm
going
to
give
you
an
alternative
number
as
well,
and
that
number
is
eight
eight,
eight,
eight
nine
two
one
one.
Six,
two
again,
that's
eight
eight,
eight,
eight,
nine,
two
one
one
six
two,
but
for
the
vast
majority
of
people
you
can
simply
dial
2-1-1
United
Way
of
Astral
in
Buncombe
County
houses,
one
of
two
call
centers
in
the
state
two
blocks
from
here
on
south
French
Broad.
D
So
our
role
nc2
on
one's
role
in
this
crisis,
will
be
to
direct
people
to
the
community
sources
resources
that
they
need
as
a
result
of
this
crisis.
This
can
include
things
like
food
distribution
sites,
drive-through
testing
locations,
expansion
or
closures
of
community
resources
and
other
health
and
human
services
in
our
community.
Our
team
is
also
highly
trained
and
they're
very
good
at
helping
folks
to
fact-check
rumors
that
might
be
out
there
in
our
community
during
this
crisis.
They
can
help
folks
think
through
their
options.
D
For
folks
who
are
concerned
about
symptoms,
they
should
call
the
states
coronavirus
hotline
directly,
but
our
team
can
transfer
them
as
appropriate,
and
that
number
is
eight
six,
six,
four
six,
two
three
eight
to
one.
But
again
our
specialists
can
transfer
folks,
in
addition
to
NC
two
one
one,
our
United
Way
is
working
really
hard
right
now
to
serve
as
a
centralized
source
of
information
about
the
larger
social
service
landscape
in
our
community.
Who
is
doing
what
and
where
there
are
the
really
critical
gaps.
D
Our
priority
right
now
is
to
fill
in
this
picture,
and
so
right
now
our
two
on
one
call
center
is
collecting
updates
real-time
updates
from
community
services
across
Western,
North
Carolina
and
adding
this
information
to
our
database.
So
it
has
the
most
up-to-date,
accurate
information
available
to
our
callers
so
far,
most
of
a
lot
of
what
we're
hearing
our
needs
related
to
food,
childcare
and
homelessness.
But
this
is
a
rapidly
evolving
situation
and
those
needs
are
changing
again.
D
D
We're
performing
outreach
now
to
local
institutions
and
community
groups
to
build
out
the
database
so
that
we
really
understand
what
are
the
most
urgent
needs
for
volunteers
in
our
community,
and
we
are
also
connecting
folks
who
would
like
to
volunteer
to
those
needs.
You
can
visit
our
website
hands-on,
asheville,
org
and
again,
that's
hands-on,
Asheville
dot,
org,
no
punctuation.
D
Finally,
our
community
school
staff
are
working
very
closely
with
staff
and
administrators
from
both
Asheville
City
Schools
and
Buncombe
County
Schools,
along
with
several
community
partners,
to
identify
the
most
urgent
needs
emerging
from
this
crisis
at
our
schools
and
working
with
our
partners
to
develop
strategies
to
meet
those
needs
swiftly.
You
can
visit
our
website
for
up-to-date
information
about
all
of
these
resources
and
how
you
can
be
involved
and
that
website
is
United
Way
ABC
dot.
Org
at
this
point,
I
will
turn
it
over
to
Fletcher
tove
for
the
next
presentation.
E
E
The
declaration
achieves
this
goal
by
mandating
the
closure
of
specific
businesses
and
entertainment
venues
and
limiting
public
gatherings
to
no
more
than
10
people.
This
order
applies
to
all
of
Buncombe
County
and
its
six
municipalities
and
will
go
into
effect
at
5:00
p.m.
today
Thursday
March
19th.
E
E
F
F
One
clarification
is
that
we've
been
discussing
at
what
time
the
order
would
go
into
effect,
I.
Think
in
the
final
version
of
this,
we
decided
that
it
goes
into
effect
immediately
rather
than
at
5
o'clock
this
afternoon.
So
all
right,
let
me
just
read
simply
some
of
the
key
parts
of
the
emergency
order:
supplemental
declaration
of
a
local
state
of
emergency.
F
Now,
therefore,
pursuant
to
the
authority
contained
in
chapter
21,
Buncombe
County
Code
of
Ordinances,
an
article
1a
of
the
north
carolina
general
statutes,
chapter
1,
6
6,
a
the
Board
of
Commissioners,
do
hereby
declare
and
order
the
following
that
no
gatherings
of
10
persons
or
more
shall
take
place
in
Buncombe
County,
including
its
incorporated
municipalities
during
the
term
of
this
declaration
of
local
state
of
emergency,
that
all
gyms
and
fitness,
centers
indoor
pools,
spas
and
exercise
facilities,
movie
theaters
live
performance.
Venues
and
arcades
shall
closed
for
business.
I'm.
Sorry
for
clarification.
It
is
at
fight.
F
It
is
at
5
o'clock,
Thursday
March,
19th
2020
for
the
avoidance
of
doubt
and
consistent
with
executive
orders,
117
and
118
grocery
stores,
pharmacies,
convenience
stores,
gas
stations
and
food
distribution
sites.
To
the
extent
that
they
shall
they
sell
or
distribute
prepared,
food
are
exempt
from
the
provisions
of
this
declaration.
Also,
a
gathering
of
persons
does
not
include
normal
operations
at
airports,
bus
and
train
stations,
medical
facilities,
shopping
malls
and
centers.
F
It
also
does
not
include
office
environments,
factories
and
childcare,
centers,
further
food
banks
and
other
food
distribution
sites,
farmers,
markets,
retail
and
hardware
operations
and
rental
centers,
in
which
the
public
are
not
generally
in
close
contact
with
other
patrons,
are
exempt
from
this
declaration
by
and
with
the
consent
of
the
mayors
of
the
municipalities
within
Buncombe
County.
This
declaration
of
local
state
of
emergency
applies
within
the
municipal
limits
of
the
city
of
Asheville,
the
town
of
Weaverville,
the
town
of
Woodfin,
the
town
of
Black
Mountain,
the
town
of
Montreat
and
the
town
of
Biltmore
Forest.
F
A
A
E
Currently,
City
Transit
will
continue
to
operate
bus
stations
and
such
were
not
covered.
Specifically
in
this
supplemental
declaration.
We
are
working
closely
with
them
to
make
sure
they
have
the
latest
guidance
from
Buncombe
County
Public
Health,
the
CDC
and
the
North
client
Department
of
Health
and
Human
Services,
and
we
are
ensuring
that
they're
putting
it
into
effect
best
practices
to
maintain
cleanliness,
Popper
and
proper
hygiene
operations.
E
So,
for
a
point
of
clarification,
this
bowling
center
would
fall
under
the
arcade
part
of
the
declaration.
The
intent
here
is
to
any
setting
where
patrons
would
meet
that
close
contact
criteria,
which
is
currently
defined
as
being
within
six
feet
of
another
person
for
extended
periods
of
time.
Over
ten
minutes
is
what
the
intent
here
we
want
to
limit
close
contact
through
social
distancing
to
stop
the
spread
of
kovat
19.
A
B
D
The
answer
is
yes:
two
on
one
will
work
for
from
any
phone,
the
the
callers
with
an
8
to
8
area
code,
normally
a
routed
directly
to
our
call
center
locally.
But
during
this
crisis,
we're
working
with
our
partners
in
Durham
to
answer
calls
in
the
order
that
they're
received,
but
but
regardless
of
your
of
your
area,
code
two-one-one
will
work.
C
Via
has
moved
the
majority
of
its
staff
to
home-based
work,
but
obviously
there
still
is
a
need
to
have
connections
and
face-to-face
evaluations
at
time
for
certain
people.
We
would
be
following
the
procedures
similar
to
what
people
experience
when
they
walk
into
the
welcome
County
DSS
office,
in
which
they
would
be
screened.
So
we
would
do
a
telephonic
screening
if
someone
were
sick
had
been
in
contact
with
someone
who
was
sick
or
had
a
elevated
temperature.
We
would
figure
another
way,
perhaps
by
videoconferencing,
to
complete
the
evaluation.
A
So
we're
getting
a
lot
of
questions
about
spas
dog
grooming
shops
gyms.
So
here's
what
we
will
do
to
address
these
questions
we
will.
We
will
follow
up
with
an
FAQ
to
address
these
specific
questions
about
spas
and
gyms
and
just
to
address
a
lot
of
these
questions
coming
in
what
advice
do
you
have
for
people
who
think
that
they
might
have
coded
19:00
and
need
medical
care.
B
B
They
can
call
our
Buncombe
County
communicable
disease
staff
at
eight
two,
eight
two,
five
zero
five
one,
zero
nine
again
as
we
transition
into
this
different
phase
of
response,
the
guidance
is
more
likely
to
become,
if
you
are
just
mildly,
ill
stay
home
and
if
you
become
more
ill,
then
reach
out
to
your
health
care
provider.
But
again
most
people
who
become
sick
with
kovat
nineteen
develop
only
a
mild
illness
and
are
able
to
recover
at
home.
F
Just
one
last
clarification:
since
there
are
two
kind
of
two
pieces
to
the
order:
the
gym
one
is
the
general
prohibition
on
public
gatherings
of
more
than
ten
people,
so
that
provision
goes
into
effect
immediately.
The
provision
regarding
specific
businesses,
such
as
gymnasiums,
is
the
provision
that
goes
into
effect
at
five
o'clock
this
afternoon.
B
I've
also
wanted
to
pass
on
information
about
test
results,
because
our
staff
are
getting
a
lot
of
calls.
So
if
your
test
was
performed,
if
your
test
for
kovat
19
was
performed
by
a
Buncombe
County
communicable
disease
nurse
or
at
one
of
the
Buncombe
County
community
testing
sites,
we
will
notify
you
of
your
results.
If
your
test
was
conducted
at
your
physician's
office,
your
health
care
providers
office
or
an
urgent
care
Buncombe
County
community's
nurse
will
contact
you
if
your
test
result
comes
back
positive
for
kovat
19.
B
But
if
your
test
result
is
negative,
your
health
care
provider
or
the
urgent
care
provider
would
be
the
purse.
The
group
that
would
notify
you
of
your
results.
Please
do
not
call
Buncombe
County,
Health
and
Human
Services,
asking
about
your
test
result.
If
we
were
not
the
entity
that
performed
the
testing.
A
B
Is
still
a
lot
that
we
do
not
know
about
the
virus
that
causes
kovat
19
in
terms
of
pregnant
women,
we
do
know
that
they
are
considered
higher
risk
for
influenza,
and
so
the
guidance
is
really
that
pregnant
women
should
just
take
precautions
to
reduce
their
risk
of
exposure
to
Kovan
19.
So
again,
it's
frequent
hand-washing,
staying
away
from
sick
people
and
just
taking
those
extra
steps
to
to
stay
healthy.