►
Description
Speakers include:
· Dr. Jennifer Mullendore, Medical Director for Buncombe County Health and Human Services
· Dr. William Hathaway, Chief Medical Officer for Mission Hospital
· Stacie Saunders, Public Health Director for Buncombe County Health and Human Services
· Fletcher Tove, Public Health Preparedness Director for Buncombe County Health and Human Services
A
Today's
presenters
include
stacy
saunders,
buncombe
county
public
health
director,
dr
jennifer
mullendore,
buncombe
county
medical
director,
dr
bill
hathaway,
chief
medical
officer,
hca,
healthcare
of
north
carolina,
north
carolina
division.
Excuse
me
and
fletch
tov
public
health
preparedness
director
here
in
buncombe
county
before
we
get
started.
I
just
wanted
to
remind
you
that
you
can
find
the
spanish
language
version
of
this
community
update
on
facebook
on
the
buncombe
county,
health
and
human
services
page,
and
that
can
be
found
on
facebook
at
bchs
and
we'll
go
ahead
and
get
started
with
stacy.
B
B
B
B
Our
state
has
reached
almost
4
458
000
identified
cases
of
covet
19,
cumulatively,
and
we
are
adding
about
6
000
new
cases
on
average.
In
the
last
few
days
to
that
total
in
bunkum,
our
percent
positivity
is
7.8
percent
and
we
now
have
a
total
of
7
359
cases
of
cova
19
identified
since
the
pandemic
start
about
a
week
after
thanksgiving
we
began
to
see
our
cases
increase
now
well
into
the
post
thanksgiving
surge
each
day
we
are
adding
about
a
hundred
new
cases.
B
There
is
time
to
turn
these
trends
around
without
further
restrictions.
We
have
the
tools
to
reduce
the
spread
now,
but
it
depends
on
not
just
some
of
us
doing
it,
but
all
of
us
doing
it.
We
truly
hope
that
our
community
will
take
our
advice
as
we
head
into
the
holidays.
Next
week
celebrate
the
holidays
only
with
those
in
your
household.
B
We
do
not
recommend
that
you
travel
to
a
family,
get
together,
not
even
just
down
the
road.
We
are
urging
you
to
celebrate
the
upcoming
holiday
with
those
in
your
household.
Only
we
saw
with
thanksgiving
that
family
gatherings
outside
the
household
contributed
to
a
surge
of
cases.
We
are
now
experiencing
limit
physical
contact
with
people
who
do
not
live
with
you.
We
are
encouraging
you
to
try
different
ways
to
express
your
fellowship
and
joy
with
friends
and
families
instead
of
traditional
gatherings,
though
it
may
be
different
than
past
holidays.
B
Even
if
your
test
is
negative,
keep
your
gathering
small,
keep
it
outside
if
possible,
wear
a
mask
at
your
gathering.
Even
if
you
are
family,
keep
six
feet
apart
and
wash
your
hands.
Often
there
is
science
that
tells
us
that
wearing
a
mask
can
reduce
your
risk
by
77
percent
keeping
six
feet
apart
can
reduce
your
risk
by
85
percent
and
washing
our
hands
often
can
reduce
our
risk
by
70
percent.
B
B
B
B
B
Speaking
of
gifts.
Vaccine
is
on
the
way
dr
jennifer
mullendore
will
be
talking
more
about
vaccines
shortly,
but
even
with
vaccine,
it
will
take
time
to
distribute
immunizations
throughout
our
community.
Until
then,
we
have
to
give
each
other
the
gift
of
health
and
safety.
Consider
your
neighbors,
your
family
and
your
own
health.
C
Now
we
can
see
the
way
out
of
this
global
pandemic
nightmare
with
the
addition
of
tested,
safe
and
effective
covid19
vaccines
to
the
public
health
measures.
We
are
also
familiar
with
now.
The
3ws,
this
combination
of
tried
and
true
scientifically
proven
methods
for
preventing
illness
will
help
us
defeat.
This
virus
get
back
in
control
of
our
lives
and
back
to
the
people
and
places
we
love.
C
C
C
One
of
the
guiding
principles
of
the
state
of
north
carolina
during
their
planning
for
vaccine
distribution
has
been
including
the
input
and
expertise
of
leaders
from
historically
marginalized
communities
like
them.
We
in
buncombe
county
remain
committed
to
working
with
communities
of
color
to
understand
and
address
their
concerns
related
to
the
vaccine
between
both
the
pfizer
and
modern
vaccines.
C
C
C
The
protein
piece
moves
to
the
surface
of
the
cell,
and
our
immune
system
recognizes
that
the
protein
doesn't
belong
there
and
begins
mounting
an
immune
response
by
making
antibodies
against
this
protein.
This
is
just
like
what
happens.
Naturally,
when
someone
gets
infected
with
covid19
after
getting
vaccinated.
If
we
were
to
come
into
contact
with
the
virus,
our
bodies
would
be
prepared
to
fight
it
off.
C
C
C
However,
those
who
have
had
severe
allergic
reactions
to
prior
vaccines
or
other
injectable
medications
can
still
get
the
pfizer
by
integrovid19
vaccine
and
anyone
with
a
history
of
anaphylaxis
or
other
allergic
reaction
due
to
things
like
shellfish
or
other
foods.
Latex
pollen,
animal
dander
or
insect
stings
should
get
vaccinated
without
any
special
precautions.
C
C
D
D
Before
I
give
the
update
about
our
capacity
issues
and
other
issues
at
the
hospital
and
and
our
plans
for
vaccine
administration,
I
would
like
to
take
the
opportunity
to
echo
what
both
of
the
two
prior
speakers
spoke
about,
specifically
the
need
for
continued
diligence
on
the
part
of
the
community.
As
we
face
the
ongoing
pandemic.
D
We
are
certainly
not
out
of
the
storm.
While
we
see
a
light
at
the
end
of
the
tunnel,
we
are
critically
reliant
upon
each
and
every
one
of
you
in
the
community
to
help
us
by
doing
what
is
necessary
to
prevent
spread
of
the
virus
as
we
move
forward,
and
secondly,
I
would
like
to
echo
and
I'll
elaborate
on
this
in
a
little
bit
what
dr
mullendore
said,
I
think
so
eloquently
and
emphatically
about
the
safety
of
the
vaccine.
D
That
is
a
doubling
in
a
month
of
the
hospitalizations
at
mission
hospital,
those
in
the
intensive
care
unit.
Those
numbers
have
also
risen
previously,
averaging
between
10
and
15
and
now
hovering
in
the
20
range.
So,
while
those
numbers
are
certainly
dramatically
increased,
they
remain
within
our
capacity
and
capability
of
taking
care
of
of
patients
in
our
health
system.
D
Again,
we've
seen
this
across
the
state
and
while
we're
able
to
handle
this
rise
in
the
number
of
cases,
we
don't
want
to
see.
The
rise
continue.
It's
critically
important
that
we
blunt
the
rise
of
cases
as
we
approach
the
holiday
season
and
and
and
toward
that
end,
I'm
imploring
everybody
who's
tuning
in
on
this
press
conference
to
do
exactly
what
dr
mullendore
and
ms
saunders
asked
for,
which
is
practice,
the
three
w's.
D
The
next
thing
I'd
like
to
talk
about
is
really
the.
I
think
the
most
exciting
thing.
That's
happened
in
the
last
10
months
since
the
onset
of
the
pandemic
the
last
year,
if
you
go
back
to
the
onset
of
the
illness
in
china
and
that's
the
the
delivery
of
vaccine,
we're
happy
to
say
that
vaccine
has
arrived
to
western
north
carolina.
D
There
was
a
delivery
of
the
pfizer
vaccine
to
the
unc
party
health
system
on
tuesday
of
this
week
and
mission
health
received
its
shipment
of
almost
3
000
doses
of
vaccine
this
morning,
and
we
are
actively
engaging
in
distribution
plans
among
our
employees.
I
think
most
people
are
aware,
or
should
be
aware,
that
we
have
a
tiering
system
for
vaccine
distribution.
D
A
tiering
system
is
a
fancy
way
of
saying
we're
going
to
get
the
vaccine
to
the
people
who
are
at
greatest
risk
and
need
it
the
most
first
and
then
gradually
distribute
as
we
get
more
vaccine
supply
over
time
to
the
rest
of
the
community
and
so
right.
Now
we
are
preparing
to
administer
this
initial
3000
doses
starting
tomorrow
and
then
throughout,
not
just
at
mission
hospital,
but
throughout
the
other
mission
health
facilities
in
the
region.
D
Over
the
course
of
the
next
number
of
weeks
and
well
into
next
year,
we
don't
know
how
much
vaccine
we'll
be
getting
on
an
ongoing
basis.
I
think
that's
one
of
the
great
uncertainties
of
of
what's
happening
right
now.
We
know
there
will
be
more
vaccine,
we
just
don't
know
how
much
and
when
and
we're
optimistic
that
as
we
get
that
fix
vaccine
we'll
be
able
to
take
care
of
the
entire
community
working
closely
with
our
partners
in
the
county
health
departments
throughout
the
region.
D
We
know
that,
as
has
been
stated
by
dr
mullendore,
that
the
moderna
vaccine
is
expected
to
be
approved
this
coming
actually
today
and
this
coming
weekend,
and
we
anticipate
a
shipment
of
an
additional
1300
doses
of
vaccine
next
week.
So,
while
that's
a
small
amount
in
total,
it
is
the
beginning,
it's
the
light
at
the
end
of
the
tunnel
and
as
we
get
more
and
more
vaccine
and
learn
about
its
safety
additional
safety,
we
hope
to
get
it
to
the
community
as
soon
as
we
can
so
again.
D
Even
for
those
who
don't
have
covet
19,
and
I
ask
that
all
of
you
not
only
give
the
gift
of
health
to
your
family
members
by
practicing
the
three
w's,
but
that
you
also
think
about
the
health
care
workers
and
give
them
the
gift
of
less
of
a
burden
in
the
hospital
by
minimizing
the
spread
of
the
illness.
Thanks
very.
D
E
Good
afternoon
I'm
fletcher
tove
buncombe
county
public
health
emergency
preparedness
director
next
week,
pending
the
food
and
drug
administration,
granting
emergency
use
authorization,
buncombe
county
public
health,
is
expecting
our
first
shipment
of
the
moderna
covid19
vaccine
locally.
We
are
anticipating
700
doses,
but
this
will
be
dependent
upon
the
state's
allocation
and
may
change
if
the
vaccine
arrives.
As
anticipated,
we
plan
to
begin
vaccinating
on
tuesday
december
22nd
and
wednesday
december
23rd.
E
Our
incident
management
team
is
hard
at
work
planning
for
an
efficient
and
equitable
vaccination
process.
At
this
time.
We
do
not
know
how
many
doses
of
the
vaccine
buncombe
county,
public
health
will
be
receiving
in
the
following
weeks,
but
as
we
receive
more
of
the
vaccine,
we
will
expand
vaccine
distribution
to
a
larger
pool
of
health
care
workers
at
high
risk
and
also
start
taking
the
vaccine
out
to
long-term
care
facilities
for
both
staff
and
residents.
E
E
Overall,
our
business
community
is
following
state
and
local
guidance
to
protect
buncombe
county
recently.
There
have
been
questions
as
to
how
hundreds
of
complaints
have
not
translated
into
any
citations
being
issued.
So
I
wanted
to
take
a
moment
to
discuss
the
protocols
of
this
task
force,
how
we
respond
to
reports
and
also
the
nature
of
the
complaints
we
are
receiving.
E
E
E
Any
business
that
receives
three
or
more
complaints
is
forwarded
to
the
north
carolina
department
of
health
and
human
services
for
documentation
and
follow-up
in
which
they
send
a
formal
letter
to
the
business
locally.
Those
business
businesses
will
also
receive
a
letter
from
the
health
director
making
them
aware
of
the
reports
of
non-compliance
and
urging
them
to
review
relevant
guidance.
E
Those
businesses
also
go
into
the
queue
for
assessment
from
the
task
force
and
we
are
currently
working
our
way
through
that
list,
when
the
reports
we
receive
are
relevant
and
actionable.
Which
brings
me
to
my
last
point
the
nature
of
the
complaints
and
reports
that
we
are
receiving
of
the
roughly
400
reports.
The
ready
team
has
received
about
94
percent
concerned
face
covering
non-compliance
in
executive
order,
181,
subsection
2.4.
E
There
is
a
list
of
10
exceptions
for
wearing
a
face
covering
for
both
workers
and
guests,
including
medical
and
behavioral
concerns,
and
there's
also
a
clause
that
states
anyone
declining
to
wear
a
face
covering
and
deciding
any
of.
Those
10
reasons
should
not
be
required
to
produce
any
documentation
or
proof
of
that
condition.
E
E
B
B
Trends
are
not
improving,
but
we
can
change
this
if
we
all
follow
the
simple
measures
that
reduce
the
spread,
further
increase
in
trends
could
mean
further
restrictions.
So
please
do
your
part
to
stop
the
spread,
celebrate
the
holidays
with
only
your
household
and
explore
other
ways
to
have
fellowship
with
family
and
friends
outside
your
house.
B
B
B
And
lastly,
I
found
myself
thinking
about
the
song:
have
yourself
a
merry
little
christmas
last
night
and
how
very
meaningful
it
was
right
now,
some
days
soon,
we
will
all
be
together
if
the
fates
allow
until
then
we'll
have
to
muddle
through
somehow
so
have
yourself
a
merry
little
christmas.
Now
these
are
hard
days
and
we
will
muddle
through
as
long
as
we
work
together
follow
the
measures
that
are
in
place
as
one
bunkum
caring
for
each
other
happy
holidays,
and
thank
you
for
your.