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From YouTube: Buncombe County COVID-19 Update (March 27, 2020)
Description
For updated information visit buncombeready.org
A
Hello,
my
name
is
own
PO,
foo
and
I
work
in
the
joint
information
center.
As
one
of
the
public
information
officers
in
the
emergency
operation
center
or
EOC
today
is
March
27th
year
2020.
Today's
update
will
include
the
following:
an
overview
of
the
current
kovat
19
case
count
and
situation
overview
from
dr.
jennifer
mullendore
interim
Public,
Health
Director
for
Buncombe
County.
A
Additional
answers
to
your
questions
from
the
public
about
stay,
safe,
stay
home
declaration
and
emergency
operations,
preparations
provided
by
fletcher
tove,
public
health
preparedness
director
for
buncombe,
county
and
taylor,
jones
buncombe,
county
emergency
services,
director
updates
from
Asheville
City
Schools
and
Buncombe
County
Schools
information
about
the
one
Buncombe
found
from
Tim
love,
inter-government
intergovernmental
affairs,
director
for
Buncombe
County
and
kit
Cramer
executive
director
of
the
Asheville
area,
Chamber
of
Commerce
updates
for
mission
from
dr.
William,
Hathaway
chief
medical
officer
from
Mission
Hospital.
To
begin
dr.
and
balloon
tour
will
provide
and
deliver
a
situation
overview.
B
B
B
However,
as
more
testing
becomes
available
through
commercial
labs
and
health
systems,
we
expect
that
our
accuracy
of
what's
going
on
in
our
county
will
improve
at
this
time.
We
must
assume
that
kovat
19
is
spreading
in
our
County
and
that
you
know
each
individual
we
may
encounter
could
have
it,
and
that
is
why
we
have
implemented
the
restrictions
and
pushed
forth
the
recommendations
to
stay
at
home
and
to
follow
the
basic
preventive
measures
of
hand-washing.
B
It
is
critically
important
that
each
of
us
do
our
part
to
protect
ourselves:
our
families,
our
friends,
our
entire
community
and
I'm
sure
everybody's
getting
tired
of
hearing
me
say
it.
But
again,
as
we
said,
this
is
a
marathon
not
a
sprint.
It
is
critically
important
that
we
continue
to
take
these
actions
seriously
in
order
to
prevent
further
spread
in
our
community.
B
And
if
you
again
have
questions
about
kovat,
19
I
would
refer
you
to
our
website,
Buncombe
reddy,
org
and
the
handout
that
is
there.
That
goes
over
what
to
do.
If
you
think
you
have
Kovan
19,
when
you
should
call
your
health
care
provider
and
what
your
family
members
should
do,
I'm
now
going
to
turn
it
over
to
Fletcher
to.
C
Good
afternoon
I'm
Fletcher
Tove
buncombe
county
public
health
emergency
preparedness
director
today
I'm
going
to
continue
to
clarify
the
stay
home,
stay
safe
declaration
and
address
some
of
the
common
questions.
We're
seeing,
but
first
I
want
to
alert
everyone
to
some
anticipated
action
later
this
afternoon
from
governor
Cooper.
C
C
Buncombe
County
government
has
the
best
interest
of
Baulkham
County
in
mind
and
going
forward.
Our
guidance
may
not
fall
directly
in
line
with
guidance
from
the
governor.
As
we
receive
this
information
from
the
governor
this
afternoon,
we
will
be
working
to
evaluate
where
our
guidance
differs
and
will
clearly
communicate
that
to
the
community.
C
Now
I'll
address
some
questions.
We've
been
receiving
from
the
public
and
media
partners.
Is
there
a
curfew?
No,
there
is
no
curfew
in
effect
for
Buncombe
County.
The
stay
home
stay
safe
declaration
is
a
standing
declaration
effective
from
8:00
p.m.
yesterday
to
6:00
a.m.
on
Thursday
April,
9th
the
essential
workers
need
credentials
or
passes
for
travel
and
transit
in
Bochum
County.
No
Buncombe
County
is
not
taking
any
actions
to
disrupt
or
limit
transit
on
roads.
We
are
only
asking
that
people
limit
their
travel
to
essential
travel
only
at
this
time.
C
C
C
Our
guidance
has
consistently
been
that
essential
businesses
may
be
open
to
provide
services
and
that
individuals
may
leave
their
residents
to
receive
those
services
for
any
other
legal
activity.
It's
up
to
the
individual
attorney
to
determine
whether
a
service
for
a
client
or
a
potential
client
is
reasonably
mandated.
C
Is
there
a
donation
site
for
personal
protective
equipment
drop-offs
we
have
been
receiving
many
offers
for
turning
in
unused
personal
protective
equipment
or
PPE
for
emergency
responders
and
health
care
workers.
We
are
very
grateful
for
these
offers,
but
we
also
want
to
ensure
that
we
have
a
procedure
for
an
accurate
inventory,
Quality,
Assurance
and
distribution
of
those
supplies
as
they
come
in
we're
working
towards
that
solution
and
on
Monday
we
will
have
a
standardized
process
that
we
can
share
with
the
community.
C
How
is
the
county
continuing
to
work
through
the
waiver
issues
for
essential
businesses
Thursday
we
mentioned
that
there
had
been
over
600
requests
and
have
we
managed
to
get
in
touch
with
many
of
those
businesses,
so
through
all
our
sources.
Since
Wednesday
we've
received
near
a
thousand
questions
about
a
central
designation
for
local
business,
of
the
hundreds
that
we've
already
responded
to
you
about.
C
Finally,
there's
been
guidance
from
Commissioner
Troxler
who's
over
agriculture,
that
the
green
industry,
employees,
including
Landscape
Services,
are
exempt
from
local
stay
at
home
ordinance
and
there's
been
conflicting
information
from
the
county
and
the
state
so
governor
commissioner
Troxler
statement
reads:
nursery
operations,
garden,
centers,
landscape
and
maintenance
operation
and
company's
critical
to
the
environment
and
physical
living
conditions
necessary
in
our
community's
Buncombe
County
does
not
deem
lawn
maintenance
to
be
critical
over
the
next
two
weeks.
However,
our
declaration
has
clauses
for
helping
your
neighbors
and
supporting
the
elderly,
even
if
they
are
paying
you.
C
Our
declaration
also
has
clauses
for
minimum
business
operations
where
a
minimal
number
of
employees
can
work
to
maintain
the
business
and
its
equipment.
We
don't
want
people
traveling
together
in
truck
cabs
to
work,
and
we
don't
want
people
having
close-quarters
lunches
on
job
sites.
We
want
to
ensure
that
all
bunkum
County
residents,
whether
on
essential
business
or
not,
are
maintaining
their
distance
of
six
feet
in
closing.
D
Good
afternoon
Buncombe
County
through
its
Emergency
Operations
Center,
it's
been
keeping
in
constant
contact
with
our
regional
medical
partners.
The
role
of
the
Emergency
Operations
Center
is
to
receive
and
process
requests
through
our
healthcare
partners
and
to
assist
with
coordination
of
resources
at
all
levels,
both
local
state
and
federal.
We
are
actively
engaged
with
all
of
our
local
state
and
federal
partners
to
ensure
that
planning
efforts
are
ongoing
for
surge
capacities
and
for
continuing
both
the
local,
regional
and
federal
conversation
about
how
to
have
appropriate,
emergent
surge
capacity
in
the
event
of
this
crisis.
D
Yes
to
a
much
larger
basis,
we've
been
working
on
this
process
now
for
several
weeks,
we've
made
a
lot
of
strong
headway
and
I
want
the
citizens
to
Buncombe
County
to
be
confident
that
we're
going
to
be
prepared.
This
is
a
continuing
process
of
wrapping
up
resources
and
working
with
our
local
and
regional
emergency
management
partners,
so
that
we
can
have
a
regional
approach
to
this
kind
of
epidemic
response.
E
D
In
closing,
I
would
like
to
say
that
all
of
our
partners
have
really
stepped
up
and
we're
going
to
have
the
capabilities
to
the
best
of
our
ability
for
not
only
Buncombe
but
working
with
our
regional
state
and
local
partners,
so
that
all
of
those
processes
work
uniquely
together
to
provide
the
best
level
services
for
our
citizens.
Thank
you.
F
Therefore,
echoing
their
words.
First
and
foremost,
we
would
like
to
give
a
huge
thank
you
to
all
our
student
services,
colleagues,
both
in
Asheville
City,
Schools
and
across
our
community.
You
have
been
working
tirelessly
since
day
one
and
we
so
appreciate
how
our
students
and
their
families
remain.
F
Your
number
one
priority,
Asheville
City
Schools
has
been
focusing
on
our
families
with
highest
needs
this
week,
but
a
little
bit
more
about
our
student
services
Department
and
their
efforts
as
a
whole
throughout
Kovan
19,
thanks
to
our
counselors,
who
knew
this
would
be
a
trying
time
for
many.
There
were
social-emotional
lessons
sent
home
and
our
elementary
schoolers
first
round
of
at
home
learning
packets,
as
well
as
additional
resources,
and
our
latest
batch
that
were
picked
up.
F
Just
this
past
Wednesday
and
Thursday
additionally,
similarly
to
all
of
our
teachers,
some
of
our
secondary
counselors
have
social-emotional
learning
lesson
that
students
are
able
to
access
through
canvas,
which
is
our
e-learning
platform
for
sixth,
through
twelfth
graders
students,
regardless
of
their
age
additionally,
have
the
option
to
set
up
a
Google
meeting
with
their
individual
counselor
if
they
would
prefer
some
one-on-one
time.
This
can
be
done
by
simply
emailing
your
school
counselor
directly
to
determine
a
time
that
best
works
for
both
of
you.
F
Additionally,
in
the
midst
of
all
this
unknown,
our
secondary
counselors
are
busy
working
on
registration
and
college
recommendations.
They
are
having
a
future
forward
mindset
and
using
virtual
communications
as
well
to
best
support
our
students.
Our
social
workers
had
created
a
central
hub
for
parents
to
visit
if
they
find
that
they
are
low
on
food
resources.
This
hub
is
located
at
one
of
our
schools,
Isaac
Dixon
elementary
school
and
has
been
a
very
resourceful
place
for
all
of
our
families.
F
We
are
also
working
even
more
closely
with
the
Asheville
City
Schools
Foundation
in
regards
to
receiving
and
utilizing
monetary
donations
to
best
support
all
of
our
students.
We're
also
utilizing
our
purpose
'ti
app,
which
is
allowing
us
to
order
necessities
and
have
things
delivered
straight
to
our
families,
homes.
We
have
been
meeting
families
at
grocery
stores,
using
instacart
when
available
in
Amazon
to
ensure
families
have
access
to
fresh
fruits,
veggies
meats
and
maybe
even
a
roll
of
toilet
paper.
F
Whole
Foods,
we've
made
sure
medications
were
filled,
paying
special
attention
to
our
homeless
families
and
to
those
of
us
who
take
care
of
elderly
grandparents
as
well
plus,
it
sounds
simple,
but
it
has
had
a
tremendous
impact.
Our
school
social
workers
have
also
walked
neighborhoods,
just
to
lay
their
eyes
on
our
families
to
ensure
their
remaining
safe
and
answer
any
questions
they
may
have.
F
Our
mental
health
staff,
in
collaboration
with
our
contracted
mental
health
agency,
which
fresh
ville
city
schools
is
family
preservation,
has
made
an
effort
to
contact
every
family
that
is
on
their
caseloads.
They
are
available
via
phone
and
other
virtual
options,
of
course,
as
long
as
they're
HIPAA
compliant,
they
have
been
making
sure
that
all
families
know
that
they
have
support
options
if
they
find
that
they
are
not
stable
mentally.
All
families
were
given
the
Asheville
City
Schools
crisis
hotline,
which,
for
our
student
services
Department
is
eight
to
eight
three
five:
zero,
six
one.
F
Three
three
again,
that's
eight
to
eight
three:
five:
zero,
six,
one,
three
three,
as
well
as
their
family
preservation
contact
number
and
our
AJ's
Mobile
crisis
contact.
Our
nurses
have
also
been
extremely
helpful
and
available
with
everything
from
passing
out
academic
packets
to
answering
the
same
health
question
for
the
one
hundred
thousand
times
our
volunteers
and
community
partners
such
as
United
Way
hearts
with
hands
mana
into
one
one,
just
to
name
a
few
have
been
beyond
supportive.
F
We
are
grateful
and
we
will
continue
to
fight
this
good
fight
and,
besides
our
tremendous
student
support
service
staff.
I
am
proud
to
say
that
our
principals
and
our
teachers
have
made
it
their
goal
to
call
each
student
within
their
building
and
within
their
classroom
just
to
let
them
know
that
we
care
for
them.
We
are
missing
them
like
crazy
and
to
find
out
if
there's
any
way
that
we
can
support
them
during
these
unprecedented
times.
F
Our
district
has
also
made
several
social
media
posts
explaining
to
our
families
that,
if
their
child
would
like
a
handwritten
note
of
encouragement,
my
department,
which
is
the
communications
department,
is
more
than
happy
to
send
a
letter
their
way.
It
is
quickly
becoming
my
absolute
favorite
part
of
the
day
and
is
an
excellent
opportunity
to
continue
connect
with
my
students
from
afar.
F
So
far,
we've
spent
about
60
letters
and
will
continue
to
do
so
until
our
local
grocery
store
is
run
out
of
stationery,
which
I'm
not
anticipating,
anytime,
soon,
a
reminder
to
all
of
our
families.
Please
continue
to
check
our
emails
as
well
as
Asheville
City,
Schools
website
and
social
media
platforms
like
Facebook,
Twitter
and
Instagram.
For
the
latest
news
on
how
Cova
19
is
affecting
our
school
district.
We
understand
the
importance
of
mental,
social
and
academic
balance,
especially
during
a
trying
time
like
this.
F
Truly,
we
have
a
heightened
level
of
gratitude
for
our
student
services
team
and
once
again
we
say
to
our
families.
We
see
you,
we
hear
you
and
we
are
here
to
support
you
any
and
every
way
we
can
just
let
us
know
how.
Finally,
we
would
like
to
remind
those
who
were
working
on
the
frontlines
to
remember
to
practice
some
self-care
and
keep
your
families
first.
F
G
Good
afternoon
I'm
David
Thompson
I'm,
director
of
student
services
for
Buncombe
County
Schools,
and
just
want
to
direct
the
comments
that
I
make
today
from
our
district.
Around
student,
social,
emotional
and
mental
health
needs.
We're.
Hearing
from
many
of
our
families
that
you
are
experiencing
stress
in
your
household
you're,
experiencing
stress
because
of
your
jobs
are
in
jeopardy.
G
We're
hearing
our
students
experiencing
stress
because
they're
doing
things
in
a
very
different
way
as
part
of
our
Buncombe
County
Schools
compassionate
schools
focus
our
counselors
and
social
workers
are
providing
telephone
or
video
counseling
to
any
student
who
needs
that
level
of
support.
They're.
Also
posting
social-emotional
skills,
lessons
and
strategies
that
students
and
parents
can
use
to
help
them
better
respond
to
the
stress
that
they're
experiencing.
G
We
know
that
when
any
of
us
experienced
stress
our
brains
create
chemicals
that
make
our
bodies
feel
upset
the
skills
that
we
teach
help
us
to
be
more
in
control
of
our
body's
response
and
then
better
able
to
think
of
next
steps
that
we
take.
These
are
essential
skills
not
only
for
now,
but
for
our
students
and
for
your
futures
as
educators.
We
recognize
that
families
have
had
to
change
their
daily
routines
very
quickly.
G
It
may
feel
really
unprepared
to
provide
the
supports
that
their
students
need
educationally
or
socially
all
families
are
going
through
the
same
often
rocky
adjustment
to
this
new
and
temporary
setting.
We
want
our
students
to
learn
everyday
and
to
feel
that,
but
to
do
so,
they
need
to
feel
the
need
for
some
sense
of
safety
and
calm
if
your
children
cannot
complete
every
assignment
or
if
you
have
technology
challenges,
we
have
teachers,
counselors
and
technology
staff
available
to
assist
by
texts
or
by
phone.
The
numbers
are
available
on
the
Buncombe
County
Schools
website
at
Buncombe.
G
Schools
org,
please,
don't
be
afraid
to
reach
out.
Even
if
you
don't
know
exactly
what
to
ask
we're
all
in
this
together.
Also,
our
children
need
to
feel
some
sense
of
root
or
sameness
every
day,
so
use
of
some
schedule
to
help
help
them
organize
their
day
helps
them
to
feel
that
sense
of
safety
and
calm.
G
We're
also
grateful
for
the
close
partnerships
we
have
with
our
local
and
state
mental
health
providers.
We
have
created
solutions
with
them
to
keep
our
students
connected
to
mental
health
services
that
they
need.
Despite
our
transition
to
virtual
education,
our
local
mental
health
providers
are
now
able
to
provide
services
by
phone
by
video
connection
with
the
students
on
their
school's
device.
This
should
be
happening
now.
G
Remember
how
your
children
feel
during
this
time
will
be
more
important
and
more
remembered
than
the
instruction
that
they
receive.
We
don't
want
schoolwork
to
make
your
homes
it's
more
stressful.
Instead,
we
want
it
to
be
a
meaningful
and
hopefully
enjoyable,
part
of
a
child's
daily
routine.
Don't
expect
virtual
learning
in
the
home
to
be
an
exact
replacement
of
a
typical
day
in
school.
G
It
won't
be,
and
that's,
okay,
while
the
way
we
do
it
may
be
different
right
now,
our
school
counselors
or
school
Social
Work
and
our
mental
health
partners
are
ready
to
offer
services
and
supports
to
help
our
students
grow
both
their
academic
and
their
social-emotional
skills.
Now,
just
like
always
thank
you.
H
Good
afternoon
I'm
kick
Cramer
the
president
of
the
Asheville
Area
Chamber
of
Commerce
and
now
chair
of
the
one
Buncombe
fund
at
the
tamer
I
work
with
people,
my
staff,
volunteers,
members
and
our
strategic
partners
who
understand
that
we're
stronger
when
we
work
together
that
together
were
more
than
the
sum
of
our
parts
and
that's
why
I'm
here
today?
That's
what
community
is
about
and
our
community
is
struggling
right
now.
Some
have
lost
their
jobs
through
no
fault
of
their
own.
H
In
the
first
week
alone,
it's
estimated
that
over
ten
thousand
of
our
citizens
lost
their
employment
and
the
layoffs
contain
some
who've,
put
their
heart
and
soul
into
establishing
the
businesses
that
make
this
area
so
special,
so
authentic
and
unique
they're
at
extreme
risk
of
not
being
able
to
restart
we're
in
uncharted
waters,
and
none
of
us
knows
how
things
will
play
out
while
we're
hopeful
that
businesses
will
be
able
to
reopen
and
those
who've
been
laid
off
will
get
rehired.
We
can't
just
rely
on
hope.
H
The
one
Buncombe
fund
was
created
to
minimize
red
tape
and
move
as
quickly
as
possible
to
provide
immediate
assistance
to
our
community.
In
two
ways,
first,
to
provide
financial
support
now
to
those
who
have
lost
their
jobs
due
to
Kovan
19,
while
they're
awaiting
support
from
state
and
federal
resources.
H
H
H
We
are
just
over
five
hundred
thousand
dollars
in
contributions
as
a
start,
and
while
that's
great,
it
will
go
awfully
fast
because
you
love
your
community
because
you
love
the
small
businesses
and
the
people
who
work
for
them
because
they
make
this
place
so
special
and
a
place
we
all
live
in.
I
urge
you
to
do
two
things.
First,
go
to
one
Buncombe
dot,
org
right
now
and
press
donate
and
give
what
you
can
and
if
you
have
the
ability
to
issue
a
challenge
grant.
Please
do
we'd
love
to
talk
with
you
about
that.
H
Second
share:
the
information
about
one
Buncombe
on
your
social
media,
using
the
hashtag
one
Buncombe
and
get
those
kids
who
are
out
of
school
outside
with
some
chalk
and
and
busy
talking
their
driveways
and
other
areas
with
the
one
Buncombe
hashtag.
If
you're
a
business
with
a
sign,
we'd
love
to
see
one
Buncombe
on
that
sign
or
incorporated
into
your
email
addresses.
Let's
bring
it
to
everybody's
attention.
H
I
Thank
You
kid-
this
is
Tim
Love,
Buncombe,
County
I.
Think
it
outlined
pretty
well
is
the
need
in
our
community
we're
aware
of
the
economic
impact
here.
I
think
kid
also
did
well
to
describe
the
call
to
action
other
than
not
the
need
for
us
to
come
together.
I
mean
if
you're
sitting
at
home,
wondering
you
know
why
should
I
donate
or,
if
you're,
sitting
at
home?
Thinking
that
you
need
relief?
I
I
Unemployment
are
related
to
kovat
19.
The
second
bucket
relates
to
small
businesses
and
those
are
defined
as
businesses
with
less
than
50
employees.
There's
been
many
questions
about
eligibility,
and
so
I'd
like
to
clarify,
if
you're
an
individual
who's,
a
1099
you
qualify.
This
program
is
designed
specifically
for
you
if
you've
lost
employment
related
to
kovat
19.
This
program
is
for
you,
if
you're
a
small
business
who
is
potentially
shuttering
your
operations.
This
program
is
for
you,
we've
had
many
questions
about
eligibility
and
just
wanted
to
clarify.
I
Additionally,
we've
had
questions
about
what
types
of
support
are
available
if
you're
an
individual.
The
support
method,
for
you
is
direct
assistance
grants.
These
grants
can
be
used
for
many
different
purposes.
The
grants
will
be
administered
directly
to
service
providers.
There
will
be
no
cash
provided
in
hand,
but
the
eligible
uses
include
mortgage
payments,
rent
utility
payments
and
other
sources
after
you
reach
out
to
us.
I
Our
caseworkers
will
work
with
you
to
identify
any
other
sources
of
funding
available
for
you,
so
that
we're
not
redundant
in
the
usage
of
one
Buncombe
funds,
if
you're
a
small
business,
that's
applying
to
this
program,
you're
eligible
for
a
low-interest
loan
up
to
$10,000
in
the
near
term,
and
this
loan
will
have
no
payments
for
six
months.
This
loan
program
is
designed
specifically
to
be
a
bridge
program.
When
we
say
bridge,
we
mean
this
is
a
loan
product.
That'll
get
you
from
where
you
are
today
to
greater
relief
from
small
business
disaster
relief
loans.
I
E
Good
afternoon
I'm
bill
Hathaway
and
I'm,
the
chief
medical
officer
at
HCA
healthcare,
the
North
Carolina
Division
and
mission
health.
It's
a
pleasure
to
be
back
in
front
of
you
again
with
an
update
about
what's
happening
in
the
Health
System
and
a
few
specific
references
to
some
issues
that
have
been
coming
up
recently.
We
remain
at
this
point
in
time.
As
dr.
mullendore
pointed
out
at
the
beginning
of
this
press
conference
on
the
early
edge
of
the
curve
of
cases
in
our
community.
E
As
we
know
it
will,
through
our
community,
it's
critically
important
that
I
echo
and
emphasize
the
words
that
were
spoken
previously
about
the
need
to
adhere
to
this
day
home
stay
safe
campaign.
The
way
that
our
health
systems
in
this
country
and
locally
will
handle
this
epidemic
for
you
and
to
keep
you
all
safe
and
healthy,
is
through
your
help
by
flattening
the
curve.
E
I
know
that
there
was
hope
on
certain
people's
parts
that
we
could
end
this
isolation
by
Easter
I
want
to
be
clear
that
most
of
us
in
the
health
care
field
find
that
to
be
optimistic
at
this
point
in
time,
we'll
reevaluate,
but,
as
dr.
mullendore
pointed
out
very
nicely,
this
is
a
marathon
and
not
a
sprint
and
we're
in
the
early
phases.
A
couple
of
specific
references
which
I'd
like
to
talk
about
number
one
is
our
visitation.
E
I
think
you
know
that
in
our
health
system,
we
have
restricted
visitation
to
the
highest
levels
right
now
we
call
it
level
three
restrictions.
This
means
that
that
essentially,
there
is
no
visitation,
except
in
select
circumstances.
These
select
circumstances
include
pediatric
patients,
patients
who
are
in
labor
patients
who
are
at
end
of
life
in
certain
other
situations,
where
caregivers
are
absolutely
Ness
for
patients
who
might
otherwise
not
be
able
to
help
themselves
in
the
hospital.
E
We
are
screening
at
the
doors
actively
both
for
exposure,
history
and
symptoms
and
we're
asking
respectfully
that
you
stay
home
at
all
costs.
Secondly,
I'd
like
to
address
an
issue
related
to
our
personal
protective
equipment.
There
seems
to
be
some
questions
about
our
policy
and
I
want
to
make
some
clarifications.
The
first,
and
most
important
thing
is,
is
to
emphasize
that
our
policies
around
personal
protective
equipment
are
designed
to
do
one
thing
and
one
thing
importantly,
and
that
keep
and
that
is
to
keep
our
patients
safe.
E
It
is
critically
important
that
when
patients
come
to
the
hospital,
we
keep
our
patients
safe
and
in
order
to
keep
our
patients
safe,
we
must
keep
our
employees
safe,
and
so
we
have
and
will
continue
to
adhere
to
CDC
the
Center
for
Disease
Control
guidelines
on
the
use
of
protective
equipment,
face,
masks,
gowns,
gloves,
shields,
etc
to
protect
our
patients.
Those
guidelines
are
on
the
CDC
website
and
on
our
website
and
we'd
like
to
refer
you
to
those.
E
There
has
been
a
lot
of
question
about
staff
members
wearing
their
own
masks
in
the
hospital
or
wearing
masks
in
situations
which
would
not
otherwise
require
a
mask
for
protection
either
of
the
patient
or
the
staff
member.
We
recognize
and
appreciate
the
anxiety
that
surrounds
this
illness
and
the
risk
that
people
take
working
in
a
health
care
environment
that
is
not
to
go
unnoticed
and
believe
me.
We
are
fully
aware
of
that.
E
We
have
looked
at
health
systems
across
the
globe,
yet
in
China,
Italy
or
Iran,
we've
looked
at
health
systems
in
the
United
States
in
hot
spots,
where
there's
many
more
patients
being
cared
for
and
the
number
one
and
most
significant
concern
that
they've
run
into
is
the
availability
of
personal
protective
equipment.
We
have
absolutely
no
read
to
believe
that
we
will
be
immune
from
that.
We
are
procuring
equipment
in
all
venues.
We
appreciate
the
outpouring
of
support
by
our
community
members
to
make
donations,
as
mr.
E
Tove
alluded
to
earlier,
that
is
heartwarming
and
endearing
and
unbelievable
to
see
the
community
pull
together.
At
the
same
time,
we
must
do
everything
we
can
to
now
preserve
and
protect
our
equipment
for
when
we'll
know
it
later,
we
don't
believe
that
we
are
putting
staff
members
or
anyone
else
at
risk
with
our
current
policy.
That
being
said,
we
have
made
a
change
recently
because
of
the
dynamics
of
this
situation.
It
will
continue
to
look
at
the
situation
as
it
evolves.
E
We
are
allowing
staff
members
to
wear
personal
masks
when
they
are
in
situations
which
would
not
otherwise
require
protective
equipment.
So
if
you
are
in
a
patient
care
situation,
where
we
know
isolation
has
mandated,
we
request
that
our
staff
members
use
our
masks
in
that
setting.
It
is
the
only
way
that
we
can
ensure
both
their
safety,
the
staff,
member
safety
and
the
patient's
safety
in
that
circumstance,
but
if
they
want
to
our
other
masks
that
they
provide
themselves
in
non
care
settings
we're
happy
to
accommodate
that
at
this
point
in
time.
A
This
concludes
the
presentation
portion
of
our
community
briefing
and
want
to
give
thanks
to
all
of
this
afternoon's
contributors
and
to
you
all
who
tuned
in
to
become
informed.
Our
goal
is
to
make
sure
that
all
members
of
our
community
have
the
information
they
need
to
be
safe
during
this
kovat
19
pandemic.
A
As
we
said
yesterday,
we
understand
that
the
community
has
many
questions
about
the
kovin
19
response
in
Buncombe
County
and
as
we
head
into
our
third
week
of
the
Cova
19
response,
here's
what
the
community
can
expect
from
our
EOC
regarding
kovat
19
community
updates,
starting
this
weekend
and
beginning
Monday
March
30th,
there
will
be
no
community
updates
from
the
EOC
scheduled
for
this
weekend
mondays
and
thursdays
at
2:30
p.m.
we
will
continue
to
offer
community
briefings
via
Facebook
live
in
the
event
that
there
are
any
major
changes
in
the
weekend.
A
We
will
use
every
available
communication
channel
to
provide
information
to
our
community.
Please
visit
Buncombe
County
org
for
information
on
kovat
19
and
also,
if
you
have
questions
regarding
the
one
Buncombe
fund,
please
call
a
two
eight
two:
five:
zero:
five:
five:
zero
zero.
Thank
you
again
be
well
and
stay
safe.