Beaufort County Emergency Management: COVID-19 Update (5-12-20) | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

5/12/2020 Beaufort County, NC COVID-19 SITREP The following information is as of 5:30pm Updates from our previous posting have been highlighted.
    Case Statistics

• NC has total 15,516 confirmed cases, across 99 counties, with 596 deaths. Our state currently has 6,401 active cases and 475 hospitalizations.
• Beaufort County has had a total of 25 cases, with 2 currently active. Six (7) of our positive cases, including our most recent positive, were asymptomatic. (Meaning they experienced no symptoms.) Contact tracing of these known cases have concluded:
  • (7) case was contributed to direct contact with a known patient from another county.
  • (2) cases were related to travel to a known outbreak area.
  • (15) cases are attributed to community spread.
  • (1) case is still under investigation.
• All active cases are self-isolating.
• Eastern NC counties with total confirmed cases include: Bertie, (67), Beaufort (25), Bladen (60), Brunswick (51), Carteret (35), Camden (2), Chowan (11), Columbus (213), Craven (57), Currituck (9), Dare (21), Duplin (266), Edgecombe (156), Gates (11), Greene (37), Halifax (96), Hertford (51), Hyde (1), Jones (20), Lenoir (124), Martin (33), New Hanover (117), North Hampton (123), Onslow (58), Pamlico (8), Pasquotank (82), Pender (39), Perquimans (19), Pitt (178) Sampson (170), Tyrrell (4), Washington (25), Wayne (755) and Wilson (216). Mecklenburg (2,148), Wake (1,061), and Durham (897) counties have the most cases.

    NC Recovery Statistics

    NC DHHS released the following statement today pertaining to the number of "recovered" case within our state:

• "COVID-19 Patients Presumed to be Recovered
• Updated May 11, 2020
• Patients Presumed to be Recovered = 9,115
• The estimated number of patients presumed to be recovered from symptoms from COVID-19 is used in combination with other measures to provide a general sense of how many people with COVID-19 have likely recovered from symptoms.
• North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) estimates a median time to recovery of 14 days from the date of specimen collection for non-fatal COVID-19 cases who were not hospitalized, or if hospitalization status is unknown. The estimated median recovery time is 28 days from the date of specimen collection for hospitalized non-fatal COVID-19 cases. Estimates are used since patient-specific data on the actual time to resolution of all symptoms are not available for all COVID-19 cases in North Carolina.
• It is important to note that patients' actual recovery times could be shorter or longer depending on the severity of illness. This interval was chosen based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidance, and in consultation with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other state health departments. A median recovery time of two weeks from illness onset for mild cases and three-six weeks for patients with severe or critical disease was reported by WHO.
• These estimates are unrelated to the number of cases that are or are not still infectious. These estimates cannot account for other factors that could impact a patient's recovery time or disease severity, such as age and underlying health conditions.
• These estimates do not measure the amount of natural immunity to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the population. Doctors and scientists do not yet know if patients who have recovered are protected with natural immunity from getting COVID-19 again.
• These data will be updated every Monday by 4 p.m."

Please Remember and Practice "The 3 Ws"
Wear Face Coverings Wait 6' Apart Wash Your Hands Often
    Re-Opening Timeline / Guidelines

    Below is a summary of our states plan for a phased reopening. Please note that these timelines / guidelines are subject to change based on case trends and / or additional executive orders.

    Phase I (Will begin at 5pm Friday May 8th, 2020 and continue for 2 weeks (May 22, 2020) or 3 weeks (May 30, 2020)

    Modified Stay-at-Home order. Opening of Bookstores, Clothing Stores, Sporting Goods Stores, Housewares Stores & other Retailers with social distancing, enhanced hygiene & cleaning protocols, symptom screening of employees, accommodations for vulnerable workers, and provide education to employees and workers to combat misinformation.

    Phase 1 Requirements

    Businesses planning to open Friday must adhere to the following requirements outlined in Executive Order 138

    Occupancy

• Customer Capacity cannot exceed 50% of stated fire capacity OR 12 customers for every 1,000 sq. ft of total square footage.
• Local governments cannot set different occupancy requirements.
• Must display "Emergency Maximum Occupancy" signage.

    Distancing

• Must display signage directing people to stay 6' apart.
• Must have six-foot markings at point-of-sale and high traffic areas.

    Sanitation

• Perform frequent and routine environmental cleaning and disinfection of counters, pin-pads and other high-touch areas with an EPA approved disinfectant for SARS-CoV-2

    Health Screening

• Conduct daily symptom screening of workers
• Immediately send symptomatic workers home

    Phase 1 Recommendations

    Executive Order 138 recommends the following for businesses that plan to open:

• Direct workers to stay at least 6' apart from on another and from customers to the greatest extent possible.
• Provide designated times for seniors and other high-risk populations to access services.
• Develop and use systems that allow for online, email or telephone ordering, and provide for no-contact curbside pick-up, drive-through or home delivery.
• High volume retail businesses such as grocery stores and pharmacies are strongly encouraged to:
  • Use acrylic / plastic shields at point of sale
  • Clearly mark entry / exit points
• Continue to promote telework and limit non-essential travel.
• Promote social distancing by reducing the number of people coming into the office, by providing 6' of distancing between desks, and by staggering shifts.
• Limit face to face meetings to less than 10 mins.
• Promote frequent hand washing and use of hand sanitizer.
• Recommend that workers wear cloth face coverings.
• Encourage sick workers to stay home.

    Answers to other frequently asked questions about Phase I can be found using the following link:

    https://files.nc.gov/governor/documents/files/FAQs-for-Phase-1-EO-FINAL.pdf

    Additional Business / Employer Guidance can also be found by using the following link.

    https://co.beaufort.nc.us/departments/human-services/public-health/2019-coronavirus-covid-19/beaufort-county-resources/business-employer-guidance

    Phase II (Could begin between May 23, 2020 and May 31, 2020, and continue through June 20, 2020 — July 11, 2020)

    Lift the Stay-at-Home order. Restaurants, Bars, Fitness Centers, Personal Care Services must follow safety protocols including the potential need to reduce capacity

    Houses of Worship & Entertainment Venues at reduced capacity.

    Increase number of people allowed at gatherings

    Recommend face coverings in public spaces when 6 ft of distancing isn't possible.

    Phase III (Could begin June 21, 2020 and July 12, 2020.)

    Increased capacity at Restaurants, Bars, Other Businesses, Houses of Worship & Entertainment Venues.

    Further increase the number of people allowed at gatherings.

    Mitigation Efforts

• Beaufort County’s EOC is now fully activated to provide support for essential county and municipal functions.
• Public access will be restricted to Beaufort County Government buildings beginning Tuesday, 3/24. Guidance for conducting business with our various departments can be found using the following link and will also be posted at each county building:
  https://co.beaufort.nc.us/post/421/limited-access-to-county-facilities
• The City of Washington closed the following city office building to the public until further notice:
  • City Hall
  • Bobby Andrews Recreation Center
  • George H. and Laura E. Brown Library
  • Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center
  • Moore Aquatic and Fitness Center
  • Susiegray McConnell Sports Complex
• Beaufort County Schools will remain closed through the end of the current school year. They will continue to serve meals Mon-Friday at the following locations:
  • Cornerstone Family Worship Center – 1918 West 5th Street, Washington – Contact: Tiana Payne – Church Ph: 252-946-6109
  • Temple of Joy – 96 Hill Road Chocowinity NC – Contact: Apostle Georgette Redmond – Church Ph: 252-975-6580 – Cell: 917-7223
  • Ware Creek Baptist Church – 2302 Maules Point Road, Blunts Creek – Contact: Bishop Charles Smith – Cell: 252-622-1924 – Bishop Charles Tyson, Pastor
  • Fresh Anointing Church of God – 820 Hwy 33 East, Aurora NC – Cell: 252-364-7493
  • River Road Estates
  • Northeast Elementary School
  • Eastern Elementary School
  • John Cotton Tayloe Elementary School
  • Chocowinity Primary School
  • SW Snowden Elementary School
  • Belhaven Civic Center parking lot
  • Salvation Army parking lot in Washington
  • Washington Police Substation at 9th street
• Any child can have a breakfast and lunch.
• This lunch will be served in a “drive-thru” setting so no one has to leave their car or enter the school building. Parents and family members may pick up these meals for their students whether or not the students are with them. We will just need the names of the students receiving the meals. Any student of any school can pick up a meal at any site.
• Families who need help finding meals for their children ages 18 and younger can text “FOODNC” to “877-877”.
• The Governor’s Office has extended the following orders through May 8th. Additional details pertaining to this extension and subsequent plans to lifts these restrictions will be provided in tomorrow’s update.
  • EO 138: Effective 5 p.m. May 8, 2020, eases some restrictions on travel, business operations and mass gatherings.
  • EO 135: Extends until May 8, North Carolina’s Stay At Home (Executive Order 121) as well as other orders regarding the closures of restaurants for dine-in service, bars and other close-contact businesses
  • EO 134: Allows furloughed employees to be eligible for unemployment benefits.
  • EO 133: Extends certain provisions in previous executive orders that are related to transportation.
  • EO 131: Addresses three issues: requires retail stores that are still operating to implement new social distancing policies to make shopping safer for customers and employees; makes earlier COVID-19 guidelines mandatory for nursing facilities, and recommends other long-term care facilities to do the same; speeds up the process to get benefits to people out of work.
  • EO 130: Provides more access to health care beds, expands the pool of health care workers and orders essential childcare services for workers responding to the crisis.
  • EO 124: Prohibits utilities – including electric, gas, water and wastewater services from disconnecting people who are unable to pay during this pandemic and prohibits them from collecting fees, penalties or interest for late payment. The order applies for the next 60 days and gives residential customers at least six months to pay outstanding bills.
  • EO 121: A statewide “Stay at Home” order will become effective at 5pm today. This order will restrict travel to essential activities only. (i.e. Travel for items such as, groceries, food, medications, household supplies, essential workers, etc.) This order will also limit gatherings to less than 10 people.
  • EO 120: Extended school closures through May 15th. This order also imposes the following restrictions on businesses:
    • Bingo Parlors, including Bingo sites operate by charitable organizations
    • Bowling Alleys
    • Indoor Exercise Facilities (e.g. gyms, yoga studios, martial arts facilities, indoor trampoline and rock climbing facilities)
    • Health Clubs
    • Indoor/Outdoor Pools
    • Live Performance Venues
    • Movie Theaters
    • Skating Rinks
    • Spas
    • Gaming and businesses which allow gaming activities
  • EO 119: Lifting restrictions on local Health Departments, child care facilities, and commerce transport. This order also restricting various functions of DMV to include:
    • Driver’s License Office will operate by appointment only.
    • Closing of all Drivers License Office that are on insufficient size to maintain social distancing.
    • Extending office hours at locations that are of sufficient size.
    • Postpone all DMV related hearings for 60 days.
  • EO 118: Restricting dine-in services at all restaurants / bars. These businesses will continue to be allowed to provide carry-out and delivery services.

    Testing

• There have been 511 tests completed in Beaufort County to date, with 444 negatives, 22 positives and 45 pending. (These are cumulative numbers and includes test performed at the Health Department and reporting private medical facilities throughout our county.) *Three of our positive cases were tested in other counties but are Beaufort Co. residents.*

    Free Wi-Fi Locations

    Please see the message below from Wilkes Communications / Riverstreet Networks:

    Wilkes Communications/ Riverstreet Networks Installs Free Wi-Fi Hotspots to the Community

    Wilkesboro, NC — Wilkes Communications/Riverstreet Networks is committed to the well-being of our customers, our employees, and our community. As we continue to actively monitor developments related to coronavirus (COVID-19) we want to assure you that we are taking all necessary health and safety precautions in accordance with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and local and state health officials for our customers, employees and the community.

    We are dedicated to serving our valued customers and ensuring they maintain reliable access to the online resources and information they want and need. To ease the strain in this challenging time, we have opened several Wi-Fi hotspots in the communities we serve. We currently have over 100 free Wi-Fi hotspots at 70 locations in North Carolina and Virginia. This will enable students and employees who may not have internet access to be able to complete coursework and work remotely. This free service can be accessed from the safety of your vehicle. Please visit wilkes.net or myriverstreet.net for a listing of our hotspot locations.

    Wilkes Communications/RiverStreet Networks would like to thank the businesses for allowing us to install this equipment on their premises. This partnership illustrates how much they care about their community and its well-being. Our network and communications services are crucial to the people we serve in not only keeping them informed but allowing the social distancing required to slow down the spread of the virus through the population.

    Our communities, our country, and our world are resilient places. Together, we’ll see our way through this situation and be stronger because of it. Thank you for helping us all stay healthy.

    Free Wi-Fi access can be found at the following locations within Beaufort County:

• Pantego Community Fire Department | 25673 US 264 Hwy E, Pantego NC 27860
• Pinetown Volunteer Fire Department | 7262 N Boyd Rd, Pinetown NC 27865
• Pungo Christian Academy | 983 West Main Street, Belhaven NC 27810
• Northeast Elementary School | 21000 US-264 Pinetown, NC 27865
• Bath Elementary School (Behind Cafeteria) | 110 King St, Bath, NC 27808
• St. Clairs Church | 9814 NC 99, Bath, NC 27808
• Alligood Church of God | 1891 Mill Hole Rd, Washington, NC 27889
• Union Grove Church of Christ | 6889 NC-99, Pantego, NC 27860
• Life Gate Free Will Baptist Church | 52 Old Pamlico Beach Rd, Belhaven, NC 27810
• Pungo Fire Department | 40 Pike Rd, Pantego NC 27860
• Everett’s Crossroads Church of Christ | 48 South White Post Rd, Pinetown, NC
• Terra Ceia Christian School | 4428 Christian School Rd, Pantego

    Please refer to the following link for a complete list of Wi-Fi locations in NC and VA:

    See a List of FREE Community WI-FI Locations — NC and VA by Clicking HERE

    Resources     We have created a resource page that can accessed at:     https://co.beaufort.nc.us/departments/human-services/public-health/2019-coronavirus-covid-19

    This resource page contains guidance for businesses, long term care facilities, families, and more.

    We are here to offer support and answer any questions or concerns. We are encouraging all community partners to share accurate information and promote it within your businesses, communities, and elsewhere. Beaufort County's website and Facebook page are great ways to stay up to date on accurate information.

• Chris Newkirk
• Deputy Director
• Beaufort County Emergency Services
• 1420 Highland Dr
• Washington, N.C. 27889
• Office: (252) 940-6511
• Cell: (252) 378-5352
• Chris.Newkirk@co.beaufort.nc.us