Beaufort County Emergency Management: COVID-19 Update (2-25-20) | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

2/24/2020 Beaufort County, NC
COVID-19 SITREP
Updates from our previous posting have been highlighted.

The following information is as of 4pm.


    Case Statistics
 PopulationTotal
Confirmed Cases
Current
Active Cases
DeathsRecovered
Worldwide7.6 Billion112,338,428
(+363,523)
46,427,848
(+135,371)
2,490,503
(+9,363)
63,420,077
(+218,789)
USA330 Million28,940,131
(+54,113)
9,148,178
(-39,555)
516,403
(+1,919)
19,275,550
(+91,749)
NC10.4 Million849,630
(+3,346)
43,035
(+3,237)
11,074
(+109)
795,521
Beaufort Co.47,0004,258
(+4)
171
(-6)
81
4,006
(+10)
*Text in red or green indicates changes since our last update.*
*Beaufort County had 15 new cases reported today. However, during an audit of previous positive cases 11 were found to live outside of Beaufort County. As such, they were removed from the Beaufort County Confirmed Case category. This correction resulted in a net gain of 4 confirmed cases.*

  • NC has had a total 849,630 confirmed cases, with 11,074 deaths. Our state currently has 43,035 active cases and 1,530 hospitalizations.
    • Beaufort County has had a total of 4,258 cases, with 171 currently active, 5 of which are hospitalized.
  • All active cases are self-isolating.
  • Eastern NC counties with total confirmed cases include: Bertie, (1,617), Beaufort (4,254), Bladen (2,905), Brunswick (7,884), Carteret (4,382), Camden (570), Chowan (1,348), Columbus (5,751), Craven (8,182), Currituck (1,354), Dare (1,839), Duplin (5,632), Edgecombe (4,579), Gates (665), Greene (2,129), Halifax (4,960), Hertford (1,937), Hyde (621), Jones (703), Lenoir (5,370), Martin (2,048), New Hanover (15,891), Northampton (1,672), Onslow (14,480), Pamlico (939), Pasquotank (3,034), Pender (4,588), Perquimans (884), Pitt (17,253) Sampson (6,623), Tyrrell (300) Washington (967), Wayne (10,180) and Wilson (8,315). Mecklenburg (95,626), Wake (73,474), Guilford (39,323) counties have the most cases.


    Beaufort County Statistics
    Please use the following link for the latest statistics pertaining to Beaufort County cases:

    Beaufort County NC COVID Surveillance

    *This link can also be found on the Beaufort County Health Department’s Webpage.*


    Vaccine Information
    February 19, 2021
    In preparation for Beaufort County moving into phase 3, we will be opening 1,640 appointments on Monday, February 22nd at 8:30am. Individuals who are essential workers, who work and/or have a lot of interaction with the public, qualify for this phase and are eligible to make an appointment. If you are uncertain as to whether you qualify as essential worker, please visit HERE.

    To make an appointment, call the COVID-19 hotline at 252-940-6150 or via the online appointment link HERE. The call center and appointment link will become open Monday, February 22nd at 8:30am.

    Please understand that the demand for the vaccine will be greater than the number of appointments we can offer at this time. We are restricted by the weekly allocations coming to us from the state. We are aware that other opportunities in the community or surrounding counties have become available for individuals to get their vaccine, which is great. If you have already received your vaccine and have an appointment with us, please call 252-940-6150 or email bchealth@bchd.net to cancel your appointment.

    Please continue to monitor HERE for updated information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the transitions as we move through the various phases of vaccination.

    Thank you,

    James Madson, RN
    Health Director
    Beaufort County Health Department


    Press Release (2/19/21)

    February 19th, 2021

    Last night, Beaufort County received a notice of vaccine allocations from the state of North Carolina for the upcoming week (February 23th–March 1st). Beaufort County providers are expecting to receive 1,100 doses of the Moderna vaccine. These allocations will be administered to individuals 65 years of age or older, school staff and essential infrastructure employees.

    All previously scheduled appointments made through the health department will also be fulfilled.

    As of Wednesday (2/17), a total of 9,964 total doses of the COVID-19 vaccine has been administered. 8,014 Beaufort County residents have received their first dose and 1,950 residents have completed the two shot series.

    Beaufort County providers remain committed in our efforts to vaccinate all those who are interested in the COVID-19 vaccine as quickly and efficiently as possible. Please continue to monitor HERE for updated information regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the transitions as we move through the various phases of vaccination.

    James Madson RN, MPH
    Health Director
    Beaufort County Health Department


    Transportation Assistance to Vaccine Appointments
    Beaufort County remains committed to the goal of providing vaccinations to all eligible citizens as quickly as possible. If you have an appointment to receive the vaccine, and are unable to secure transportation to the vaccine site on your own, please call Beaufort Area Transit System (BATS) for assistance at (252) 946-5778.


    Vaccine Opportunities
    Greenville / Vidant Mega Vaccination Site
    Vidant Hospital and the Pitt County Health Dept. have announced an up coming large-scale vaccination site at Greenville's Convention Center. See below for details and sceduling information:


    A video tutorial of Vidant's scheduling process can be found HERE.


    How Vaccine Supplies and Allocations Impact Beaufort County
    Since the rollout of the first COVID-19 vaccine within the US, conversations of stockpiles, shipments, who gets it, and how many they get have flooded national, state and local conversations. Each day brings with it a seemingly growing spectrum of statements, with some saying there are millions of doses just waiting to be administered to the public and others saying we do not have enough. The truth is, both are correct. Much of the distance between these two spectrums lies in federal, state and local providers' capabilities and the timeframe they have to act.

    Almost everything related to vaccinations revolves around 1-week increments. For example, each Tuesday, the Federal Government provides North Carolina with the number of vaccines they will receive the following week. North Carolina then takes Wednesday and Thursday to determine how best to disperse the state's shipment amongst its 100 counties. That number is shared with the counties and their partnering agencies on Thursday. Counties will have Friday through Sunday to develop a plan to administer their doses to the public best. Doses typically arrive in the county on Mondays or Tuesdays, with the goal of having all those doses dispersed by Friday.

    Because of this very short time frame, federal, state, and local providers must lean forward in their planning and make presumptions in regards to vaccination efforts. For example, we presume that the number of vaccines each provider receives will at least remain consistent and most likely increase as pharmaceutical companies develop a more robust supply chain.

    So how does all this impact Beaufort County? Let's start with the presumptions. Based on conversations with state officials, past shipments, and our partnerships with other county providers, we presume that Beaufort County will continue to receive at least 400 first shot doses per week, hence the reason for scheduling 400 appointments for each week of January.

    Now for the facts. On Thursday evenings, North Carolina provides us with the total number of vaccines we will receive for the following week. If we are scheduled to receive more than 400, we will expand our appointments accordingly for that week and issue a media release on how to schedule for those new appointments as soon as possible. If we will receive less than 400, we will cancel appointments accordingly and reschedule as soon as possible. (Cancellations will be messaged directly to the person scheduled using the communication methods provided when the appointment was made.)

    Beaufort County will physically receive those doses by carrier on Monday or Tuesday and will have until Friday to administer the entire quantity.

    This entire process is completed weekly for 1st dose vaccines.

    The 2nd vaccine dose uses an entirely different concept. Those shipments are received less frequently, and the quantities of those shipments are intended to provide you with enough 2nd dose vaccines to meet your current needs at any given time.


    Message from the Governor’s Office and NCDHHS (2/10/21)
    Governor Cooper has announced that North Carolina will move to Phase 3 of the state's vaccine prioritization plan beginning Monday 2/24/21. This phase will include the vaccination of "Frontline Essential Workers". This initiative will begin with teachers, childcare center employees and school support staff. Additional frontline workers such as farm workers, restaurant employees, grocery store workers, etc. will become eligible after March 10th.




    COVID Testing
    Beaufort County will be hosting drive-thru testing in January 2021 as follows:

  • Every Monday from 11am–5pm at Fresh Anointing Church (820 NC Hwy 33 Aurora, NC)
  • Every Tuesday from 9am–1pm at Cornerstone Church (1918W 5th St. Washington, NC)
  • Every Wednesday from 11am–5pm at The Wilkinson Center (144 W Main St. Belhaven, NC)
  • Every Thursday from 11am–5pm at Beebee Chapel (239 Cherry Run Rd Washington, NC)
  • Every Friday from 11am–5pm at Spring Garden Missionary Baptist Church (526 Gladden St. Washington, NC)
  • Monday–Friday from 9am–Noon at Beaufort County’s Health Department (1436 Highland Dr., Washington, NC)

    "Find My Testing Place"
    Find a testing location near you by using the following link:
    https://ncdhhs-covid19-dtra.powerappsportals.us/


    NC Community Spread Map (Updated: 1/30)
    North Carolina health officials are utilizing a county alert system to pinpoint counties with the highest levels of COVID-19 spread. This new map uses metrics informed by the White House Coronavirus Task Force and North Carolina's key metrics to categorize counties into three tiers

  • Yellow: Significant community spread
  • Orange: Substantial community spread
  • Red: Critical community spread

    Health officials are using a mix of criteria to determine what tier is assigned to a county. According to the state, a county must meet the threshold of case rate for that tier and meet the threshold for either percent positive or hospital impact in that county.

    Counties that do not meet criteria for orange or red tier are categorized as being in the yellow tier and should continue to be vigilant to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

    This map of North Carolina below shows which counties are in what tiers.


    Significant
    There is significant community spread.
    These counties should continue to be vigilant to prevent further spread of COVID-19, but they do not meet orange or red criteria

    Substantial
    There is substantial community spread.
    These counties have a case rate that is between 101-200 new cases per capita in 14 days with at least 21 cases in 14 days.

    The percent positive date is between 8% and 10%, or there is a moderate impact on county hospital(s).

    Critical
    There is critical community spread.
    These counties have a case rate that is greater than 200 new cases per capita in 14 days with at least 42 cases in 14 days.

    The percent positive date is greater than 10%, or there is a high impact on county hospital(s).


    Re-Opening Timeline / Guidelines
    Governor Cooper has announced that North Carolina will move to a modified "Stay at Home Early Closure Order" beginning at 5p Friday, December 11th. (Executive Order 181). This new order will institute a statewide curfew and restrictions upon movement of persons between the hours of 10pm and 5am daily, with the following exceptions:

  1. Travel to or from a place of work when a worker's presence is required by the worker's employer;
  2. Travel for work purposes;
  3. Performing work at the workplace or other location directed by the employer when the worker's presence is required by the worker's employer;
  4. Travel to obtain groceries, take-out food, medical care, fuel, health care supplies, or social services;
  5. Travel from a business that closed at or after 10:00 PM;
  6. Travel to a business that will open at or after 5:00 AM;
  7. Travel to take care of a family member, friend, or pet in another household;
  8. Travel necessary for purposes of personal safety;
  9. Travel into or out of the State;
  10. Travel required by law enforcement or court order; and
  11. Using or providing shared transportation (including without limitation taxicabs, ride shares, buses, trains, airplanes, and travel to airports, train stations, or bus stations)

    In addition, this new order will require retailers / businesses to stop alcohol sales at 9pm, and close between the hours of 10pm and 5am.


    NC Executive Orders
    A complete list of current NC Executive Orders can be found 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

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Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, February 23, 2021 Local News & Expression, Regional Health System, Government, Governing Beaufort County Beaufort County Emergency Management: COVID-19 Update (2-26-20)

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