News Flash

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 17, 2020

Contact: Ford Porter

Phone: 919-814-2100

Email: govpress@nc.gov

North Carolina to Close Restaurants and Bars for Dine-In Customers, Allow Takeout and Delivery Operations to Continue

Forthcoming executive order will also expand unemployment insurance benefits for workers affected by COVID-19

Governor Roy Cooper and members of the Coronavirus Task Force are holding a media briefing today at 2 pm. At that briefing, Governor Cooper will announce a new executive order in response to COVID-19 that closes restaurants and bars for dine-in customers but allows them to continue takeout and delivery orders. The executive order will also include an expansion of unemployment insurance to help North Carolina workers affected by COVID-19.

The order is expected to be effective by 5 pm today, Tuesday, March 17, 2020.

More information about the order and other updates on North Carolina’s response to COVID-19 will be available at today’s media briefing. The briefing is at 2 pm at Joint Force Headquarters, 1636 Gold Star Dr, Raleigh, NC 27607. View live stream here: https://www.ncdps.gov/storm-update

Resource list from NCDHHS for a variety of stakeholders:

Governor Cooper issued an Executive Order closing K-12 public schools and banning gatherings of more than 100 people

On Saturday, March 14^th, Governor Roy Cooper ordered all K-12 public schools in North Carolina to close for a minimum of two weeks in response to COVID-19. The Executive Order also bans gatherings of more than 100 people. North Carolina currently has 23 people in 12 counties who have tested positive for COVID-19.

• Press Release
• Executive Order

New Education and Nutrition Working Group

Governor Cooper has appointed an Education and Nutrition Working Group to develop a plan to ensure that children and families are supported while schools are closed. The working group will focus on issues including nutrition, health, childcare access for critical health care and other front-line workers and learning support for children at home.

“I am standing up this new working group to ensure that children have enough food to eat, families have care in safe places for their young children, and student learning continues,” Governor Cooper said.

Guidance

The website includes guidance and resources for a range of stakeholders. Information is changing rapidly and will be added and updated:

• Businesses and Employers [ncdhhs.gov]
• Child Care Centers [ncdhhs.gov]
• Colleges and Universities [ncdhhs.gov]
• Community and Faith-Based Organizations [ncdhhs.gov]
• Community Events and Mass Gatherings [ncdhhs.gov]
• Correctional Facilities [ncdhhs.gov]
• First Responders [ncdhhs.gov]
• Health Care Providers, Hospitals, and Laboratories [ncdhhs.gov]
• Homeless Shelters [ncdhhs.gov]
• K-12 Schools [ncdhhs.gov]
• Local Health Departments [ncdhhs.gov]
• Long-term Facilities [ncdhhs.gov]
• Malls and Shopping Centers
• Mass Transit [ncdhhs.gov]
• Migrant Farm Workers and their Employers [ncdhhs.gov]
• Public Facing Businesses and Agencies
• Restaurants and Bars
• Syringe Service Programs [ncdhhs.gov]
• Working with People with Disabilities [ncdhhs.gov]

Mountain Projects is implementing a hotline to seek to meet emergency and critical needs of our most high risk and most vulnerable populations in Haywood and Jackson Counties over the next two weeks.  

Anyone needing supplies, medicine pick up and deliveries please call 1-800-627-1548 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Thursday.  If needs and situations warrant, the hours will be expanded. 

Anyone wishing to volunteer please call the same number.

Updated 3/16/2020

Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center - Closing Effective Tuesday, March 17th 2020 for safety precautions due to the COVID-19 virus. A reopening date will be determined at a later time. Cardiac Rehab and Physical Therapy will remain open. Please stay tuned for updates

Haywood County Public Library - All branches (Waynesville, Canton, Maggie Valley, Fines Creek) are closed to the public. Office Staff will be available by phone. Digital services are not impacted.

Haywood County Recreation - Recreation programming is suspended until further notice. North Carolina State Senior Games Association strongly recommended all local games postpone their games. Given that message and the fact that COVID-19 adversely affects the demographics of those who participant, the 2020 Haywood County Senior Games are postponed indefinitely.  We hope to be able to have our games by the state deadline in July but at this time we do not know when. We’ll keep you posted.

Governor Roy Cooper today ordered all K-12 public schools in North Carolina to close for a minimum of two weeks in response to COVID-19. The Executive Order also bans gatherings of more than 100 people. North Carolina currently has 23 people in 12 counties who have tested positive for COVID-19.  

The Executive Order directs all public schools to close beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 for at least two weeks. The two-week period allows time for North Carolina to further understand the impact of COVID-19 across the state and develop a plan for continued learning for students should a longer closure be needed. Governor Cooper made the decision in consultation with State Board of Education Chair Eric Davis, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson, and North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen.

Governor Cooper has appointed an Education and Nutrition Working Group to develop a plan to ensure that children and families are supported while schools are closed. The working group will focus on issues including nutrition, health, childcare access for critical health care and other front-line workers and learning support for children at home.

The Working Group will be co- chaired by Susan Gale Perry, Chief Deputy Secretary of NC DHHS and David Stegall, Ed.D, Deputy State Superintendent of Innovation at DPI, and will have representatives from DPI, NC DHHS, the State Board of Education, as well as other education, nutrition and early childhood representatives.

3/14/20

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Haywood County Public Health recommends that organizers of events that draw more than 100 people cancel, postpone, or modify these events, or offer online streaming services beginning March 13, 2020, until further notice. These events include large gatherings where people are in close contact (less than 6 feet), such as concerts, conferences, sporting events, faith-based events and other large gatherings. 

Organizations that gather up to 100 people should create an emergency plan and prepare for COVID-19 in their communities by taking the following steps: 

•    Consider alternative options to gathering large groups of people, such as streaming video of the event or having patrons participate online.

•    Instruct participants to stay home if they are sick. 

•    Encourage people who are at a higher risk for complications from COVID-19, including people over 65 and those with pre-existing medical conditions, to consult with their doctor before attending. 

•    Have hygiene supplies available for employees and participants, including hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol, tissues, and lined trash cans.

•    Promote behaviors that prevent the spread COVID-19 among participants and employees using the enclosed resources. 

•    During and after the event, disinfect frequently-touched surfaces with a cleaning agent that is effective against coronaviruses.

•    Decrease close contact between attendees at the event. For example, place seats farther apart or reduce the number of attendees.

Additional guidance can be found at the NC DHHS website here: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina/community-events.  

Please let us know if you would like additional educational information for distribution or you may access these materials online through the CDC website here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/factsheets.html or through the NC DHHS website here: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina/materials-and

The local risk of contracting COVID-19 remains low; however, we still encourage you to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19 and any other flu-like illness by taking the following steps:

•    Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

•    If soap and water are not available, use a generous amount of hand sanitizer which is at least 60% alcohol on all surfaces of the hands and wrists.

•    Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

•    Stay away from sick people.

•    Clean and disinfect surfaces – especially ones that are frequently touched – using regular household cleaning spray or wipes.

•    Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.

•    Stay home if you’re sick and don’t send sick children to school or childcare. 

•    High risk individuals should avoid large gatherings such as concerts, church services, and sporting events.

As questions and concerns about coronavirus (COVID-19) increase across North Carolina, we’d like to encourage promotion of the statewide Coronavirus Helpline (1-866-462-3821) for the public, which is answered 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.  

2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information and Preparedness Tips

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory disease caused by a new virus first identified in Wuhan, China. 

As confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) continue to spread in the U.S., the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all citizens anticipate and prepare for the possibility of widespread COVID-19 infection in the U.S. Since this is a situation that is changing regularly and rapidly, it’s always best to check the CDC and NCDHHS’s dedicated COVID-19 websites for the most current, in-depth info and guidance.

The following are common-sense measures that individuals, families, communities, businesses, health care facilities, schools and others can take to prepare for potential widespread transmission of COVID-19 in the state:

Individuals, Families and Communities

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) recommends everyone continue taking precautions to protect themselves and others from the spread of respiratory illnesses, which includes COVID-19.

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water, and for at least 20 seconds each time.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are ill.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Do not reuse tissue after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched.
• It is also good practice to start being more aware of the number of times a day your hands touch an object or hard surface and then touch your face without being washed. Limiting the exposure of your nose, mouth and eyes to unwashed hands can help to protect from the spread of all germs and illnesses.
• Have a plan in case you need to miss work or other responsibilities due to personal illness or to care for a sick family member.

Businesses and Employers

• Practice good hand hygiene and encourage your employees and patrons to take common-sense precautions to protect themselves from the spread of respiratory illnesses.
• Review your policies and procedures for remote or teleworking where possible.
• Cross-train employees for key functions so that daily schedules can continue relatively uninterrupted by potential employee absences.
• Review absenteeism policies to make sure employees are not being encouraged to come to work if they are sick.
• If you have not already, establish a relationship with your local health department and communicate with them if you have any questions or concerns about COVID-19.
• Look for more updates and in-depth guidance for businesses available on the CDC website.

Health Care Providers and Hospitals

• Review policies and procedures for infection prevention and mitigation, and make sure that all employees are aware of and following the appropriate steps.
• Consider how to maximize the use of telemedicine, nurse triage lines and other options to prevent sick people from coming to clinics and emergency rooms if they have mild illness and do not need treatment.
• Continue implementing the NCDHHS and CDC guidance for COVID-19 and continue working closely with your local health department and NCDHHS.
• Look for more updates and in-depth information for health care professionals on the CDC website. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/index.html

College, Universities, K-12 Schools and Child Care Facilities

• Make sure all students, faculty and staff are aware of and practicing good hand hygiene and taking common-sense precautions to protect from the spread of respiratory illnesses.
• Review absenteeism policies and procedures to make sure students or children, faculty and staff are not being encouraged to attend or work if they are sick.
• If you have not already, establish a relationship with your local health department and communicate with them if you have any questions or concerns about COVID-19.
• Learn more about COVID-19 on the CDC website, and look for updates and information for schools, colleges and childcare.

No one group, ethnicity or population in the US is at a higher risk for acquiring COVID-19 infection than others. While some people may be worried or have concerns about COVID-19, it is important to not let fear and anxiety lead to social stigma towards friends, neighbors or members of the community. Treat all people with compassion and speak up if you hear others making statements that cause stigma against people in your community.

All North Carolinians can better prepare for COVID-19 by getting up-to-date information directly from reliable sources like NCDHHS and the CDC. The COVID-19 outbreak has been accompanied by a global flood of misinformation from unreliable sources. Be thoughtful about what you read or hear about the virus and make sure you are separating rumor from fact before you act. 

For more information on COVID-19, please visit the CDC’s website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html. North Carolina resources can be found on the Division of Public Health website at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina.

If you have questions or concerns, call the COVID-19 Helpline toll free at 1-866-462-3821. To submit questions online, go to https://www.ncpoisoncontrol.org/ and select “chat.”

Since late January, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and NC Emergency Management (NCEM) have been operating a team to coordinate efforts around the state’s response.   In early February, Governor Cooper formalized this effort with the creation of the COVID-19 Task Force. NCDPH is also working with local health departments and hospitals statewide to provide regular updates on surveillance and response plans.

3-9-20

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, Haywood County Public Health recommends that residential establishments for people at higher risk for severe illness – such as nursing homes, independent and assisted living facilities, correctional facilities, and facilities that care for medically vulnerable children – restrict visitors from entering their buildings until further notice.

All providers should review and post the enclosed information for patients and staff to access.  Please let us know if you would like additional educational information for distribution or you may access these materials online through the CDC website here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/factsheets.html or through the NC DHHS website here: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina/materials-and 

We can all help to reduce risk for our loved ones. For everyone’s safety, we are asking the public to avoid visits facilities that serve high risk populations and take advantage of technology, such as video calling, instead of making a visit in person.

High risk populations include adults over 65 years, people with weakened immune systems, and those with underlying health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes. 

The local risk of contracting COVID-19 remains low; however, we still encourage you to protect yourself and your loved ones from COVID-19 and any other flu-like illness by taking the following steps:

•    Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

•    If soap and water are not available, use a generous amount of hand sanitizer which is at least 60% alcohol on all surfaces of the hands and wrists.

•    Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

•    Stay away from sick people.

•    Clean and disinfect surfaces – especially ones that are frequently touched – using regular household cleaning spray or wipes.

•    Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.

•    Stay home if you’re sick and don’t send sick children to school or childcare. 

•    High risk individuals should avoid large gatherings such as concerts, church services, and sporting events.

As questions and concerns about coronavirus (COVID-19) increase across North Carolina, we’d like to encourage promotion of the statewide Coronavirus Helpline (1-866-462-3821) for the public, which is answered 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.  

3/15/2020

 I would like to thank the various media outlets in Western North Carolina for working so hard to help citizens stay informed during this time of information overload and constant updates.

Attached is a Proclamation of a State of Emergency for Haywood County and municipalities within Haywood County- Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Canton and Clyde, in response to the COVID-19 health emergency.

While there are no cases in Western North Carolina, Haywood County continues to expend resources to ramp up for the possibility of COVID-19 cases locally. The proclamation will put Haywood County in position for reimbursement from state and federal programs for those expenses.

Our mountain families are used to helping each other in hard times. However, we also need to respect this public health emergency so we can all stay as healthy as possible. I urge all citizens to observe recommendations of the CDC, our Public Health Director and our Emergency Management Team.

As Haywood County officials work around the clock to monitor developments in this situation, the county will keep the public informed through the website www.haywoodcountync.gov  under the “Coronavirus info” tab at the top of the page, as well as through traditional media outlets.

L. Kevin Ensley, Chairman