Brunswick County Coronavirus Update (March 30, 2020)

Brunswick County Coronavirus Update (March 30, 2020)

Key Points

  • As of March 30, there are 14 positive cases of COVID-19, 301 pending test results, and 247 confirmed negative test results in Brunswick County, totaling 562 tests administered so far.
  • Governor Cooper’s Executive Order No. 121 takes effect today, Monday, March 30 at 5 p.m. It orders people in the state to stay at home for thirty days and reduces the size of gatherings to no more than 10 people. The Order provides for essential businesses to continue to operate while prioritizing social distancing measures.
  • The CDC urges residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately. This Domestic Travel Advisory does not apply to employees of critical infrastructure industries, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security.
  • Travelers returning after domestic travel from areas with widespread community transmission, cruise ships, riverboats, or by air travel should self-quarantine at home for 14 days after returning.
  • Brunswick County now requires individuals to contact county departments via phone or email first and to schedule appointments for in-person visits if necessary to support social distancing for our residents and team members.
  • For people who think they might have COVID-19 and have mild symptoms, the CDC now recommends they stay home and call their doctor for medical advice. Most people who get COVID-19 will have mild illness and recover at home.

MEDIA RELEASE

BOLIVIA, N.C. – Brunswick County’s latest update on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is now available.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY TEST RESULTS

NOVEL CORONAVIRUS TEST REPORTS IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY
Number of Test Samples Reported to the County562
Pending Test Sample Results at the State Laboratory or Private Laboratories301
Positive Test Results Reported to the County14
Confirmed Negative Test Results Reported to the County247

Statistics as of March 30, 2020 at 11 a.m.

As of March 30, there are 14 positive cases of COVID-19, 301 pending test results, and 247 confirmed negative test results in Brunswick County, totaling 562 tests administered so far.

Brunswick County identified its 13th case Sunday evening and its 14th case Monday morning. These cases are separate from one another and both are travel related. Both cases have a close contact who is also self-quarantining with each respective individual. Public Health has already identified potential contacts and contact notification is being completed. None of these individuals have known contact with children in Brunswick County.

Public Health monitors all individuals who test positive and any individuals in self-quarantine on a regular basis.

For people who think they might have COVID-19 and have mild symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends they stay home and call their doctor for medical advice. Most people who get COVID-19 will have mild illness and recover at home. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has developed a new fact sheet to help North Carolinians know what to do if they are sick.

The updated guidance is intended to slow the spread of the virus. When people with mild illness leave their homes to get tested, they could expose themselves to COVID-19 if they do not already have it. If they do have COVID-19, they can give it to someone else, including people who are high risk and health care providers who will be needed to care for people with more severe illness. In addition, because there is no treatment for COVID-19, a test will not change what someone with mild symptoms will do. Learn more at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/people-mild-symptoms-should-stay-home-0

More information about testing in Brunswick County is at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/health/coronavirus/testing/

Brunswick County will provide updates on any positive cases considered a low risk for community spread in its daily update unless a serious public health concern requires a separate release.

The County will share statistics on the number of test samples and final reports Public Health is receiving to allow for transparency and efficiency. Tests occur in varying numbers each day and results can take several days to process and report back to the Public Health from either the state or private laboratories. Our team is actively responding to the novel coronavirus pandemic and having a dedicated, routine way to share test statistics will ensure we are providing everyone with the most accurate information.

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 121 GOES INTO EFFECT TODAY AT 5 P.M.

Governor Roy Cooper’s Executive Order No. 121 will go into effect today at 5 p.m. The Order requires everyone in the state of North Carolina to stay at home for thirty days (until April 29, 2020) in another step to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The Order directs people to stay at home except to visit essential businesses, to exercise outdoors or to help a family member. Specifically, the order bans gatherings of more than 10 people and directs everyone to physically stay at least six feet apart from others. The Governor’s full order is available HERE

As per section two of the Order and Executive Order No. 120, essential government operations like counties are considered a COVID-19 essential business or operation. Brunswick County is open but adjusted its operations this past Monday to require individuals to visit the County’s website and call or email departments for assistance virtually first and to schedule an appointment if an in-person visit is required. The county manager is continuing to work department leadership to accommodate time-off requests for staff on an individual basis, including the consideration of telecommuting or flexible schedule options.

County libraries and BSRI senior centers/sites remain closed to the public with staff available to assist individuals over phone and emails. BSRI continues to offer home delivery and drive-through meal services.

All Brunswick County parks remain open to the public at their regularly scheduled hours. Per the Order, public playground equipment may increase spread of COVID-19 and will be closed. Park restrooms are now only open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to give our team more time to clean the restrooms based on our advanced disinfection/sterilization protocol in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

All park visitors need to practice social distancing (approximately six feet between you and others) and cannot gather in groups greater than 10 in compliance with Executive Order No. 121 and previous NCDHHS guidance—including children, teenagers, and young adults. These measures are necessary to keep each other as safe as possible. The County will continue to monitor the parks to ensure compliance with state mandates and guidelines.

Unless noted in the order, previous closures and orders stand as written as do local government orders in cities and counties. Frequently Asked Questions about the Order can be found HERE

If you do not think your business is included in the essential services list, and you think it should be, you may apply online at the NC Department of Revenue to be designated essential HERE. Until your exemption is reviewed, you may operate as long as your business can accommodate social distancing in your workplace.

CDC ISSUES DOMESTIC TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, AND CONNECTICUT

Due to extensive community transmission of COVID -19 in the area, the CDC urges residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately. This Domestic Travel Advisory does not apply to employees of critical infrastructure industries, including but not limited to trucking, public health professionals, financial services, and food supply. These employees of critical infrastructure, as defined by the Department of Homeland Security, have a special responsibility to maintain normal work schedules. The Governors of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut will have full discretion to implement this Domestic Travel Advisory.

All individuals are encouraged to stay home, avoid crowded places, and refrain from non-essential travel in compliance with Executive Order No. 121 and the CDC and NCDHHS guidance on travel.

Travelers returning to Brunswick County after domestic travel from areas with widespread community transmission, cruise ships, riverboats, or by air travel should stay home for 14 days after returning. Take the following steps to monitor your health and practice social distancing for 14 days after you leave the affected area:

  • Take your temperature with a thermometer two times a day and monitor for fever (temperature of 100.4 Fahrenheit or higher); watch for other symptoms such as cough or shortness of breath
  • Stay home and avoid contact with others; do not go to work or school during this 14-day period
  • Do not take public transportation, taxis, or ride-shares
  • Avoid crowded places and limit your activities in public
  • Stay six feet (about two arms lengths) away from others

The County is operating a joint information center with a Public Health Call Line and email to answer residents’ coronavirus questions (available Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). More information is also available on our website at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/coronavirus

Brunswick County Public Health Call Line

Individuals who have questions afterhours are encouraged to use the North Carolina 2-1-1 program or call the North Carolina Public Health Call Line, which has public health professionals available 24 hours a day every day to answer questions.

NC Public Health Call Line (Open 24/7)

  • 866.462.3821

North Carolina 2-1-1 Program

  • For COVID-19 questions, dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162
  • Sign up for updates by texting COVIDNC to 898211

 UPDATES FROM OUR PARTNERS IN RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS