Brunswick County Coronavirus Update (April 28, 2020)

By City of Northwest | April 28, 2020

Key Points

  • As of April 28, there are 43 positive cases of COVID-19, 29 pending test results and 1,163 confirmed negative test results, totaling 1,235 tests administered so far among county residents. Of the positive cases, 32 are considered recovered cases, nine are currently isolating at six different homes and two are deaths associated to COVID-19.
  • There are now 10 cases involving non-residents testing positive for COVID-19 while visiting; five are considered recovered cases, three have transferred monitoring to their home county and two are deaths associated to COVID-19.
  • Brunswick County has not issued additional restrictions beyond what is required in the Governor’s Stay at Home Order, which is now in effect through Friday, May 8.
  • Remember to practice social distancing and do not gather in groups more than 10 when visiting Brunswick County’s parks, golf courses, or while making trips for essential business.
  • Individuals can now apply for contact tracing roles through the Carolina Community Tracing Collaborative to support existing efforts of local health departments to track the transmission of COVID-19.
  • The CDC recently added six additional symptoms of COVID-19 to watch for in addition to fever, cough, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
  • See answers and information to several of our most frequently asked questions concerning COVID-19.
  • See more information about COVID-19 testing and screening sites in Brunswick County

MEDIA RELEASE

BOLIVIA, N.C. – Brunswick County continues to emphasize the need to limit travel activity to only the essentials while the Governor’s Stay at Home Order is in effect through Friday, May 8.

All 100 counties in North Carolina must follow the rules and restrictions Governor Roy Cooper has mandated in his executive orders. Brunswick County has not issued additional restrictions beyond what is required in the Governor’s Stay at Home Order.

You are strongly urged to not travel out of the county if not essential. You are strongly discouraged from inviting people to come stay with you from any other North Carolina counties, states (including South Carolina) or countries—even if they are your family members. Most of the County’s positive cases so far are travel-related, however there is evidence of community spread. Ten non-residents have now tested positive for the virus—forcing any close contacts they are visiting or traveling with to quarantine with them as well.

If you or someone visiting you traveled here from another region of the state, country or world—especially a place with widespread transmission of the virus—they are asked to quarantine where they are staying for 14 days to monitor themselves and watch for symptoms of COVID-19 they might have contracted in their home areas or during travel.

If you have questions about how to quarantine while visiting Brunswick County, contact the County’s Public Health Call Line at 910.253.2339 (available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.to 5 p.m.) or email [email protected]

Here are a few reminders for those who might take part in permitted outdoor activities during the Governor’s Stay at Home Order in relation to the COVID-19 situation:

  • All Brunswick County parks remain open to the public at their regularly scheduled hours. All park visitors need to practice social distancing (approximately six feet between you and others) and cannot gather in groups—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. Park restrooms are 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).
  • Each municipality legally handles any issues regarding restrictions on beaches and should be contacted directly for information regarding specific guidance and restrictions on visitors. If a municipality allows beach access, all beach visitors need to practice social distancing (approximately six feet between you and others) when attending—including children, teenagers, and young adults—and cannot gather in groups more than 10.
  • Golf courses are permitted to remain open under the Governor’s Stay at Home Order, however all golfers and course visitors must practice social distancing (approximately six feet between you and others) and cannot gather in groups more than 10 to allow courses to remain open. Public Health had already reached out to golf courses in the county following the implementation of the Governor’s Order with these recommendations; guests are urged to comply with this guidance:
    • Allow only one passenger per golf cart unless they are members of the same household; ensure golf carts are properly sanitized after each use; remind golfers to keep a distance of six feet from one another; discourage non-household members from touching each other’s golf equipment; encourage hand sanitizer use after handling flags on the greens; maintain a safe work environment and follow the NCDHHS’ guidance for employers; and allow sick employees to stay home.
  • Governor Cooper is seeking voluntary cooperation from all state residents and businesses to ensure the health and safety of our communities. If voluntary cooperation is not achieved, state and local law enforcement officers have the authority to enforce the Order. If you have concerns about actions that might violate the Order, you are encouraged to reach out the local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction to report activity using their nonemergency phone number. Do not report concerns through 9-1-1 unless it is a legitimate health or safety emergency.

Information about other food resources, mental health resources, and public health call lines are listed below in this update. A list of community assistance resources is updated routinely at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/emergency/covid-19-community-assistance/

The County also has links to a number of business resources in response to COVID-19 at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/health/coronavirus/businessresources/

See more answers to Public Health’s top questions and more information at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/health/coronavirus/faq/

UPDATE FROM NCDHHS ON CONTACT TRACING, COVID-19 SYMPTOMS

During the NC Department of Health and Human Services’ (NCDHHS) COVID-19 update Monday, Secretary Mandy Cohen made two announcements concerning contact tracing in the state and the CDC’s updated symptoms for COVID-19.

NCDHSS has engaged Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) to organize the Carolina Community Tracing Collaborative to hire and train staff to support existing efforts of local health departments to track the transmission of COVID-19. CCNC and NC AHEC will assist local health departments in meeting the surge in demand for contract tracing staff expected when more widespread COVID-19 testing begins. Contact tracing is a key element in Governor Cooper’s strategy of testing, tracing and trends aimed at gradually easing stay-at-home-restrictions and supporting a safe economic recovery.

CCNC is hiring a Statewide Contact Tracing Team to contact North Carolinians who have been exposed to COVID-19, explain how they can keep themselves and others safe, and connect them to necessary healthcare resources. Recruitment will start immediately and individuals can apply at https://www.communitycarenc.org/carolina-community-tracing-collaborative

More information on this effort is also available on the NCDHHS press release webpage.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also added six additional symptoms for COVID-19 to watch for in addition to fever, cough, and shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. If you suspect you have COVID-19, reach out to your primary medical provider first to discuss your symptoms and determine if you need to take a test.

These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Chills
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell

Anyone with more serious symptoms should call their doctor or 911 right away. More serious symptoms can include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain or pressure, confusion or blue lips.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY TEST RESULTS

As of April 28, there are 43 positive cases of COVID-19, 29 pending test results and 1,163 confirmed negative test results, totaling 1,235 tests administered so far among Brunswick County residents. Of the 43 positive cases, 22 are male and 21 are female; 32 are considered recovered cases, nine are currently isolating at six different homes and two are deaths associated to COVID-19.

There are 10 cases involving non-residents who tested positive for COVID-19 while visiting Brunswick County, resulting in their contacts having to quarantine as well; these cases are not reflected in the County’s total case counts. Seven of these cases are male and three are female. Five of the non-resident cases are considered recovered and the County has transferred monitoring for three cases to the individuals’ home counties; two are deaths associated to COVID-19.

To protect individual privacy, no further information will be released.

The age ranges of the positive cases among Brunswick County residents as of today are as follows:

  • 0-17 years old: 1
  • 18-24 years old: 2
  • 25-49 years old: 6
  • 50-64 years old: 18
  • 65+ years old: 16

The age ranges of the positive cases among non-residents as of today are as follows:

  • 0-17 years old: Zero cases
  • 18-24 years old: Zero cases
  • 25-49 years old: 4
  • 50-64 years old: 1
  • 65+ years old: 5
COVID-19 TEST REPORTS IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY AMONG COUNTY RESIDENTS
Positive Test Results Reported to the County (County Residents)43
Pending Test Sample Results at the State Laboratory or Private Laboratories (County Residents)29
Confirmed Negative Test Results Reported to the County (County Residents)1,163
Number of Test Samples Reported to the County (County Residents)1,235
Positive Cases Isolating at Home (County Residents)9
Positive Cases Isolating at a Hospital (County Residents)0
Recoveries Among Positive Cases (County Residents)32
Associated COVID-19 Deaths (County Residents)2

Statistics as of April 28, 2020 at 11 a.m.

COVID-19 TEST REPORTS IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY AMONG NON-RESIDENTS
Positive Test Results (Non-Residents)10
Positive Cases Isolating in the County (Non-Residents)0
Positive Cases Isolating at a Hospital (Non-Residents)0
Recoveries Among Positive Cases (Non-Residents)5
Transferred Monitoring to Home County (Non-Residents)3
Associated COVID-19 Deaths (Non-Residents)2

Statistics as of April 28, 2020 at 11 a.m.

Note: Brunswick County Public Health is encouraging providers in the County’s jurisdiction to continue to report persons under investigation (PUI) at this time, however NCDHHS no longer mandates that the PUI form be completed and sent to the local health departments, which could result in under reporting of test counts. These numbers reflected the information reported to the County from local health care providers.

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

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 in its daily update to allow for transparency and efficiency.

Patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 are in isolation in their homes, which are located within the majority of zip codes throughout the county. Brunswick County residents should assume that community transmission of COVID-19 is present anywhere and take the appropriate precautions. Identified positive cases only represent a fraction of the actual positive cases as not everyone who is sick with COVID-19 are being tested in light of the CDC’s guidance that individuals with mild symptoms are typically able to recover at home without a test.

FOOD RESOURCES IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY

Some individuals and families might need help to ensure they have enough food at this time. We understand that this is a stressful situation for many of our fellow residents—but there are a number of resources and programs available that want to assist anyone who needs help at this time. Here are a few of the major resources available:

BRUNSWICK FAMILY ASSISTANCE (BFA)

The Brunswick Family Assistance Executive Committee voted March 31 to increase the number of allowed pantry visits from once to twice per month. This effort is in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic and serves to ensure that no family goes hungry in the county. Additionally, the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners approved a request at the April 6 regular meeting for $30,000 in additional funding to BFA to support their COVID-19 response. Those in need of assistance are encouraged to call BFA at 910-754-4766 for the Shallotte office or 910-408-1700 for the Leland Office to set up appointments for pantry visits and other assistance services.

BRUNSWICK SENIOR RESOURCES, INC (BSRI)

Eligible seniors aged 60 or older can request home meal deliveries on Tuesdays and Thursdays (two hot and three frozen) through the Meals on Wheels program or RSVP for drive-through meal service on select days at a BSRI center/site if they have not already. Contact BSRI to learn more and sign up for either of these services. Find the latest updates and contact information at www.bsrinc.org

APPLY FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES (FNS) BENEFITS THROUGH THE NCDHHS

To help families access food during the COVID-19 pandemic, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is temporarily increasing benefits for March 2020 and April 2020 to current Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) recipients in North Carolina. All families that receive FNS will receive the maximum amount allowed for March 2020 and April 2020 for their household size. Families and individuals who do not currently receive benefits can apply online with ePass.

WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN (WIC)

The WIC Program is a supplemental nutrition program that provides food, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support to income-eligible women who are pregnant, have recently given birth, are breastfeeding, as well as infants and children up to five years of age. Brunswick County’s WIC team members are providing all services over the phone and can be reached via the following phone numbers:

  • Bolivia Office: 910.253.2288
  • Shallotte Office: 910.253.2878
  • Leland Office: 910.253.2877
COVID-19 COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE WEBPAGE

Brunswick County is updating offers of community assistance including other food resources on its website. If you are aware of any other offers or notices, please email Volunteer and Nonprofit Coordinator Leslie Stanley at [email protected]

PANDEMIC ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER (P-EBT) PROGRAM

On April 20, it was announced that North Carolina has been approved for the new Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program to help families purchase food for children impacted by school closings due to COVID-19. The program provides a benefit on an EBT card to North Carolina families whose children are eligible for free and reduced lunch at school. Families will not need to apply for the P-EBT program. Parents with school aged children attending a school in the Brunswick County Schools district who currently receive Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) benefits will receive the additional benefit on their existing EBT card. Parents with school-aged children attending a school in the Brunswick County Schools district who are not receiving FNS benefits will receive an EBT card in the mail with a letter from DHHS explaining how to activate and use their card. Families will receive $250 in P-EBT benefits per child, provided in two installments, with the possibility of an additional benefit if North Carolina schools are closed beyond May 15. Families will be able to use the P-EBT benefit to purchase food items at EBT authorized retailers, including most major grocery stores. More information about the P-EBT benefits including information in Spanish is on the NCDHHS website.

LOCAL AND STATE PUBLIC HEALTH CALL LINES

BRUNSWICK COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH CALL LINE

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

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

The COVID-19 situation is a stressful situation for many of us. There are several resources available should you need to speak with someone anonymously at this time:

  • Trillium: 877.685.2415 (24-hour availability in English and Spanish)
  • Disaster Distress Helpline: 800.985.5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 (24-hour availability in English and Spanish)
  • Hope4NC Helpline: 1-855-587-3463 (available 24/7)
  • Hope4Healers Helpline (for health care professionals, emergency medical specialists, first responders, other staff who work in health care settings and their families who are experiencing stress from being on the front lines of the state’s COVID-19 response): 919-226-2002 (available 24/7)
  • More resources are available through the NC Department of Health & Human Services: COVID-19: Managing Your Overall Health

UPDATES FROM OUR PARTNERS IN RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS

BRUNSWICK COUNTY SCHOOLS
BRUNSWICK COUNTY COURTHOUSE

While most courts are closed, the Brunswick County Courthouse Clerk’s Office is open for limited services. The public is strongly encouraged to call in advance, as many trips to the Courthouse can be avoided.

BRUNSWICK COMMUNITY COLLEGE
NOVANT HEALTH
  • Online coronavirus assessment tool found at https://coronavirus.novanthealth.org/
  • 24/7 helpline for patients are experiencing symptoms and have questions on how to best seek care: 877-499-1697 or 877-9NOVANT
DOSHER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
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