BRUNSWICK COUNTY CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (APRIL 4, 2020)

By City of Northwest | April 4, 2020

KEY POINTS

  • As of April 4, there are 24 positive cases of COVID-19, 150 pending test results and 582 confirmed negative test results, totaling 756 tests administered so far. There is one death associated to COVID-19 in the county.
  • If you recently traveled to Brunswick County from another country, another state, or even another county in North Carolina, you need to take responsible, proactive measures to quarantine yourself and any fellow travelers now. Quarantining is essential to protect your health and to avoid potentially exposing strangers to the virus if you start to develop symptoms.
  • Governor Cooper’s Executive Order No. 124 prohibits utilities from disconnecting people who are unable to pay during this pandemic. The Order applies to electric, gas, water and wastewater services for 60 days beginning March 31.
  • Governor Cooper’s Executive Order No. 121 is now in effect: Stay at home unless you are visiting an essential service or operation (like visiting the grocery store, pharmacy, medical office, or work), exercising outdoors or helping a family member. The order bans gatherings of more than 10 people and directs everyone to physically stay at least six feet apart from others.
  • Brunswick County requires individuals to contact county departments via phone or email first and to schedule appointments for in-person visits if necessary
  • The CDC now recommends people with mild COVID-19 symptoms stay home and call their doctor for medical advice.

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 County776
Pending Test Sample Results at the State Laboratory or Private Laboratories124
Positive Test Results Reported to the County26
Confirmed Negative Test Results Reported to the County626
Recoveries Among Positive COVID-19 Cases13
Associated COVID-19 Deaths1

Statistics as of April 6, 2020 at 12 p.m.

Note: Brunswick County 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.

As of April 4, there are 24 positive cases of COVID-19, 150 pending test results and 582 confirmed negative test results, totaling 756 tests administered so far. There is one death associated to COVID-19 in the county.

IMPORTANT GUIDANCE FOR VISITORS IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY AND ON TRAVELING

Additionally, Brunswick County was notified of another individual from out of state who has tested positive for the virus while visiting the area and is currently in self-isolation with one contact who is self-quarantining with them. This individual is not included in Brunswick County’s test results as they are not a resident.

At this time, most of the County’s positive tests have some relation to travel outside of Brunswick County so far. If you recently traveled to Brunswick County from another country, another state (including South Carolina), or even another county in North Carolina, you need to take responsible, proactive measures to quarantine yourself and any fellow travelers for 14 days now. Quarantining is essential to protect your health and to avoid potentially exposing strangers to the virus if you start to develop symptoms.

This guidance is not unique to Brunswick County or North Carolina. Everyone should take steps to limit their travel as much as possible to only trips to places like the grocery story, pharmacies, medical offices and work during the pandemic. Everyone who travels anywhere in the nation should quarantine when they return or arrive wherever they are going—regardless of if you feel well, are younger, or are not considered an individual with a high risk of severe illness.

Anyone returning or arriving in Brunswick County after travel from areas with widespread community transmission, cruise ships, riverboats, or by air travel should stay home for 14 days after returning, based on guidance from the CDC and the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

Due to extensive community transmission of COVID -19 in these areas, the CDC is urging residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days immediately.

If you are unsure if you need to self-quarantine or you and any travelers with you are alone in the County and need assistance, you are encouraged to call the County’s or state’s public health call lines or inquire with local neighbors via phone or email to see if you can get help. If you have an emergency health or safety issue, you should always call 9-1-1.

There has been evidence of community spread in the state and our region the past couple of weeks that continues to pose a serious threat to everyone regardless of where they are located or have no domestic or international travel history.

To best protect yourself and others, you are strongly urged to remain at home as much as possible through April 29, 2020, and to limit your travel to only the essential needs—even if it is permitted in Governor Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 121.

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.

Following these rules and moderating your activity to only what is necessary is vital to making the stay at home order effective and to protect the health and safety of yourself and others. You should also contact your municipality or check their website or social media routinely to see if they have or will put additional restrictions in place.

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 requires 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.

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.

GOVERNOR COOPER SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER TO PROHIBIT UTILITY DISCONNECTIONS IN THE WAKE OF COVID-19

Governor Roy Cooper announced March 31 another step to help families by prohibiting utilities from disconnecting people who are unable to pay during this pandemic. The Order applies to electric, gas, water and wastewater services for the next 60 days.

The Order directs utilities to give residential customers at least six months to pay outstanding bills and prohibits them from collecting fees, penalties or interest for late payment.

Learn more about Executive Order No. 124 on the NCDHHS website.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here are some answers to the County’s Public Health call line’s most frequently asked questions the past few days:

1. WHY DO WE HAVE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE AND STAY AT HOME?

Answer: This Stay at Home Order will help slow the spread of COVID-19 and prevent the medical system from being overwhelmed by keeping individuals from being exposed to the virus and keeping those who have the virus from spreading it to others. The Office of the Governor has a list of FAQs about the Order at https://files.nc.gov/governor/documents/files/200327_FAQ-SAH-Order_FINAL.pdf

2. WHY ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK NOT BEING TESTED?

Answer: 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—such as a fever or cough without shortness of breath or difficulty breathing—and can recover at home.

You should call 9-1-1 right away if you have these symptoms:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Blue lips
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Confusion

If you suspect you have symptoms of coronavirus, you should contact your primary medical provider first to alert them of their symptoms and have a physician determine if a test is required and if they provide tests. If your need additional assistance to locate a provider to test, you should contact Brunswick County Public Health Services for assistance. It is ultimately up to the primary medical provider to determine who should get tested. They will consider these symptoms:

  • Those who have fever or lower respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath) and close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case within the past 14 days; OR
  • Those who have fever and lower respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath) and a negative rapid flu test
3. WHO IS ENFORCING THE STAY AT HOME ORDER?

Answer: Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-l 9.30(a)(2), the provisions of this Executive Order shall be enforced by state and local law enforcement officers. A violation of this Executive Order may be subject to prosecution pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 166A-19.30(d), and is punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat.§ 14-288.20A.If you have concerns about activity that might violate the Executive Order, you are encouraged to reach out to your local law enforcement agency via their nonemergency numbers unless it is a serious medical or safety emergency, which should always be reported via 9-1-1.

4. WHERE CAN I GET ASSISTANCE FOR FOOD?

Answer: Here are some options for food assistance:

  • 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.
  • Brunswick Family Assistance: 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.
  • Brunswick Senior Resources, Inc: Eligible seniors aged 60 or older can request home meal deliveries on Tuesdays and Thursdays (two hot and three frozen) or RSVP for drive-through meal service at a BSRI center/site if they have not already. Contact BSRI to learn more and sign up. Information is also updated on the COVID-19 Community Assistance webpage.
  • COVID-19 Community Assistance webpage: Brunswick County is updating offers of community assistance including other food resources on its website.

See more answers to frequently asked questions and information about COVID-19 at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/coronavirus/

PEOPLE WITH MILD SYMPTOMS SHOULD STAY HOME

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.

Household members and people who have been in close contact with someone who has had symptoms of COVID-19 should stay home as much as possible for 14 days and monitor themselves for symptoms. Close contact means within six feet for at least 10 minutes. If they start having symptoms of COVID-19, they should take the same steps to prevent spreading it.

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.

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

UPDATES FROM OUR PARTNERS IN RESPONSE TO CORONAVIRUS

BRUNSWICK COUNTY SCHOOLS
BRUNSWICK COUNTY COURTHOUSE

In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Courthouse hours have been reduced to 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. beginning Monday, April 6.

We strongly urge you to visit our website at www.nccourts.org or call 810-253-3900 prior to visiting as most business can be handled over the phone or by mail.

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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For media inquiries, contact the Public Information Officer at 910.253.2995 or email [email protected]

COUNTY CONTACT INFORMATION & VIRTUAL SERVICES DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Brunswick County is urging individuals to visit our website and to call or email county departments for assistance first before visiting county offices. The County now requires appointments for in-person visits.

Not sure who to contact? Call our main line and we can help direct your calls.

  • Main County Contact Information: 910.253.2000 / 800.442.7033
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