Brunswick County Coronavirus Update (May 26, 2020)

By City of Northwest | May 26, 2020

Next update: Thursday, May 28, unless an additional release is required. Brunswick County updates its COVID-19 case counts daily (including weekends) for residents and the media to view at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/alert-ticker/information-on-coronavirus/

KEY POINTS

  • As of Tuesday, May 26, there are now 79 positive cases of COVID-19 among county residents (53 considered recovered, 21 isolating at 13 different homes, 3 isolating at a hospital, 2 deaths) and 11 cases among non-residents (1 isolating in county, 5 considered recovered, 3 transferred monitoring to home county, 2 deaths).
  • NCDHHS has issued guidance for businesses and operations reopening during Phase 2.
  • Businesses and customers are encouraged to participate in the free Count On Me NC program.
  • The CDC and the PGA have worked together on guidance for golf courses and golfers during the national three-phase approach to lifting restrictions due to COVID-19. According to this guidance, immediate family or approved pairings may ride in properly sanitized carts during Phase 2.
  • COVID-19 remains a highly contagious virus. Follow the three Ws when you visit any public area to prevent the spread of the virus and respect one another’s health: Wear a cloth face covering; Wait six feet apart to avoid close contact and maintain appropriate social distancing between yourself and others; Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer.

RELEVANT RESOURCES

MEDIA RELEASE

BOLIVIA, N.C. – Brunswick County Health Services identified nine more positive cases of residents who tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) since this past Friday, May 22, bringing the total number of positive resident cases to 79 as of Tuesday.

Brunswick County has seen an increase in 30 positive cases since the Governor’s Stay at Home Order expired May 8, with more than 800 tests administered at county primary care providers since that date.

North Carolina also saw its highest one-day increase in positive test results over the weekend, with 1,107 new cases reported statewide Saturday. The state is trending toward nearly 24,000 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday, with nearly 345,000 tests completed overall.

COVID-19 remains a highly contagious virus, and state officials continue to monitor key metrics like testing as Phase 2 progresses. COVID-19 spreads from person to person easily, especially indoors or if people come in close contact (less than six feet apart) for more than ten minutes. If key indicators move in the wrong direction, restrictions could be put back into place.

“We know people want to get back to normal, but the numbers we are seeing at the county and state levels show that we are not out of the woods yet,” Health and Human Services Director David Stanley said. “With more businesses and operations reopening and the start of the summer season, it is more important than ever that we all make smart travel decisions and follow the health guidelines our local and state health officials are recommending everyone follow.”

Phase 2 includes a Safer At Home recommendation, especially for people at high risk for serious illness. Staying home is still the best way to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect North Carolinians. The NCDHHS encourages everyone to follow the three Ws when visiting any public area. These efforts work best when they are all practiced together by as many people as possible:

  • Wear a cloth face covering when in public (Make sure both your nose and mouth are fully covered and you are able to breathe normally while wearing it.)
  • Wait six feet apart to avoid close contact and maintain appropriate social distancing between yourself and others
  • Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer while also following other best hygiene practices

The Safer At Home Phase 2 runs through at least Friday, June 26.

More information about the Governor’s Executive Order No. 141 concerning Phase 2 is available below.

See answers and information to several of Brunswick County’s most frequently asked questions concerning COVID-19.

ADDRESSING RECENT QUESTIONS CONCERNING NC’S PHASE 2

Over the past few days, Brunswick County has received some similar questions concerning the state’s transition to Phase 2 this past Friday.

  • NCDHHS has issued guidance for businesses and operations reopening during Phase 2 including restaurants, salons and personal care, places of worship, large venues, overnight camp, child care, day camp, tattoo parlors, pools, sports and retail. View individualized guidance at https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/guidance
  • Businesses are encouraged to participate in the free Count On Me NC training program. As North Carolina’s restaurants, hotels, attractions and businesses reopen after the COVID-19 stay-at-home order, Count On Me NC is a mutual pledge and public health initiative that empowers guests and businesses to help keep everyone safe and protected.
  • Customers are also encouraged to take the Count on Me NC Guest Pledge to show their commitment and support to businesses. This includes practicing the three Ws (wear a cloth face covering, wait your turn by maintaining six feet of distance from others, and washing hands regularly), using contactless delivery and takeout options if you have recently been exposed to, or have symptoms, of COVID-19, and being patient and kind to staff and other guests during this time.
  • Concerning golf questions, the CDC and the PGA have worked together on guidance for golf courses and golfers during the national three-phase approach to lifting restrictions due to COVID-19. According to this guidance, immediate family or approved pairings may ride in properly sanitized carts during Phase 2. More information on how to clean, disinfect, and maintain carts is here. Golf courses and golfers must still abide by the mass gathering limit of no more than 25 people per group as defined in the Governor’s Phase 2 Executive Order, despite any other figures for mass gatherings as addressed in this guidance. Golfers should always follow best hygiene and proper social distancing practices (approximately six feet between yourself and others) when golfing.
  • Indoor and outdoor pools may be open if specific public health requirements are followed. Open indoor and outdoor pools must: limit user capacity in the pool to no more than Emergency Maximum Occupancy; post the Emergency Maximum Occupancy in a noticeable place; post signage reminding pool attendees and workers about social distancing (staying at least six feet away from others) and requesting that people who have been sick with a fever and/or cough not enter; conduct daily symptom screening of workers, using a standard interview questionnaire of symptoms, before workers enter the workplace; immediately isolate and remove sick workers; and perform frequent and routine environmental cleaning and disinfection of high-touch areas with an EPA-approved disinfectant for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). These requirements apply only to shared pools in commercial settings or at residential complexes, not to family pools at people’s homes.

As a reminder, Brunswick County has not initiated any additional restrictions beyond those found in the Governor’s executive orders. All 100 counties must follow the Governor’s Executive Order No. 141. You are encouraged to reach out to your municipality to see if they have any additional restrictions in place that should be followed in their jurisdiction.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY TEST RESULTS

Brunswick County updates its case counts on its website daily. Find this information any time at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/alert-ticker/information-on-coronavirus/

As of May 26, there are now 79 positive cases of COVID-19, 13 pending test results and 2,448 confirmed negative test results, totaling 2,540 tests administered so far among Brunswick County residents. Of the 79 positive cases, 53 are considered recovered, 21 are isolating at 13 different homes, three are isolating at a hospital, and two are deaths associated to COVID-19.

There are 11 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. One of the cases is isolating in the county, five are considered recovered, the County has transferred monitoring for three cases to the individuals’ home counties, and two are deaths associated to COVID-19.

Isolated positive cases pose a low risk to the public as they and any household contacts are isolated or quarantined. To protect individual privacy, no further information will be release.

COUNTY RESIDENT CASES

Gender of Positive Cases

  • Male: 42
  • Female: 37

Age Range of Positive Cases

  • 0-17 years old: 5
  • 18-24 years old: 5
  • 25-49 years old: 19
  • 50-64 years old: 26
  • 65+ years old: 24

Ethnicity of Positive Cases

  • White: 69
  • Black/African American: 9
  • Asian: 1

Hispanic Ethnicity of Positive Cases

  • Yes: 12
  • No: 67
COUNTY NON-RESIDENT CASES

Gender of Positive Cases

  • Male: 7
  • Female: 4

Age Range of Positive Cases

  • 0-17 years old: Zero cases
  • 18-24 years old: Zero cases
  • 25-49 years old: 4
  • 50-64 years old: 2
  • 65+ years old: 5

Ethnicity of Positive Cases

  • White: 10
  • Unknown: 1

Hispanic Ethnicity of Positive Cases

  • Yes: 3
  • No: 8
COVID-19 TEST REPORTS IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY AMONG COUNTY RESIDENTS
Positive Test Results Reported to the County (County Residents)79
Pending Test Sample Results at the State Laboratory or Private Laboratories (County Residents)13
Confirmed Negative Test Results Reported to the County (County Residents)2,448
Number of Test Samples Reported to the County (County Residents)2,540
Positive Cases Isolating at Home (County Residents)21 at 13 households
Positive Cases Isolating at a Hospital (County Residents)3
Recoveries Among Positive Cases (County Residents)53
Associated COVID-19 Deaths (County Residents)2

Statistics as of May 26, 2020 at 3 p.m.

COVID-19 TEST REPORTS IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY AMONG NON-RESIDENTS
Positive Test Results (Non-Residents)11
Positive Cases Isolating in the County (Non-Residents)1
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 May 26, 2020 at 3 p.m.

Note: Brunswick County Health Services 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.

Health Services monitors all individuals who test positive and any individuals in self-quarantine on a regular basis. The County shares statistics on test reports Health Services receives to allow for transparency and efficiency.

Most of the County’s resident and non-resident cases are related to travel to or from places outside of Brunswick County, however there is evidence of community spread of the virus in some of the resident cases. There are also a couple of instances where a positive case has transmitted the virus to another person outside of their household who was later tested and identified as a positive case.

Everyone in needs to continue to take actions that best protect themselves from COVID-19 wherever they are and should assume that they can be exposed to the virus anywhere—hence the need to wear a face covering, wait six feet apart from other people, and wash their hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds and/or use hand sanitizer frequently.

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

COMMUNITY CARE OF NORTH CAROLINA’S COVID-19 TRIAGE PLUS (AVAILABLE 7 A.M. TO 11 P.M. DAILY)

CCNC’s COVID-19 Triage Plus is a toll-free helpline aimed at answering patients’ COVID-19 questions and helping them find the care they need. COVID-19 Triage Plus staff are local, NC-licensed RNs experienced in care management who will assist any North Carolina resident regardless of insurance coverage or lack of coverage. Through an agreement with the NC Department of Health and Human Services, CCNC will staff this helpline from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

  • COVID-19 Triage Plus Patient Information and Support Line: 1.877.490.6642

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:

Find the latest information, case counts, contact information for community partners and food resources in Brunswick County on our Latest Information on Coronavirus webpage.

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