BRUNSWICK COUNTY IDENTIFIES FIFTH AND SIXTH PRESUMPTIVE POSITIVE CASES (MARCH 21, 2020 CORONAVIRUS UPDATE)

By City of Northwest | March 21, 2020

KEY POINTS

  • As of March 21, there are six presumptive positive cases in Brunswick County; the County identified its fifth and sixth cases Saturday; both new cases are separate, travel-related, were not symptomatic on return and are currently self-isolating at home
  • The County announced today that some departments will require visitors to schedule an appointment to visit department offices beginning March 23: https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/some-county-departments-transition-to-accepting-visitors-by-appointment-only-beginning-monday-march-23/
  • The County stresses the importance of social distancing into the weekend and beyond to prevent the spread of coronavirus—regardless of how well you feel or how young you are
  • Testing is available in Brunswick County; if you suspect you have coronavirus symptoms, contact your primary medical provider first to determine if your symptoms warrant a test and if they provide tests; contact Public Health if you need assistance locating a provider to test: https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/health/coronavirus/testing/

MEDIA RELEASE

BOLIVIA, N.C. – Brunswick County identified two more presumptive positive cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) Saturday, bringing the total number of identified cases to six.

Brunswick County considers and responds to presumptive positive cases as if they were positive, even while awaiting official confirmation of results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Both cases are separate, travel-related and neither individual was symptomatic on their return to the area. Both cases are isolated at home and are doing well. There is one household contact who is quarantined. None of these individuals have direct contact with children in Brunswick County.

Brunswick County Health and Human Services team members will monitor the individuals during their self-isolation/quarantine. Contact investigation is already complete as neither individual traveled while symptomatic. The County is also in contact with the NC DHHS to ensure proper steps are taken moving forward.

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

The County’s Public Health team also continues to monitor the other individuals who have presumptive positive cases and any individuals in self-quarantine on a regular basis and all are doing well at this time.

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

All residents and visitors are urged to practice social distancing and to remain at home as much as possible to reduce the potential for community spread of the novel coronavirus.

All residents regardless of how young they might be or how healthy they feel need to limit their activities in the public to those that are only essential such as attending work or grocery shopping and should maintain at least six feet of distance from other people. Individuals who are sick or who are considered at high risk for severe illness should remain home.

Additionally, the County announced today that its Planning, Community Enforcement, Stormwater and Engineering departments will require visitors to schedule an appointment to visit department offices to better practice social distancing measures and protect the public and staff during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Full details are at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/some-county-departments-transition-to-accepting-visitors-by-appointment-only-beginning-monday-march-23/

Brunswick County continues to hold daily conference calls with our community partners, including representatives from county leadership, Health and Human Services, Emergency Services, municipal representatives, local hospitals, Brunswick County Schools, and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY TEST RESULTS

NOVEL CORONAVIRUS TEST REPORTS IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY
Number of Test Samples Reported to the County219
Pending Test Sample Results at the State Laboratory or Private Laboratories135
Presumptive Positive Test Results Reported to the County7
Confirmed Negative Test Results Reported to the County77

Statistics as of March 22, 2020 at 6 p.m.

In an effort to better address questions from residents and the media about the number of novel coronavirus occurring countywide, the County will post an update on the number of tests that have been reported to the County’s Public Health department in its daily update to allow for transparency and efficiency. It is important to recognize that tests are occurring in varying numbers each day and results can take several days to process and report back to the County Public Health department from either the state lab or private labs. Our team is actively responding to the novel coronavirus pandemic and having a dedicated time to share test statistics will ensure we are providing everyone with the most accurate information.

Brunswick County also provides these numbers to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) for its case count webpage at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/covid-19-case-count-nc

As of March 21 at 4 p.m., there are 184 positive cases (increase of 47 cases from the day prior) and no deaths in North Carolina. Nationally there are 15,219 cases (increase of 4,777 cases from the day prior) and 201 deaths (increase of 51 deaths from the day prior).

Brunswick County continues to receive notices of test samples collected across the county and is actively working through its emergency response plans to further mitigate the situation.

HOW TO FIND OUT IF YOU NEED A TEST

Coronavirus tests are available in Brunswick County. If you suspect you have symptoms of coronavirus, you should contact your primary care 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 for assistance.

Full details about testing in Brunswick County including information from Novant Health primary clinics and Dosher Memorial Hospital is at https://www.brunswickcountync.gov/health/coronavirus/testing/

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

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.).

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

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