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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates: March, 26 2020
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Orange County Press Release
MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kristin Prelipp, Communications Manager and Public Information Officer kprelipp@orangecountync.gov or (919) 245-2462 Orange County, NC Issues a “Stay at Home” Order to Take Effect
Friday, March 27th at 6:00 p.m. HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. March 26, 2020 – Orange County, North Carolina issued an amendment to the Declaration of a State of Emergency. The amendment orders the public to Stay at Home to prevent further spread of COVID-19. The Order will take effect on Friday, March 27 th, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. and will remain in effect until April 30, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. The Stay at Home Order shall be reviewed periodically to determine whether it should be extended, modified, or rescinded. These additional measures are in place to minimize all unnecessary activities outside the home to slow the spread of this virus and protect the public. These actions were implemented in consultation with the Orange County Health Department, in coordination with the Towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough. Orange County Health Department Health Director, Quintana Stewart said, “I want to be very clear about this: We need everyone to limit activities outside of the home and to practice social distancing at all times to slow the spread of this highly contagious and potentially deadly virus.” “We all must do our part to slow the spread of COVID-19 to minimize infections - particularly for those who are elderly or have underlying chronic health conditions - and prevent it from overwhelming our healthcare facilities. The more people who take this seriously and stay home, the faster we can return to normal.” The Order directs Orange County residents to stay at home, leaving only for essential reasons, critical to health and safety. If leaving the home, all people should adhere to social distancing policies, including remaining six feet from others (except for those with whom they share a home) and thoroughly and regularly washing hands. Effective March 27, 2020 at 6:00 p.m., all businesses and not-for-profit entities not expressly exempted in the order must suspend all in-person business operations. Operations that can be conducted online or by phone, or sales that can be facilitated with curbside pickup or delivery only, can continue. The Order provides exemptions for businesses and entities providing services or functions deemed critical to public health and safety, as well as economic and national security. This includes – but is not limited to – health care operations; retail serving essential human needs, like grocery stores, pharmacies and hardware stores; fuel products and supply; news media; maintenance of critical infrastructure; and transportation and critical manufacturing sectors. For a full list, please review the Order. All exempt entities are strongly encouraged to continue to adhere to CDC and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) guidance to ensure social distancing and proper hygiene and disinfecting is occurring. All exempt entities conducting retail operations should also facilitate curbside pick-up or delivery to the extent possible. “I fully recognize the emotional, financial and economic impact of these decisions, but based on the best science we have available, these measures are necessary,” said Penny Rich, the Chair of the Board of County Commissioners. “I need all of our community members to understand that the more quickly and closely we follow these stay-at-home measures, the faster and safer we can get through this and get our daily lives, and our economy, moving again. I have tremendous trust in our ability to follow these guidelines, to save lives and support each other throughout – even as we are physically separated.” Under this Order, all residents of the County are to remain at home unless you are: - Going to the doctor or vet (call first to see if you need to be seen or it can wait)
- Grocery shopping for yourself or others (limit to one trip per week or less if possible)
- Going to the pharmacy
- Exercising outdoors (like walking, running, or bicycling, or using, greenways, and trails)
- Picking up takeout food or using the drive-thru (you can also order delivery)
- Caring for a friend or family member
While the Stay at Home Order is in place:
- DO NOT go to work unless you are providing essential services
- DO NOT visit friends and family unless it is urgent
- DO NOT gather in public places
- LIMIT non-essential travel
For the latest information and guidance relating to Orange County’s COVID-19 response, visit https://www.orangecountync.gov/CoronavirusThe phone line for questions about COVID-19 is 919-245-6111 and is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Spanish language and other languages are available. To receive daily text updates on the crisis, please text OCNCHEALTH to 888777. For Spanish speakers, text OCNCSALUD to 888-777. You may also sign up for a twice weekly e-newsletter about the COVID-19 response via our website. Please follow the Orange County Health Department on Facebook and Twitter. NCDHHS’ website www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus, will include future positive COVID-19 test results in North Carolina. |
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Receive COVID-19 Updates Through Text
Orange County residents can receive COVID-19 updates by text message. If interested, text OCNCHEALTH to 888-777. For Spanish, text OCNCSALUD to 888-777. |
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Orange County Call Center
*Due to low call volume, the Call Center will be in operation from Monday-Friday only.
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Myths Vs. Facts: Week of March 23rd, 2020 |
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Myth: COVID-19 is only dangerous for people 65 or older.
Fact: Approximately 12% of all COVID-19 cases are serious enough to require hospitalization. Many people are surprised to learn 20% of those hospitalizations were among patients 20-44 years old. Additionally, of patients aged 20 – 44 who get COVID-19, between 14 and 21% get sick enough to require hospitalization.
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Myth: I need to stockpile as many groceries and supplies as I can.
Fact: Please only buy what your family needs for a week. It is important to remember that many families may be unable to buy a supply of food and water for weeks in advance. Consumer demand has recently been exceptionally high – especially for grocery, household cleaning, and some healthcare products. Freight flows are not disrupted, but stores need time to restock.
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Myth: You can protect yourself from COVID-19 by swallowing or gargling with bleach, taking acetic acid or steroids, or using essential oils, salt water, ethanol or other substances.
Fact: None of these recommendations protects you from getting COVID-19, and some of these practices may be dangerous. The best ways to protect yourself from this coronavirus (and other viruses) include:
Washing your hands frequently and thoroughly, using soap and hot water.
Avoiding close contact with people who are sick, sneezing or coughing.
In addition, you can avoid spreading your own germs by coughing into the crook of your elbow and staying home when you are sick.
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Myth: A face mask will protect you from COVID-19.
Fact: Certain models of professional, tight-fitting respirators (such as the N95) can protect health care workers as they care for infected patients. The medical professionals will be “fit tested” prior to use.
For the general public without respiratory illness, wearing lightweight disposable surgical masks is not recommended. Because they don’t fit tightly, they may allow tiny infected droplets to get into the nose, mouth or eyes. Also, people with the virus on their hands who touch their face under a mask might become infected.
People with a respiratory illness can wear these masks to lessen their chance of infecting others. Bear in mind that stocking up on masks makes fewer available for sick patients and health care workers who need them.
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NCDHHS Guidelines for Cleaning SurfacesOrange County residents have been reaching out regarding how to properly disinfect surfaces. Included below are guidelines from NCDHHS. For more information, click here. |
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North Carolina COVID-19 Cases:
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reports 636 COVID-19 cases and 2 deaths as of March 26, 2020. For more information regarding live updates (NCDHHS updates the site every morning at 11 a.m.), please visit the NCDHHS website.
There are currently 16 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Orange County.
Orange County will not be sharing any patient demographics about positive COVID-19 cases. Information that identifies a person who has or may have COVID-19 is protected by NC’s communicable disease confidentiality law, G.S. 130A-143. When the information is maintained by a local health department, it is protected by HIPAA as well. The address alone is sufficient to make the information individually identifiable, even without the name. Therefore, the information must be managed in a way that complies with these laws. We will not ever share race, age, sex or zip code.
Social distancing is extremely important to limit the spread of COVID-19. Included below are infographics in English, Spanish and Chinese that give tips on social distancing. Orange County encourages residents to practice social distancing along with other steps, such as proper hand washing, to combat the spread.
Spanish, Chinese, Kinyarwanda, Chinese and Karen versions of the graphics below are available here. |
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Avoid COVID-19 ScamsRead more about how to protect yourself from coronavirus scams here. Spanish translation is available here. |
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Resources
NC 2-1-1 NC 2-1-1 is an information and referral service provided by United Way of North Carolina. Accessible via an easy-to-remember, three-digit number, families and individuals can call to obtain free and confidential information on health and human services and resources within their community.
2-1-1 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Dialing 2-1-1 is free, confidential, and available in most languages. |
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Additional Resources
Access to Food
Orange County Schools have coordinated pick up/drop off locations for families to receive food. For more information, click here. Additional county resources linked here.
For more information regarding NCDHHS COVID-19 guidance, click here. |
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Additional links to COVID-19 resources: |
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COVID-19 Response: Donation Opportunities
Want to donate items to help support the COVID-19 response? Please use this form.
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