COVID-19 Updates: July 14, 2020
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Orange County Press Release |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Todd McGee, Community Relations Director
tmcgee@orangecountync.gov
(919) 245-2302
(984) 220-5412
Orange County issues new standards for food-service establishments to go into effect Friday, July 10
With COVID-19 cases rising in Orange County, the county amended its emergency declaration to provide new standards for the onsite consumption of food and beverages at restaurants, private clubs and other food-service establishments.
“Cases in Orange County have tripled since Memorial Day,” said Penny Rich, Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners. “These additional measures will help protect our community by reducing group settings where the virus can easily spread. We must be vigilant in practicing physical distancing and wearing masks. It is more important than ever that we look out for each other.”
The revised declaration goes into effect at 5 p.m. on Friday, July 10, and includes the following changes: - Restaurants and private clubs shall be closed to the onsite consumption of food and beverages and no customers shall be present for the onsite consumption of food and beverages between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.; and
- Restaurants may continue drive through, delivery, and pick-up services after 10 p.m. so long as there is no onsite consumption of food and beverages; and
- Restaurants, breweries, wine shops, private clubs, bars, and any other businesses or organizations that sell alcohol for onsite consumption may not sell alcohol between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and no customers shall be present for onsite consumption of alcohol between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.; and
- Restaurants, private clubs, and other food and beverage service businesses may not provide offsite table service for the consumption of food and beverages in Orange County between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.; and
- Restaurants, private clubs, bars, and other food and beverage service businesses shall not allow sitting or standing at bars for food and beverage consumption and shall not allow patrons to touch shared surfaces such as bar counters or game equipment such as pool tables, darts, and pinball machines, etc. (restrooms excluded); and
- All outdoor activities, gatherings, or events of more than 25 people are prohibited. Worship, religious and spiritual gatherings, funeral ceremonies, wedding ceremonies, and gatherings for health and safety, for work, to obtain goods, and to obtain government services are exempt from this Sec. 4(vi).
The restrictions and prohibitions found in Section 4 of the June 26, 2020 Amendment to the Declaration of a State of Emergency in Orange County remain in effect in Orange County until they are amended or modified or the Orange County Declaration of Emergency is terminated except that Section 4(ii) is modified as follows: The mandatory mitigation measures set out in E0 138, Section 7B.2., as originally adopted, apply to all long-term care facilities described in EO 138, Section 7A.3., as originally adopted, which are situated in Orange County and shall continue to apply until such time as the Orange County Declaration of a State of Emergency in Orange County is amended, modified, or terminated.
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North Carolina COVID-19 Cases
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reports 89,484 COVID-19 cases, 1,552 deaths, and 1,109 hospitalizations, as of July 14, 2020. For more information regarding live updates (NCDHHS updates the site every day at noon), please visit the NCDHHS website.
Orange County Health Department also has a COVID-19 dashboard webpage, with information on COVID-19 data in the county. The dashboard will be updated every Tuesday and Thursday.
There are currently 1,003 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Orange County, and 43 deaths.
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Orange County Head Start/Early Head Start is accepting applications |
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Orange County Head Start/Early Head Start is accepting applications online at www.chtop.org. There is no cost for this program, however, families must meet requirements for enrollment as listed on our website.
Pregnant women and families seeking Home-Based services for children up to age 2 and families seeking Center-Based services for children ages 6 weeks-4 years old are encouraged to complete an online application at www.chtop.org. Once submitted, applicants will be contacted by phone to complete an Admissions Interview and receive instructions on submitting supporting documents.
If families are unable to apply online, they may leave a message requesting a telephone interview at (919) 490-5577 Ext. 248.
Our Center-Based child care locations are:
Early Head Start in Chapel Hill (ages 6wks to 2years)
KidSCope Early Learning Center - The Olin T. Binkley Memorial Church
1712 Willow Drive
Chapel Hill Day Care Center
401 Kildaire Road
Early Head Start/Head Start in Hillsborough (ages 3 & 4 years)
Fairview Child and Family Center
125 Lawndale Drive
Pre-K locations in Orange County
Efland Cheeks Elementary School – 4401 Fuller Road, Efland NC 27243
Central Elementary School – 154 Hayes Street, Hillsborough NC 27278
Pathways Elementary School – 431 Strouds Creek Road, Hillsborough NC 27278
APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED YEAR ROUND! |
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July is BIPOC Mental Health Month: Caring for Mental Health in Communities of Color
During COVID-19 |
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One of the most troubling aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic is how it is exacerbating long-standing and deeply rooted inequities in communities of color. Health disparities stemming from structural racism have contributed to COVID-19’s devastating toll on blacks and Latinos in America. Often overlooked is how heightened stress from this heavy burden is impacting mental health. Yolo Akili Robinson, a recipient of the RWJF Award for Health Equity, is swiftly responding to this new reality the pandemic has created. As the executive director and founder of Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective (BEAM), he leads his colleagues in training health care providers and community activists, as well as non-mental health professionals (family members, peers, etc.) to address mental health needs in communities of color. Robinson is witnessing firsthand how lack of access to testing and fear of profiling while wearing face masks, among other issues are increasing toxic stress and straining mental health. In the following Q&A, Robinson shares insights about the impact and implications of COVID-19 on mental health within communities of color.
What are the unique mental health needs facing the communities of color you work with during this pandemic? First, we must acknowledge the historic causes of mental health challenges: the legacy of racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, economic stressors, and systemic failures that contribute to our mental health struggles. Adding COVID-19 has greatly amplified this distress. Data is showing that people of color are more likely to die from COVID-19. That’s not surprising. We have already been living in spaces zoned so that black and brown people aren’t healthy—in food deserts, or where the water isn’t safe to drink, for example. And we endure untreated chronic conditions that lead to poorer outcomes from COVID-19, while struggling to access health care. So when COVID-19 began spreading, we were already in distress because of systemic and structural failings. When people of color actually do manage to receive care, doctors are more likely to minimize their pain and dismiss their symptoms. Serena Williams, a world famous athlete, experienced this. So imagine if you’re not a celebrity, but an elder in rural Alabama! Will you be heard? We have a long way to go in dismantling all of the “isms” within the system. At BEAM we’re seeing these factors culminate in greater depressive symptoms and increased isolation within our communities. For instance, we are seeing that our folks who are living with diagnosed mental conditions like bipolar or anxiety disorders report higher distress. We also rely on our traditions to process grief. After a funeral, we usually return to the home and eat together, a repast. That’s part of our healing process and how we support one another. Mandated bans on traveling and gatherings have interrupted these traditions when we need them the most. |
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Our community partners such as domestic violence shelters are also witnessing a marked increase in calls related to intimate partner violence or hostile home environments. For instance, social distancing is forcing LGBTQ youth to stay at home with families who are hostile or abusive about their sexuality or gender.
Exacerbating all of this is that the words “mental health” are a trigger for communities of color. Someone seeking our services shared that when he hears the words “mental health,” he envisions a social worker taking away his cousin. And not too long ago, the American Psychological Association had to demand that Immigration and Customs Enforcement stop using confidential psychotherapy notes to justify deportations.
Finally, staff at community-based organizations are already overworked and under-resourced. This stress is now amplified as they face increased demands.
How is BEAM adapting its approach to new challenges stemming from COVID-19?
Our work is modeled on the idea that we cannot rely solely on psychiatrists, social workers, therapists, and other professionals to do all of the mental health and healing work within communities, especially now. Our goals have been to educate and equip peers and families with tools, resources and skills so they can support themselves and their friends, families and communities. For instance, we know through our work that young people need the consistent presence of someone who can listen, validate and support them. It’s not always a deep clinical intervention that’s needed, but rather someone who knows how to listen, hold space, be compassionate, witness and process things. And that’s work we need to know how to do wherever we are. |
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We know our services need to be more accessible during this pandemic so we now have offerings on Instagram Live, Facebook drop-ins, and so on. Previously, much of our work was in person. While we’ve had virtual options in the past, we’re now ramping those up.
We also acknowledge that many may not have access to the Internet. Not only does that make it harder for us to reach them, but it intensifies their sense of isolation. To address this, we are providing services by telephone and also training the people who can virtually access our platforms to support those within their own networks who are more isolated.
So this crisis has provided an opportunity to re-imagine how we plan for accessible and innovative care delivery, how we run our organizations, and how we prioritize mental health and wellness for our staff.
What advice do you have for community health workers who may be feeling overwhelmed?
Many community workers do not prioritize self-care. They may tell themselves “I’m not doing enough and I should be doing more.” There is always work to be done. We must recognize that every dime we raise, every meal we drop off, every phone call we make, any information we share matters and is valuable.
This is a moment for us to concurrently attend to our own stress and anxiety because if we don’t, it will show up in our work. Seek out virtual support from other organizers. Find a practice that will ground you and center you as much as possible. If we don’t prioritize our own wellness, we will not be able to sustain supporting our communities and ourselves now and especially not beyond COVID-19.
Where do you see hope?
I think back to the early days of the HIV epidemic and am reminded of all the ways advocates had to push the government to respond, over a period of years. They advocated and protested until finally the government put its weight behind finding effective treatments. That also had a very real impact on the structure of health care and the way programs were designed to help people with HIV.
We, too, have to force a discussion and remind ourselves what started and energized national conversations that led to change. It was Martin Luther King, the Black Panthers, Gloria Steinem, Angela Davis, Fannie Lou Hamer, Black Lives Matter, ACT-UP. They got in our faces, even antagonized, and they got us past the collective amnesia and wishful notion that racism or sexism or homophobia don’t exist. We now have to use our voices, through art, media, and politics, to keep issues of equity in the forefront.
Another hopeful sign is that a lot of community-based organizations are working together, providing aid to the community, training one another, collaborating. Together they’re trying to make sure that everybody gets groceries and medicine, and they’re checking in on the vulnerable and staying in touch to combat isolation. We hope those alliances continue.
To learn more about mental health resources in Orange County, please visit our webpage. |
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Why is racism a topic when discussing health?
Because racism is a determinant of health |
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Originally posted by the American Public Health Association and Marguerite Ward, Business Insider
Health inequity refers to the uneven distribution of social and economic resources that impact an individual’s health. Inequities often stem from structural racism or the historical disenfranchisement and discrimination of particular marginalized groups, including racial and ethnic minorities, low-income populations, and members of the LGBTQ community.
These groups have historically been withheld from obtaining resources that are needed to be healthy, and are disproportionately exposed to a combination of health risks such as poverty, violence, poor neighborhood conditions, and environmental health hazards.
In order for the United States to become the healthiest nation, organizations and agencies must be explicit when advancing health equity. That means naming the groups impacted by equity initiatives and identifying the steps required to eliminate disparities in health.
Being explicit is key to ensuring vulnerable populations receive the social and economic resources needed to be as healthy as possible. It is also crucial to be explicit in order to ensure that disparities in health are not worsened as a result of ambiguity.
Being explicit entails discussing the topic of racism openly and not tip-toeing around the subject. Racism and discrimination result in U.S. minorities’ limited access to economic and social resources that have a substantial influence on their health outcomes, including access to care, housing, education, and so much more.
Right now, it seems that America is undergoing a transformation.
Calls for racial equity, diversity, and inclusion can be heard from protesters and corporate executives alike. People who were once silent on issues of racial justice and inequality are speaking up — in the office, at home, and online.
With two viruses plaguing our country, one that is new to us (COVID-19), and one that has always been present (racism), there are many people across the country who want to educate themselves on racial equity, and what it means to be an 'anti-racist.'
Included below, are some words you're likely hearing more of given the nationwide protests in the wake of George Floyd's killing.
This list is by no means exhaustive or comprehensive, but it's a starting point for someone seeking to educate themselves on important words related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. |
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Allyship
Merriam-Webster defines "allyship" as "the state or condition of being an ally: supportive association with another person or group." But allyship goes beyond that.
The Rochester Racial Justice Toolkit offers a more in-depth explanation, describing allyship as "a lifelong process of building relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability with marginalized individuals and/or groups of people."
Being an ally means learning from and listening to marginalized groups, empowering them, advocating for them, and looking inward to recognize your own bias and privilege. |
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Anti-racist
Activists and leading scholars have argued that it's not enough for allies to say they're "not racist." Instead, they have to actively adopt anti-racism, a set of beliefs and actions that oppose racism and promote the inclusion and equality of Black and brown people in society.
Ibram X. Kendi, a scholar and the author of "How to Be an Antiracist." has helped popularize the term. |
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BIPOC
This acronym, which stands for "Black, Indigenous, and people of color," has gained popularity as a more inclusive term than "people of color" when talking about marginalized groups affected by racism. |
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Cisgender
It's important to know that one's sex and one's gender are two different things. "Cisgender" is a term for people whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth.
Sarah McBride, the national press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign and author of "Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality," explained more in Women's Health.
"It's a term used to ensure that when we're talking about people who are trans, we don't use a problematic term like 'normal' to describe those who are cisgender," she said.
Cisgender people experience privilege in many aspects of life, from being able to easily find a restroom that matches their gender expression to having their sex listed on their driver's license match their gender.
Misgendering
Misgendering, per Merriam-Webster, is when someone incorrectly identifies a person, such as a transgender person, by using the wrong label (such as Mr. or Ms.) or pronoun (such as she, he, or they). It often makes a person feel invalidated as a human being. |
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White privilege
White privilege is the vast set of advantages and benefits that people have solely because they are white or pass as white.
"Generally white people who experience such privilege do so without being conscious of it," the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's blog says.
Examples include being able to walk around in a department store without being followed by a store clerk who suspects you of shoplifting, or being able to drive around a neighborhood without fearing that someone will call the police on you.
Microaggression
Microaggressions are indirect expressions of racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, or another form of prejudice. They can be in seemingly innocuous comments from people who might be well-intentioned. However, they make another person feel different, violated, or unsafe.
Here are some examples of microaggressions. |
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White fragility
Robin DiAngelo, a researcher and author of the bestselling book "White Fragility," explains the phenomenon as "a state in which even a minimum amount of racial stress becomes intolerable, triggering a range of defensive moves," including "the outward display of emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and behaviors such as argumentation, silence, and leaving the stress-inducing situation."
An example of this could be a Black person pointing out a white person's problematic or racist behavior and the white person immediately jumping to defend themselves, making excuses and crying instead of listening and accepting what the other person is saying. |
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COVID-19 Community Resources
For more information on COVID-19 community resources in the county, please visit our webpage. Resources on specific topic areas, such as food access, education, housing, and others, are all accessible on our website, or at the links below.
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