Mask Mandate to be amended March 7 to No Longer Require Masks in Public, Indoor Spaces

Effective Monday, March 7, 2022, Orange County will no longer require masks in public, indoor spaces if key COVID-19 metrics continue to reach medium and low community levels.

The following metrics ? determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ? will serve as the indicators. They currently show Orange County is no longer in the high-risk category.

New cases ? New COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days is less than 200. Orange County is at 150.87.
New hospital admissions ? New COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people in the last seven days is less than 20. Orange County is at 28.29.
Inpatient beds ? Staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients (7-day average) is less than 15%. Orange County is at 12.86%.

Read more about Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Community Levels at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/community-levels.html
Orange County leaders will rely on the most up-to-date information. Please note that the CDC dashboard COVID-19 Community Levels is not updated daily. If the numbers trend up to the high community transmission level, Orange County will reserve the right to amend the mask mandate to again require masks in public, indoor spaces.

Once the mandate is amended, businesses and other organizations can continue to require customers or visitors to wear a mask in their establishments. The CDC also recommends that individuals who are unvaccinated should continue to wear a mask or face covering when indoors or in crowded areas to minimize the potential spread of the virus.

The planned change aligns with Gov. Cooper’s statement on Feb. 17, which encouraged schools and local governments to end their mask mandates. Federal regulations still require masks in some places, such as long-term care facilities and public transportation including Chapel Hill Transit.

Click here for more information.

Please join Orange County Housing and Community Development staff to learn more about the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program and other housing programs that provide rental assistance directly to landlords. We are looking forward to hearing your questions, as well as your feedback on how our programs can best work with you. Click the graphic to register for the session.

Orange County to host 2022 Orange County Senior Games

The Orange County Department on Aging, Carrboro Recreation and Parks and Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation invite adults ages 50+ to participate in the 2022 Orange County Senior Games!

Senior Games is a year-round health promotion program for adults ages 50 and over. Activities include: sports and games competitions/tournaments, social activities, and the SilverArts – including visual and heritage arts such as wood working, basket weaving, ceramic glass and more.

The 2022 Orange County Senior Games’ Athletic Events will be held April 1 – May 18. The Kick-off Event for Artists, Athletes and SilverArts Opening will be on Thursday, March 31, at 4:30 p.m. at the Seymour Center located at 2551 Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill.

Pick up or call one of the sponsoring locations for a registration application and a schedule of events: The Passmore Center - Hillsborough, The Seymour Center – Chapel Hill, Carrboro Recreation and Parks, and Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation.

The deadline to register is Friday, March 18.

For more information, contact: Dana Hughes (dhughes@townofcarrboro.org, 919-918-7372) or Lee Schimmelfing (leeshim@email.unc.edu, 919-606-2598).
Learn more at www.orangecountync.gov/SeniorGames.

The library invites you to make and bring in a literary-themed, marshmallow peep diorama for our contest! The 3 entry categories are youth, teen, and adult. Entries will be judged by the public while they are on display and are eligible to win a number of awards from most creative to funniest entry. Best of luck!

Submit your (family-friendly) entries Monday, March 7-Saturday, March 19.
View the entries & vote for your favorites Monday, March 21-Saturday, April 2.
Winners will be announced Wednesday, April 6.
Pick up your diorama Thursday, April 7- Saturday, April 9.

Orange County Recreation is hiring for Summer Camp counselors. A variety of positions are open.

Big Night In for the Arts on March 10

The Orange County Arts Commission, in partnership with the Durham Wake, and Chatham arts councils and WRAL, present Big Night In for the Arts on Thursday, March 10 from 7-8 p.m.

This Triangle-wide televised fundraiser will feature performances from Ben Folds, Hiss Golden Messenger, Jaki Shelton Green, Nnenna Freelon and Jabu Graybeal, plus a behind-the-scenes tour of Mark Hewitt’s Chatham County pottery studio.

Enjoy a featured segment about the arts commission’s new Eno Arts Mill and hear from familiar Orange County artists.

Click the graphic to take the survey.

Local governments and Chapel Hill Chamber partner for long-term economic recovery survey

Orange County local government, in collaboration with The Chamber for a Greater Chapel Hill-Carrboro, the Towns and our related economic allies, are committed to our community’s long-term economic recovery caused by COVID’s financial and other challenges. Please complete this important, short survey on local business conditions and business needs here in Orange County.

Your survey response will help shape how local governments, economic development professionals, and Chambers of Commerce continue to adapt efforts to support local businesses and the local economy.

The survey takes about six minutes to complete, and we ask each respondent to complete just one of the surveys, even if you receive the invitation from multiple partners. All responses are anonymous.

State, County offer financial assistance for housing payments

The NC Homeowner Assistance Fund is now accepting applications from North Carolina homeowners whose finances were impacted by the pandemic and who need assistance with housing-related expenses.

The fund was established through the 2021 American Rescue Plan to prevent mortgage delinquencies, defaults, displacements and foreclosures for homeowners experiencing financial difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic. It offers assistance of up to $40,000 for qualified homeowners as long as funding is available.

For qualified homeowners, the fund offers:

Housing payment assistance for primary residence in North Carolina (for example, single-family home, townhome, condo or mobile home).
Assistance for mortgage reinstatement to catch up on late payments (first or second mortgages) or other housing-related costs due to a period of forbearance, delinquency or default.
Assistance covering other housing-related costs such as homeowner’s insurance, flood insurance, mortgage insurance, homeowner’s association dues/fees or delinquent property taxes to prevent foreclosure.

Homeowners can learn more and apply for help by calling 1-855-MY-NCHAF (1-855-696-2423) or by visiting NCHomeownerAssistance.gov.

Help is also available for renters. Orange County Housing Department manages the Emergency Housing Assistance (EHA) Program, which has provided over $8.5 million in housing assistance to more than 2,000 Orange County residents since March 2020. This program is funded by Orange County and the Towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough, along with state and federal funding.

Rent, mortgage and utility payments, security deposits, application fees and other emergency housing-related expenses are eligible for reimbursement. Visit the Orange County website for more details on this program.

Feedback Needed—Take the Orange County Transit Plan Survey Today

Help shape the future of transportation in Orange County by completing the Orange County Transit Plan Survey online in English or Spanish, now through March 4.

For a paper survey, email Caroline Dwyer or call (919) 636-5032 x 401 no later than Tuesday, March 1. More information on the Orange County Transit Plan Update can be found on the project website: www.octransit2020.com.

For questions, contact Orange County Department on Aging’s Transportation Specialist, by email Brandi Beeker or call 919-717-1853.

Orange County Caregiver Support Groups

Support groups are resuming in-person meetings! These support groups are a space to meet with other caregivers to share experiences, learn new skills, and get answers to questions about dementia and other long-term disabilities. We have also added a new Zoom only group.

Zoom Only Support Group
Contact Kim Lamon-Loperfido (919-245-4253) to join.

Tuesday, March 1 at 10:30 a.m. at Seymour
Tuesday, March 15 at 10:30 a.m. at Seymour

Chapel Hill Support Group
Contact Kendall Kopchick (919-245-4278) to join.

Friday, March 11 at 10:30 a.m. at Seymour
Friday, March 25 at 10:30 a.m. at Seymour

Hillsborough Support Group
Contact Kendall Kopchick (919-245-4278) to join.

Thursday, March 10 at 1 p.m. at Passmore
Thursday, March 24 at 1 p.m. at Passmore

www.orangecountync.gov