Local News - WIZS

Measures Expanded to Prevent, Respond to COVID-19 in Long-term Care Facilities

May 19, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, NCDHHS

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is taking further action to prevent and respond to COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities. All long-term care facilities in the state will receive personal protective equipment (PPE) packs of needed supplies, and facilities will receive a limited increased rate for some Medicaid services to support infection prevention and management.

“We have a team dedicated to supporting our long-term care facilities as they protect our aging family members and loved ones who require round-the-clock care and the staff who care for them,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D. “We want to help them do all that they can because once an outbreak occurs in a congregate living setting, it can be difficult to prevent the spread of the virus.”

PPE packs will go to more than 3,000 state-licensed long-term care facilities and include a fourteen-day supply of face shields, procedure masks, gloves and shoe covers. Adult care homes, family care homes, nursing homes, intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental health facilities will receive supplies. NCDHHS is partnering with North Carolina Emergency Management and the National Guard to deliver the packs at local distribution centers.

In addition to the PPE distribution, NCDHHS is providing a time-limited Medicaid rate increase for nursing facility services such as skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. The increase is intended to support strengthening infection prevention and management capacities with technical support from NCDHHS. The increase will also apply to personal care assistance and home health services to help providers who support people being able to stay at home where there is less risk of exposure.

NCDHHS also released updated testing guidance to clinicians that recommends testing people who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings such as long-term care facilities.

These actions build on earlier measures North Carolina has taken to protect residents and staff in long-term facilities. Previous actions include:

Issuing Executive Order 130, which codified public health and safety requirements for nursing homes, including requiring staff to wear surgical masks, screenings for all staff and residents for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 daily and closing communal areas.
Conducting remote infection prevention and control consultation with skilled nursing and other long-term facilities across the state through a partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the North Carolina Statewide Program for Infection Control and Epidemiology.
Providing targeted funding to support nursing homes and adult care homes to provide the more intensive care needed for residents with COVID-19 and limit the spread of the virus to other residents and staff.
Providing a toolkit to support long-term care facilities in preparing for and responding to COVID-19 outbreaks in their facility. The toolkit contains an infection control assessment, infection staffing worksheet, infection prevention educational resources and other tools.
Helping to fill staffing shortages in long-term care facilities and other health care facilities through a partnership with East Carolina University School of Nursing to match Registered Nurses and Certified Nursing Assistants with facilities, particularly long-term care facilities, that are seeking to urgently hire staff for temporary, part-time or full-time roles. Interested health care employees can register at nc.readyop.com/fs/4cjq/697b.
Implementing several temporary regulatory changes to assist providers in caring for their residents during the COVID-19 pandemic, including adopting an emergency rule granting reciprocity to nurse aides certified in other states to work as nurse aides in North Carolina, and allowing facilities to exceed the number of licensed beds if needed to provide temporary shelter and services to adequately care for residents with COVID-19.
Providing virtual training for more than 2,000 staff working in long-term care sites. Trainings are available online at www.ncahec.net/covid-19/webinars.

For NCDHHS and CDC guidance for long-term care facilities, visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov/guidance#long-term-care-facilities. A list of congregate care settings with outbreaks is available on the NCDHHS COVID-19 Dashboard.

NCDA&CS Soils Lab Now Accepting Predictive Samples

May 19, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, NC Cooperative Extension, Granville County Center

The soil testing lab at the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has announced that the lab is again accepting predictive soil samples on a limited basis. Farmers, gardeners and homeowners are now able to submit soil samples for analysis. There currently is no charge for this service.

“We are very happy to be able to get soil analysis results to work with,” said Paul Westfall, County Extension Director. “We can once again make fertility recommendations tailored to the soil conditions and use. In other words, growers can add the right amount of lime and/or fertilizer and avoid under or over fertilizing.”

Plant growth is delayed by under-fertilization, and over-fertilization leads to wasted nutrients and money and can impact water quality.

Sample kits are available at the Granville County Center of NC Cooperative Extension. Kits can be picked up from a table located in the foyer area of the front door, and samples to be submitted can be left on the same table. Information sheets are available and should accompany each sample submitted. Each sample should be identified in a way that the landowner will remember. Crop information is key to getting a good recommendation. If growers have questions about completing the information sheet, they should contact the Granville County Extension Center.

“Since the lab is operating under reduced hours and reduced staff in compliance with safety recommendations, it will take a bit longer than usual to get test results,” Westfall added. “We have already submitted a few samples, and the results were returned in about three weeks. That’s not too bad.”

For more information on soil samples and soil fertility, contact the Granville County Extension Center at (919) 603-1350, or contact Westfall by email at paul_westfall@ncsu.edu.

Granville Co. Public Schools Expands Free WiFi Coverage

May 18, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

Granville County Public Schools is excited to announce the expansion of free WiFi coverage in its communities.

In addition to all public school campuses providing free WiFi in the parking lot, six school buses with FREE mobile WiFi hot spots have also been positioned throughout the county. These locations include the Berea Fire Department, the Oxford Housing Authority, the Granville Expo Center, the Brassfield Fire Department, Creedmoor City Hall and the Breda Lane neighborhood in Butner.

Information on how to log-on is posted near each school bus. The internet service is available within approximately 100 feet of each bus.

GCPS is proud to partner with AT&T and Duke Energy to provide this service through the end of the school year. For additional information, please be sure to check the GCPS district website.

Granville Chamber of Commerce Warns of Gift Card Scam

May 18, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Information courtesy Granville County Chamber of Commerce

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce has been made aware that scam emails that appear to be from Chamber representatives are being sent to community members. These emails request that the recipient purchase gift cards for a specified agency, take pictures of the gift card’s PIN and send the pictures back to the sender, which appears to be the Chamber.

This is a very typical cyber phishing attempt and these emails are not being sent from the Chamber or any Chamber representative.

The Chamber asks that this be a reminder to us all to be wary of anyone (including friends) who seem to be asking for gift cards, account codes or prepaid cards for any purpose.

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce apologizes for this scam email and any inconvenience it may have caused.

NCDHHS Updates Guidance on Who Should be Tested for COVID-19

May 18, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, NCDHHS

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services issued updated guidance on who should be tested for COVID-19. The new guidance recommends that clinicians test any patient in whom COVID-19 is suspected.

The new guidance recommends clinicians ensure the following populations have access to testing, regardless of symptoms:

Anyone with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19
Close contacts of known positive cases, regardless of symptoms
Persons who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings (e.g., long-term care facility, homeless shelter, correctional facility, migrant farmworker camp)
Persons who are at high risk of severe illness (e.g., people over 65 years of age, people of any age with underlying health conditions)
Persons who come from historically marginalized populations
Health care workers or first responders (e.g. EMS, law enforcement, fire department, military)
Front-line and essential workers (grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, etc.) in settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain

“We want anyone who needs a test to get one. This is particularly important for those at high-risk for severe illness, those at greatest risk for exposure and those who are being disproportionately impacted by this virus,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D.

Testing, along with contact tracing and supplies of personal protective equipment, is part of the state’s strategy to slowly ease restrictions, while protecting North Carolinians from COVID-19. The state is looking at a composite of metrics to guide its path forward, including the number of cases, the percent of tests that are positive, the number of hospitalizations and the number of emergency department visits for COVID-like illness. Last week, Governor Roy Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Cohen shared these metrics remain stable for the first week of Phase 1.

The new guidance updates testing criteria for the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health. Those include hospitalized patients, health care workers or first responders, persons who live in or have regular contact with a high-risk setting, persons who are at higher risk of severe illness and for whom a clinician has determined that results would inform clinical management, and uninsured patients.

Staying home is still the best way to continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect North Carolinians. When going out, remember the 3 Ws. Wear a face covering. Wait at least six feet apart. Wash your hands often with soap and water.

For information on the North Carolina COVID-19 response across state government, visit nc.gov/covid19.

COVID-19 Update: 23 Deaths in Granville, Vance Health District

May 18, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

As of May 17, 2020, there are 194 known cases of COVID-19 in Granville County, 177 cases in Vance County, and 18,512 confirmed cases in North Carolina.

There are three outbreaks at congregate living facilities in the district – one at Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, NC, one at Pelican Health in Henderson, NC, and one at Kerr Lake Nursing Home in Henderson, NC.

Of the total positive cases in each county, 98 in Granville County are associated with the prisons, 46 in Vance County are associated with Pelican Health nursing home, and 17 are associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home.

Of the 96 community-based cases in Granville County, 48 have been released from isolation and one is hospitalized.

Of the 98 cases in the prison system, 66 have been released from isolation.

Of the 177 cases in Vance, 48 have been released from isolation and 13 are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 23 deaths in the health district – 17 in Vance County and 6 with the Bureau of Prisons in Granville County.

GVPH updates its website daily with Vance and Granville COVID-19 statistics. Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information.

Granville Co. Public Schools to Hold Modified High School Graduations

May 15, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

Few events mark a rite of passage for young people and their families like a high school graduation ceremony. Walking across the stage in front of one’s peers, family members and the entire community not only celebrates their significant academic accomplishments, but it also symbolizes a major transition in their lives. It represents a true commencement of new opportunities, new adventures and, of course, new responsibilities.

Granville County Public Schools has a proud history of celebrating its students on graduation day, but unfortunately, like countless other academic institutions across the country and around the world, the COVID-19 global pandemic has forced some unwanted, yet necessary changes.

By its very design and nature, traditional graduation ceremonies are a concentrated physical gathering of members of the community. With the coronavirus now in our midst, we must make adjustments to ensure the safety and welfare of the public.

Currently, the Governor’s orders restrict and limit interactions and gatherings in a way that makes such an event all but impossible. As such, GCPS has been working with stakeholders to develop alternative plans to abide by safety policies and still honor our graduates in a meaningful way. Committees have been at work to develop these plans. The members included graduating seniors, parents, teachers, administrators and Board members. Local health care professionals and law enforcement have been consulted, as well.

After much deliberation and discussion, several options were considered. With the safety and welfare of our students, their families, staff members and the community as the primary consideration, one final recommendation has been adopted.

This year, the graduating class of 2020 will be recognized during a modified ceremony to be held at or near the same dates as originally planned. While a compromise from the traditional format, this modified graduation ceremony will still have a personalized component that will celebrate and spotlight each student in honoring their accomplishments. Each graduate will be given a designated time to take that once in a lifetime “graduation walk” across the stage, before receiving his/her diploma.

All students will participate in this modified graduation ceremony on their high school campus. Instead of gathering in large groups, each graduate and their guests will travel in their vehicle to participate in a “drive-thru” type ceremony, whereby their guests will enjoy a front-row view of the stage from the protection of their vehicle. One vehicle per graduate will be permitted. Only the graduate will be permitted to exit the vehicle in an effort to honor the Governor’s Orders and all DHHS regulations at that time.

The Superintendent and some Board of Education members will be on hand with each school principal to celebrate the momentous occasion and will be honoring “social distancing” measures. A professional photographer will be on-site to take photographs for purchase.

Graduation ceremonies are scheduled for the following days and times:

Thursday, June 11, 2020 ~ 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Granville Early College High School

Thursday, June 11, 2020 ~ 1 – 2 p.m. Granville Academy

Friday, June 12, 2020 ~ 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. South Granville High School

Saturday, June 13, 2020 ~ 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. J.F. Webb High School/ Webb Health and Life Sciences

Saturday, June 13, 2020 ~ 3 – 7 p.m. Granville Central High School

Each ceremony will be live-streamed online for the public to view in real-time. In addition, a video recording of the entire event, including recordings of valedictorian and salutatorian speeches and other highlights, will be provided so all graduates and their families may have the entire event fully captured to celebrate and remember for years to come.

Finally, opportunities will be provided for those who wish to participate in the annual winter graduation ceremony.

Superintendent Alisa McLean commented, “I cannot think of too many events in a young person’s life that are more important to celebrate than their graduation from high school. This is a time of joy and happiness that deserves as much recognition as we can allow given the circumstances of the pandemic. While not ideal, this modified format will allow families and their students ways to actually be present and participate in the event. It is far more preferable to having a virtual ceremony, which unfortunately is something many communities are forced to contemplate. I look forward with excitement when I can personally congratulate each graduate on stage this year.”

Board Chairman David Richardson offered his thoughts, stating, “While certainly not our first choice in how to commemorate graduation this year, this modified format will be done with the same care, preparation and dignity of any other. We are determined to not let the current pandemic dampen our spirits during this time of hope and joy for our students.”

Additional details on the process and safety guidelines for these modified ceremonies will be shared with graduates and their families in the coming days. The primary goal of GCPS is to ensure that all risks to the health, safety and well-being of our students, their families, staff members, and the community at large are minimized as it relates to the current pandemic.

Staff will continue to consult with health care officials and law enforcement to ensure best practices are followed and that all plans are in compliance with statewide executive Orders related to the pandemic. We wish our graduates nothing but the best and look forward to celebrating this important milestone in their lives.

Granville Board of Commissioners to Meet Remotely Mon., May 18

May 15, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Information courtesy Debra A. Weary, Clerk to the Board, Granville County

NOTICE OF REMOTE MEETING

The Granville County Board of Commissioners will meet remotely by Zoom conference call on Monday, May 18, 2020, at 7 p.m. for the regularly scheduled meeting.

In order to adhere to the COVID-19 restrictions, the meeting may be accessed by utilizing the link and/or phone number included below.

Public comments will be accepted in written format and must be received by Monday, May 18 at 12 p.m. by mail to P.O. Box 906, Oxford, NC 27565 or email to grancomrs@granvillecounty.org

Join Zoom Meeting

https://granvillecounty.zoom.us/j/96676016140?pwd=bHc0OUNobFhISitaU2tLd0pKMkIxdz09

Meeting ID: 966 7601 6140

Password: 858871

Dial by your location

877 853 5247 US Toll-free

888 788 0099 US Toll-free

To view Granville Co. Board of Commissioner meeting agendas and minutes, click here.

North Carolina’s Key COVID-19 Indicators Remain Stable

May 14, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen today shared an update on North Carolina’s key COVID-19 indicators. The data and trends show that North Carolina remains stable nearly one week into Phase 1.

“Our COVID-19 decisions are guided by the data and the science,” said Cooper. “We will use the time in this phase to keep a careful eye on the data and the indicators before we are ready to announce the start of Phase 2. North Carolinians should continue to stay home if they can and take precautions to keep themselves safe.”

“Continued stability in these trends is a real positive for our state. While we remain on a good path for the 14-day trends we need to see to move to Phase 2, our progress as a state is still dependent on our individual actions,” said Dr. Cohen. “We need to continue to protect our loved ones and our neighbors. If you leave home, practice three Ws – wear, wait and wash.”

Governor Cooper and Secretary Cohen also announced that DHHS now has a list of testing locations on the DHHS website.

The list includes more than 200 sample collection sites in 54 counties, with more being added as they are verified. The list is comprised of health care providers, pharmacies and retail locations, local health departments and others that are providing testing for COVID-19. Some of the sites that are federally funded do not cost anything for the individual being tested. Doctors and clinicians may also provide testing at their offices.

Based on the metrics laid out last month by Governor Cooper and Secretary Cohen, officials need to continue watching the trends before announcing a shift into Phase 2.

Secretary Cohen reported North Carolina remains stable on the following key metrics:

Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days

North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is decreasing.

Trajectory of Lab-Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days

North Carolina’s trajectory of lab-confirmed cases is slightly increasing.

Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days

North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive has been decreasing and is starting to level.

Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days

North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations is level.

In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to be able to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread. These areas include:

Laboratory Testing

North Carolina has doubled the daily testing rate from approximately 2,500-3,000 to more than 6,000

Tracing Capability

The Carolina Community Tracing Collaborative has already hired close to 100 new contact tracers adding to the 250 already working at our local health departments.

Personal Protective Equipment

Supply chains continue to improve with the exception of gowns.

The Phase 1 executive Order remains in effect until 5 p.m. on Friday, May 22.

However, the end of this Order does not necessarily mean the state will move to Phase 2. Phase 2 will only start if data and indicators remain stable.

Read a copy of today’s graphs and slides.

VGCC Truck Driver Training Program Gears Back Up

May 14, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College is excited to announce that its CDL Truck Driver Training Program is back up and running.

The program, offered in collaboration with Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, has been on hold since early March when the COVID-19 pandemic forced all face-to-face classes to cease. The N.C. Community College System has made an exception to allow colleges to resume educating students in transportation courses like Truck Driver Training, in-person.

On May 11, students returned to class and to a “new normal.” Portions of the new daily routine for students include temperature checks, face masks, social distancing in trucks and on the truck practice range.

“Qualified and licensed truck drivers are essential employees, especially during these uncertain times,” said Dawn Michelle Tucker, Dean of Continuing Education and College and Career Readiness for VGCC. “We are excited to get the students back in training, so they can become licensed and employed with companies who need drivers to move goods and services across our service area and across the country.”

During the next five weeks, students will continue honing their driver training skills such as backing skills, completing pre-trip inspections and backing up to a loading dock. Students will also continue to get their miles and time on the road. All of these skills and requirements are essential in preparing them for the DOT exam in order to get their official CDL-A license and be fully employable as a truck driver.

For more information on the Truck Driver Training Program at Vance-Granville Community College, please visit www.vgcc.edu/cdl/ or contact Kyle Burwell, Director of Occupational Extension, at 252-738-3276 or burwellk@vgcc.edu.