Local News - WIZS

Six Deaths Reported in Second COVID Outbreak at Senior Citizens Home

November 20, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

According to information provided by Granville Vance Public Health (GVPH), six recent COVID-19 related deaths associated with the current outbreak at Senior Citizens Home in Henderson, NC have been reported. A 90-year-old female, an 86-year-old female and an 88-year-old male passed away on November 17, 2020. A 97-year-old female, a 99-year-old female and an 80-year-old female passed away on November 18, 2020.

Additionally, GVPH provided the following update for COVID-19 spread and response in Granville and Vance County as of November 19, 2020. Granville Vance Public Health numbers correlate with the NC Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NCEDSS) data.

The county case numbers reported on the NC county map from the NC Department of Health and Human Services may differ from the ones reported locally as they are updated at different times and may change once residence is verified.

Vance County

Total Cases: 1,494
Active Cases: 335

Total Cases in Community: 1,329
Active Cases: 299
Cases Off-Isolation: 1,010

Total Cases at Long-Term Care Facilities: 165
Active Cases: 36
Cases Off-Isolation: 95

There is currently an outbreak at Senior Citizens Home.

Total Hospitalized with COVID-19: 12

Total Deaths: 54
Community: 20
Pelican Nursing Home: 14
Kerr Lake Nursing Home: 12
Senior Citizens Home: 8

Granville County

Total Cases: 2,361
Active Cases: 249

Total Cases in Community: 1,648
Active Cases: 218
Cases Off-Isolation: 1,422

Total Cases at Federal Prison: 531
Active Cases: 4
Cases Off-Isolation: 505

Total Cases at Long-Term Care Facilities: 182
Active Cases: 27
Cases Off-Isolation: 130

There are currently outbreaks at Central Regional Hospital, Murdoch Development Center and Granville House.

Total Hospitalized with COVID-19: 4

Total Deaths: 55
Community: 8
Central Regional: 1
Granville House: 1
Murdoch Development Center: 2
Universal Health Care: 21
Federal Prison: 22

Additional Information

The number of those who have been ‘released from isolation’ is determined by the CDC Guidance for discontinuation of isolation for persons with COVID-19.

Please visit GVPH’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard (click here) for tables and graphs that are updated daily.

GVPH Conducts COVID Testing Daily, Provides Important Reminders

November 20, 2020/by WIZS Staff

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Granville Vance Public Health

UPDATE: North Carolina continues to prioritize increased access to testing, along with expanded contact tracing capacity to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Granville Vance Public Health (GVPH) offers testing for community members who have symptoms of COVID-19; for those who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive; or for those who believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19, whether or not they have symptoms.

As a reminder, although many have and can spread COVID-19 with no symptoms, symptoms of COVID-19 can include one or more of the following: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, and congestion or runny nose.

A close contact is defined as anyone who was within six feet of an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more. Given the incubation period of Coronavirus, if you are a contact and are not experiencing any symptoms, it is recommended that you wait at least six days after your first known exposure to COVID-19 to get tested.

Additionally, you may have been unknowingly exposed to COVID-19 if you’re a frontline or essential worker; if you’ve attended a gathering with family, friends, or others who live outside your home; if you’ve dined indoors at a restaurant; or if you’ve attended large public or private events. If you believe you may have been exposed, we recommend you get tested. We can bill your insurance, or, if you are uninsured, we can provide a medical evaluation and testing for COVID-19 at no cost.

GVPH conducts testing every morning. In order to make an appointment for testing, please call us in Granville at (919) 693-2141 or Vance at (252) 492-7915. If someone has symptoms, we can offer telemedicine visits to provide a medical evaluation which would be recommended at that time.

Additionally, GVPH continues to work with our partners to support community-based testing events and other targeted efforts to help us reach historically marginalized populations and groups at higher risk of exposure. There are several other providers offering testing in our communities. To find out more about available testing locations near you, visit the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Find My Testing Place tool and the Check My Symptoms tool to determine if you will be recommended to be tested, both of which can be found at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/symptoms.

If you test positive for COVID-19 or believe you might have it, you should stay home and separate yourself from other people in the home as much as possible. If you test negative for COVID-19, that does not mean you will not get sick in the future, as you could turn positive within 14 days of exposure. You could also be exposed to COVID-19 after the test and then get infected and spread the virus to others. Therefore, the most important thing you can do to slow the spread of COVID-19 is to follow the 3 Ws: wait 6 feet away from others, wear a cloth face covering and wash your hands.

County Boards of Elections Complete Post-Election Audits

November 19, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, NC State Board of Elections

As a statewide recount for a North Carolina Supreme Court contest begins in North Carolina, all 100 county boards of elections recently completed hand-to-eye audits for the 2020 general election, an important step in confirming accurate election results.

Pursuant to state law, the bipartisan county boards conduct a hand-to-eye audit of ballots from randomly selected voting groups. In a presidential election like 2020, the audited contest is always the president of the United States.

The audit is a comparison of the machine counts of ballots with hand-to-eye counts to ensure voting equipment recorded voters’ choices accurately. The voting systems and software of two companies – ES&S and Hart InterCivic – are certified for use in North Carolina. All counties use voting equipment from one of those companies.

Statewide, more than 150 Election Day precincts and 30 early voting sites were audited. Also, more than a dozen counties conducted a hand-to-eye audit of all mail-in absentee ballots.

Of the 200 voting groups audited, only 13 audits found any difference between the machine count and the human count, and all discrepancies were three votes or fewer. Most differences were attributed to human error, such as a voter marking outside of the bubble, or to human error during the hand count itself.

“We are glad to see that no significant issues were found during the audit,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “This successful audit is a testament to our elections officials and to the elections equipment used throughout the state. North Carolinians can be confident that their votes count.”

The State Board of Elections office conducts a series of post-election audits and investigations, where necessary, to ensure the integrity of election results. For more information on election security and audits, visit Post-Election Procedures and Audits.

The State Board will certify statewide results for most federal, statewide, multi-district and judicial contests during the state canvass at 11 a.m. Tuesday, November 24. Results in each contest are not considered official until certified by the State Board.

After state canvass, the board of elections with jurisdiction over each contest will issue a certificate of election to the prevailing candidate.

Register Now: ‘Backyard Ag’ Online Series for New Farmers

November 19, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Information courtesy Paul McKenzie, Agricultural Extension Agent, NC Cooperative Extension

Living on a small farm is a dream shared by many, but the reality can be overwhelming. Those new to farming face the daunting tasks of building infrastructure, figuring out what to grow, negotiating tax and regulatory issues, estimating costs and much more.

Fortunately, N.C. Cooperative Extension has a seven-part online class that will put you on the path to success. This class series, called Backyard Ag: Taking it to the Next Level, is brought to you by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Centers of Person, Granville, Vance and Warren counties.

Class participants will learn about options for small acreages, government assistance programs, business planning, marketing, equipment basics and much more.

The series will begin on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, at 1 p.m. The class will continue on alternate Wednesdays through February 24, 2021. Each class will be held on the Zoom video conference platform, which can be accessed from any internet-connected computer, tablet or smartphone.

Presenters will include local Ag Extension Agents, as well as representatives from other ag-related agencies. Registration is required and can be completed online at http://go.ncsu.edu/backyardag201.

Reminder: Granville’s Drive-Through ‘Fall Clean Out’ Disposal Event This Weekend

November 19, 2020/by WIZS Staff

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Granville County Government

On November 21, 2020, residents of Granville County can bring recyclable and hazardous household items to the Expo and Convention Center in Oxford as the annual “Fall Clean Out” is held from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Due to statewide health requirements, this year’s event will be a drive-through, with assistance provided at each designated station.

On-site to collect items for recycling and safe disposal will be the following vendors:

Veolia – will be collecting paint, paint-related materials, household cleaners, old gasoline, drain cleaners, fluorescent light tubes and other hazardous household materials;
N.C. Department of Agriculture – will be accepting pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, weed killers, etc.;
Shred Ace – will be providing on-site document shredding;
Interstate Batteries – will be collecting car batteries, motorcycle/boat batteries, lithium/lithium-ion batteries, hearing aid and watch batteries, etc.; and
Granville County Sheriff’s Office – will be collecting medications, inhalers, sharps, diabetic supplies, ammunition, flares and fireworks.

In addition, scrap metal such as junk lawnmowers, broken appliances, bicycles and metal furniture will be accepted, as well as electronics (computers, televisions, laptops, printers, etc.) for recycling.

The Granville County Humane Society will also be on-site to accept donations of pet supplies, dog and cat food, leashes, collars, crates, pet beds, kitty litter and towels.

Last year’s event resulted in the collection of 6,200 pounds of paint, more than 700 pounds of pesticides/fungicides/herbicides, 3,100 pounds of electronics, 3,000 pounds of scrap metal, 5,000 pounds of shredded paper, 2,900 pounds of household chemicals and many more household items.

“We appreciate everyone’s efforts in keeping these harmful items out of the community and the environment,” said Teresa Baker, Granville County Recycling and Sustainability Coordinator.

For more details, contact Baker at (919) 725-1417 or at bakertd@gcs.k12.nc.us.

Duke Energy Awards $1 Million in Grants for Social Justice & Racial Equity

November 18, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Information courtesy Tanya Evans, District Manager, Duke Energy

Duke Energy is taking another positive step to advance social justice and racial equity in North Carolina. The Duke Energy Foundation announced the recipients of $1 million in grants for nonprofit organizations working for social justice and racial equity.

In July, Duke Energy committed to an annual social justice and racial equity grant cycle for at least three years in the state.

Local recipients include:

Project Momentum – Reducing disparate outcomes

“Project Momentum Inc. (PMI) is extremely appreciative to have been selected as a recipient of the Duke Energy Foundation social justice and racial equity grant. This opportunity will allow us to recreate the narrative among local community-based organizations by educating and implementing practical solutions to address equity, diversity, and inclusion in day-to-day practices,” said Mysha Wynn, founder and executive director, Project Momentum.

Region K Community Assistance Corporation – Civic engagement

“The Kerr-Tar Council of Governments/Region K Community Assistance Corporation serves a diverse group of citizens, and has for years,” said Vance County Commissioner Leo Kelly Jr., Chairman of the Board. “The funds provided by the Duke Energy Foundation will be used to train member governments’ elected, Vance Co. boards, and citizen advisory commissions in our region on social justice and racial equity, which we feel is integral to the functionality of our organization and region. By providing this type of training from a regional entity, we hope to bring about greater cultural awareness and sensitivity of diverse groups living within the Kerr-Tar region. On behalf of the Board, I’m extremely pleased that our office seeks out such grants to benefit our region.”

Freedom Organization – Reducing disparate outcomes

“On behalf of the Freedom Organization, I want to thank the Duke Energy Foundation. We are grateful for its support. We look forward to advancing efforts in social justice and racial equity within our community by creating agency for Black and POC residents in North Carolina,” said Marquetta Dickens, CEO, Freedom Organization.

In addition to these grants, employees also have the opportunity to support local organizations through the Duke Energy Foundation’s matching grant program, Dollars4Good, as well as its Hours4Good program, which enables employees to earn grants for volunteer hours logged.

Duke Energy also recognizes the incredible hardship our customers are facing during the global pandemic, and the Duke Energy Foundation has made significant grants to support our communities through hunger relief and bill assistance funding. We are proud to support organizations who are working tirelessly on the behalf of communities in our region such as:

County Outreach Ministry
Caswell Parrish
Backpack Buddies Person Co
Christian Help Center
ACIM
Vance County United Way
A Touch of the Fathers Love Ministry and Food Bank
Loaves & Fishes Ministry
Rachel’s Pantry – Elm City Missionary Baptist Church
The Caswell Fund
United Way of the Tar River Region
Warren County DSS
Halifax Community College – Patriot Fund

Painting Honors Granville’s First African-American Librarian

November 18, 2020/by WIZS Staff

THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Granville County Government

The Granville County Library System has announced the completed commission for an oil portrait of Maude Lassiter, the first African-American librarian in Granville County. Painted by artist Stephen Cefalo of Raleigh, NC, the portrait will soon be on permanent display at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford.

A native of the Jonathan Creek community, Lassiter was born on Sept. 12, 1892, and was a longtime educator in Granville County, having earned degrees in School Administration and Religion from North Carolina Central University, Shaw University and Atlanta University.

An oil portrait of Maude Lassiter, the first African-American librarian in Granville County, will soon be on permanent display at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford. Painting by artist Stephen Cefalo of Raleigh, NC.

In 1942, she was hired as a librarian at the Granville Street Library, the county’s first library for people of color. This was a position she would hold for more than 23 years. During her tenure, she is credited with introducing literature and knowledge to many people of the community, as well as for bringing luminaries Mordecai Wyatt Johnson, John Hope Franklin and Langston Hughes to the area.

The impact of Mrs. Lassiter’s contributions to the community and to education are still being felt today.

Juanita Rogers, Head Chair of the Granville County Library System’s Board of Trustees, remembers Lassiter as being “the essence of kindness, caring and dignity” and the Granville Street Library as being a place that was “quiet and conducive to reading” throughout her childhood and teen years.

“Maude Lassiter’s leadership embraced an ambitious vision for the future of many children of color who were exposed to her skillful guidance and lectures in communication, stressing that ‘reading was the key to knowledge,’” Rogers recalls.

“The library offered a variety of books and periodicals from different academic disciplines. There I enjoyed reading ‘Ebony,’ ‘Jet,’ ‘Life’ and ‘Time’ magazines. Some of the outstanding African-American newspapers were ‘The Journal and Guide,’ ‘The African-American,’ ‘The Carolinian’ and the ‘Carolina Times.’ Mrs. Lassiter’s bold and patient leadership encouraged young people from Oxford and Granville County to venture out in life in various positions and careers.”

Lassiter was also active in over a dozen community organizations and was particularly noted for her dedication to the First Baptist Church of Oxford. After four decades of public service and a lasting devotion to her community’s right to education and information, Lassiter retired in 1966 and died five years later. She is buried at the Plummer Cheatham Memorial Park in Oxford.

Andrew Maloney, Branch Manager of the Richard H. Thornton Library, notes that a ribbon-cutting and reception to unveil the painting are now in the planning stages; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the date and time have not yet been determined.

“This painting was a collaborative effort by our staff to honor Maude Lassiter, a trailblazing woman who excelled in a field that had low black representation, in a state that was extremely segregated,” Maloney said. “We hope that this commission will also contribute to the representation of significant black citizens in our local history today, where they are often forgotten.”

Additional details about Maude Lassiter’s life and the history of the library she so skillfully directed are available through the North Carolina Room of the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford. Those interested in learning more can also contact North Carolina Room Specialist Mark Pace at (919) 693-1121.

For more information about artist Stephen Cefalo, please visit his website at stephencefalo.com.

GRRO Announces Free COVID-19 Testing, Food Box Distribution This Week

November 18, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Information courtesy Green Rural Redevelopment, Inc.

Green Rural Redevelopment, Inc. (GRRO), along with partners Cardinal Innovations and Groundwater Solutions, is hosting a series of COVID-19 testing events this week.

Testing times and locations are as follows:

Franklinton

Wednesday, November 18 ~ 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Franklinton Middle School Parking Lot

224 Rams Way

Franklinton, NC 27525

Rocky Mount

Thursday, November 19 ~ 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Word Tabernacle Church (Impact Center Building)

821 Word Plaza

Rocky Mount, NC 27804

Oxford

Friday, November 20 ~ 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Granville County Expo & Convention Center

4185 U.S Highway 15

Oxford, NC 27565

Henderson

Tuesday, November 24 ~ 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Elks Lodge

326 W. Rockspring St

Henderson, NC 27536

Like GRRO’s testing events last month, these events will be conducted as low/no contact drive-up services. People who get the free COVID-19 test will also receive a free family box of food, PPE and information on resources to help them through the pandemic.

NC’s New COVID County Alert System Codes Vance, Warren ‘Substantial’ Spread

November 18, 2020/by WIZS Staff

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

Governor Roy Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) announced a new COVID-19 County Alert System to pinpoint counties with the highest levels of viral spread and offer specific recommendations to bring numbers down.

This system will help give local leaders another tool to understand how their county is faring and to make decisions about actions to slow viral spread. The map will be updated every four weeks (click here).

“By pinpointing counties with high virus transmission and asking everyone in those counties to work with us and do more right now to slow the spread of the virus, we can succeed,” Governor Cooper said. “It can help bring down their case rates, keep their communities safer, save lives and keep their hospital systems working.”

“It’s going to take all of us working together to avoid tightening restrictions like so many states are now doing,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen. “The COVID-19 County Alert System gives North Carolinians an easy way to see how their county is doing and know what they can do protect their family and neighbors and slow the spread of this virus.”

The system uses metrics informed by the White House Coronavirus Task Force and North Carolina’s key metrics to categorize counties into three tiers:

Yellow: Significant Community Spread

Orange: Substantial Community Spread

Red: Critical Community Spread

Because no one metric provides a complete picture, the COVID-19 County Alert System uses a combination of three metrics: case rate, the percent of tests that are positive, and hospital impact within the county.

To be assigned to the red or orange tier, a county must meet the threshold for case rate for that tier AND the threshold for either percent positive OR hospital impact.

Case Rate: The number of new cases in 14 days per 100,000 people
Percent Positive: The percent of tests that are positive over 14 days
Hospital Impact: A composite score based on the impact that COVID-19 has had on hospitals including percent of COVID-19 hospitalizations, COVID-19 related visits to the Emergency Department, staffed open hospital beds, and critical staffing shortages over 14 days

Counties that do not meet the criteria for red or orange are categorized as being in the yellow tier (significant community spread) and should continue to be vigilant to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

Locally, Vance and Warren counties are coded orange for substantial community spread, while Warren and Franklin counties are coded yellow for significant community spread (as of Nov. 17, 2020).

Vance County has a 9.1% 14-Day Percent Positive rate; 464.8 14-Day Case Rate Per 100,000 and a moderate hospital impact.

Granville County has a 5% 14-Day Percent Positive rate; 355.7 14-Day Case Rate Per 100,000 and a low hospital impact.

Warren County has a 7.3% 14-Day Percent Positive rate; 299 14-Day Case Rate Per 100,000 and a moderate hospital impact.

Franklin County has a 6.8% 14-Day Percent Positive rate; 302.8 14-Day Case Rate Per 100,000 and a low hospital impact.

The Alert System includes recommendations for individuals, businesses, community organizations and public officials in every county, as well as specific stepped-up recommendations for orange and red counties.

To read more and see Frequently Asked Questions, visit the alert page.

GVPH Director Discusses Spike in COVID Cases Ahead of the Holidays

November 17, 2020/by Kelly Bondurant

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health

Granville Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison told WIZS News that the local spike in COVID-19 cases is the highest Vance and Granville counties have seen since the pandemic began. According to the latest GVPH data, there are currently 271 reported active cases in Vance County and 202 in Granville County.

“I worry the most about Thanksgiving and families getting together and not practicing public health recommendations to stay safe and keep their family and friends safe,” said Harrison. “There are ways to still get together, but people have to be really careful: wear their masks, not eat around one table together and, if it’s nice out, be outside as much as possible. This will be hard. I expect another spike in the weeks following Thanksgiving.”

If you decide to host or attend a holiday gathering, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of spreading COVID-19. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) provides the following steps to Celebrate Thanksgiving Safely (click here).

It is strongly recommended that people not participate in traditional Black Friday shopping events that can create large crowds and increase the risk of spreading COVID-19. Here are some guidelines for Safer Black Friday Shopping.

Colleges and universities have seen cases and clusters of COVID-19 throughout the fall semester. While the holidays are a time when families and others gather together, you should be careful and take steps to prevent the spread of the virus while you’re on break. Here are some guidelines for Safer Holiday Breaks.

The following is an update for COVID-19 spread and response in Granville and Vance County as of November 16, 2020. Granville Vance Public Health numbers correlate with the NC Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NCEDSS) data.

The county case numbers reported on the NC county map from the NC Department of Health and Human Services may differ from the ones reported locally as they are updated at different times and may change once residence is verified.

Granville County

2,311 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 2,311, 1,606 are community-spread cases located across Granville County. Of those 1,606, 1,404 have been released from isolation.

Of those 2,311, 531 cases are affiliated with the prison system in Granville County, and 505 of those 531 have been released from isolation.

Of those 2,311, 174 are associated with outbreaks at long-term care facilities, including 58 at Murdoch Development Center, 95 at Universal Health Care and 17 at Granville House.

The outbreaks at Central Regional Hospital and Brantwood are no longer active.

Of the 174 cases in long-term care facilities in Granville County, 130 have been released from isolation.

Seven individuals in Granville County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 55 deaths in Granville County: eight in the community, one associated with Central Regional Hospital, one associated with Granville House, two associated with Murdoch Development Center, 21 associated with Universal Health Care, and 22 associated with the Bureau of Prisons Federal Correctional Complex.

Unfortunately, there has been a recent death associated with Granville House. A 74-year-old white female passed away on November 16.

Vance County

1,418 positive test results for COVID-19.

Of those 1,418, 1,263 are community-spread cases located across Vance County. Of those 1,263, 992 have been released from isolation.

Of those 1,418, 155 are associated with outbreaks at congregate living facilities, including 47 at Senior Citizens Home. Senior Citizens is currently experiencing a second outbreak.

The outbreaks at Kerr Lake Nursing Home, Alliance Rehabilitative Care and Pelican Health Nursing Home are no longer active.

Of the 155 cases in congregate living facilities in Vance County, 95 have been released from isolation.

Twelve individuals in Vance County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 48 deaths in Vance County: 14 associated with the Pelican Health nursing home outbreak, 12 associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home, two associated with Senior Citizens Home, and 20 in the community.

Unfortunately, there has been another death in the community: a 74-year-old white male passed away on November 15.

Additional Information

The number of those who have been ‘released from isolation’ is determined by the CDC Guidance for discontinuation of isolation for persons with COVID-19.

Please visit GVPH’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard (click here) for tables and graphs that are updated daily, including a seven-day rolling average, as well as new cases by day for each county graphed.