Granville Vance Public Health Logo

COVID-19 Update: Current Numbers; Outbreak at Brantwood Nursing & Rehab

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-Information courtesy Granville Vance Public Health and the Warren County Health Department

As of June 30, 2020, there are 813 known COVID-19 cases in Granville County, 502 cases in Vance County, 160 in Warren County and 64,670 confirmed cases in North Carolina.

Granville County:

There are three outbreaks at congregate living facilities in Granville County: Federal Correctional Complex in Butner, NC, Murdoch Development Center in Butner, NC, and Central Regional Hospital in Butner, NC.

Of the cases in Granville County, 403 are associated with the prisons, five are associated with Murdoch, and two are associated with Central Regional Hospital.

Of the 403 cases in the prison system, 92 have been released from isolation and two individuals with Murdoch have been released from isolation.

Of the 403 community-based cases in Granville County, 247 have been released from isolation and six are hospitalized.

There is an outbreak at Brantwood Nursing and Rehab Center. Two staff members have tested positive but neither reside in Granville County, so they are not included in the Granville County numbers. The center is testing staff and residents regularly.

There have been a total of 21 deaths in Granville County, 19 of whom were with the Bureau of Prisons and one with Central Regional Hospital.

Vance County:

There are two active outbreaks at congregate living facilities in Vance County: Kerr Lake Nursing Home in Henderson, NC, and Senior Citizens Home in Henderson, NC.

There was also an outbreak at Pelican Health in Henderson, NC that is no longer active.

Of the cases in Vance County, 117 are associated with outbreaks at congregate living facilities including 46 cases associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home and 13 associated with Senior Citizens Home.

Of the 117 cases in congregate living facilities in Vance County, 44 have been released from isolation.

Of the 385 community-based cases in Vance County, 171 have been released from isolation.

Eleven individuals in Vance County are hospitalized.

There have been a total of 37 deaths in Vance County, 14 of whom were associated with Pelican Health and 11 of whom were associated with Kerr Lake Nursing Home.

Warren County:

There are 160 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases with one known result currently pending. Of the known positive cases, 140 are considered recovered.

No known individuals in Warren County are currently hospitalized with COVID-19.

There have been a total of five deaths in Warren County.

Health Department Information:

GVPH updates its website daily at approximately 5 p.m. with Vance and Granville COVID-19 statistics. Please visit www.gvph.org/COVID-19/ for the latest information.

GVPH also emails updates about COVID-19 in Granville and Vance counties each evening. You can sign up to receive these emails at www.gvph.org/covid-19.

Warren County Health Department provides COVID-19 updates on its Facebook page (click here). You can also view more information online at www.warrencountyhd.com.

NCDHHS

State Launches Testing Initiative for Nursing Homes

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-Press Release, NCDHHS

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) will partner with Omnicare, a CVS Health company, to make facility-wide testing available to residents and staff in all North Carolina skilled nursing facilities. There are over 400 nursing homes in the state with approximately 36,000 residents and more than 30,000 staff. Testing will begin in July and continue through August.

“We are using every tool we have to respond to COVID-19,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D. “Building on North Carolina’s early and aggressive actions to protect residents who live in long-term care settings, DHHS will pay for proactive testing of staff and residents in all nursing homes to slow the spread of COVID-19.”

NCDHHS already recommends that nursing homes with one or more cases test all staff and residents. This initiative further makes testing available to all nursing homes to conduct a baseline test of all residents and staff.

“While testing is a key component of our COVID-response strategy, it is important to remember that the actions we take as a result of that testing are most important,” said NCDHHS Section Chief of Chronic Disease and Injury, Susan Kansagra, M.D., MBA. “Testing will enable our skilled nursing facilities to identify positive cases earlier and better determine additional infection prevention and control measures necessary to contain spread.”

“At CVS Health, our testing efforts in nursing homes are just one example of the support we provide to states like North Carolina to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Jim Love, President of Omnicare. “With our expert understanding of the long-term care industry, we are deploying solutions to help these critically important health care facilities address their most significant challenges arising from the pandemic.”

CVS Health will bill insurance as possible, and NCDHHS will cover any additional costs for testing. Facilities should continue to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for repeat testing and work with the community and private vendors to support ongoing testing needs.

“We continue to work closely with the state to protect the residents and staff in our skilled nursing facilities. This testing initiative is another example of how the state is providing our facilities with valuable tools and resources,” said Adam Sholar, President and CEO of the NC Health Care Facilities Association.

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

  • Issuing Executive Order 138 which codified public health and safety requirements for long-term care facilities, including requiring staff to wear surgical masks and screenings all staff and residents for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 daily.
  • Distributing PPE to over 3,000 state-licensed long-term care facilities, including 14-day supplies of gloves, procedure masks and face shields.
  • 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 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, 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 trainings for more than 2,000 staff working in long-term care sites. Trainings are available online at www.ncahec.net/covid-19/webinars.

A list of additional guidance for long-term care facilities can be found here: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/guidance#long-term-care-facilities.

For more information about North Carolina’s response to COVID-19, visit nc.gov/covid19.

Sheriff Charles Noblin

Sheriff Noblin Offers Tips for Safe July 4th Weekend

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-Press Release, Granville County Government

With the approach of the July 4th weekend, Granville County Sheriff Charles Noblin asks all residents to join him in making this holiday a safe and enjoyable one.

Traditionally, highways experience one of the highest traffic flows of the year during the July 4th holiday. Sheriff Noblin reminds all Granville County residents to be mindful of these safety tips when driving:

  • Always shift attention every few seconds, constantly scanning the road ahead and behind. Never stare blankly ahead or fix your gaze on one point on the road.
  • When passing a vehicle, always glance at the ground beside the front wheel of the car you intend to pass. That way, you will know instantly if the car is about to veer, giving you an extra few seconds to respond.
  • Also when passing, pull out into the opposite lane of traffic while you are still well behind the car in front. This should give you some time and space to build up speed, and will enable you to pull back into your own lane, should the need arise. 
  • Never cut abruptly out of your lane into the opposite lane. Always signal your intentions with your brake lights, turn signals, horn and/or headlights so that other drivers will see you well before you change course.
  • Always “aim high” in steering, glancing frequently at points well ahead. Not only will this help in steering, but will also help check the position of vehicles in front, as well as oncoming traffic.
  • Never follow too close. Remember that, as speed increases, it takes substantially longer to stop. Also remember that it’s good to have an extra cushion of space in front if you are being tailgated, on a slippery road, or in low visibility conditions.

“I would like to remind all drivers to also practice the ‘Golden Rule’ when driving,” Sheriff Noblin said. “Be courteous and tolerant of other drivers. Let’s make this summer a safe one on our roads.”

VGCC Logo

VGCC’s 36th Annual Golf Tournament Set for September

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-Press Release, Vance-Granville Community College

Vance-Granville Community College is getting ready for its 36th Annual Endowment Fund Golf Tournament, which is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at the Henderson Country Club. The tournament was delayed from its traditional spring date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, Gupton Services, Inc., of Henderson will serve as the event’s presenting sponsor for the first time.

All proceeds from the tournament support the mission of the college and fund student scholarships. 

“Thanks to the incredible generosity of golfers and sponsors from our community, the VGCC golf tournament has raised more than a million dollars since its inception in 1985,” said VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais. “With the strong support of Gupton Services leading the way, we can look forward to another successful event that will give us more resources to support VGCC students.”

Gupton Services is a commercial roofing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) company that traces its origins back to 1921 when C.P. Tanner established a sheet metal working plant in Henderson. The business became known as Tanner Roofing and, later, Owen Gupton Roofing. Greg Etheridge, a Henderson native, became its owner and president in 2019. 

“As a local small business, we are happy to take a leadership role in the community and to support Vance-Granville Community College,” Etheridge said. “If you look at the research, the benefits of postsecondary education and skills training to both the individual and our community are enormous. The VGCC Endowment Fund helps make education affordable and accessible to this region, and we must encourage that, in order to promote economic mobility and job security for our citizens.”

Other businesses and individuals supporting the tournament include: Kilian Engineering, the morning round sponsor; Altec, the afternoon round sponsor; MR Williams of Henderson, the scoreboard sponsor; Mast Drug Company, the pharmacy sponsor; Glen Raven of Norlina, the breakfast sponsor; First Citizens Bank Investor Services of Raleigh, the lunch sponsor; Duke Energy, the dinner sponsor; Charles Boyd Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC, the car sponsor; Wester Insurance Agency of Henderson, the driving range sponsor; John Nelms, Jr., of Raleigh, the trophy sponsor; Private Wealth Management of NC of Henderson, the putting green sponsor; Durham Coca-Cola Bottling Company, the soft drink sponsor; “Vanguard Sponsors” Bridgestone Bandag Tire, Carolina Commonwealth, CertainTeed, Coldwell Banker Advantage, Henderson Fruit and Produce, K-Flex, Novozymes North America, Inc., Robling Medical, Rose Oil Company and Universal Leaf North America U.S., Inc.; “Platinum Sponsors” Core & Main, Henderson Collegiate, Union Bank and Variety Wholesalers; and Vanco Outdoor Equipment, the tractor sponsor.

Businesses and individuals can still take advantage of sponsorship opportunities at various levels. Businesses may also donate products or premium items featuring the company’s logo to be placed in golfers’ gift bags or to be given as door prizes.

This year’s morning and afternoon rounds will begin with shotgun starts at 8 a.m. and at 1 p.m. The afternoon round is sold out, but there are openings in the morning round.

The format is four-person “Captain’s Choice Super Ball.” Golfers can form their own teams of four, or sign up and be put on a team. Teams will be handicapped based on handicaps supplied by each player. Trophies will be awarded for first net, second net and first gross. Other awards will be given for “closest to the pin” and “longest drive.”

A hole-in-one on Hole 9 will be rewarded with a car, courtesy of Charles Boyd Chevrolet Cadillac Buick GMC. A player who hits a hole-in-one (with a $10 donation) on Hole 16 will win $5,000, while another $5,000 will be awarded to the VGCC Endowment Fund.

The cost for one golfer to enter the tournament is $150. That fee includes greens fees, cart, meals, gift bag and practice balls.

A light breakfast, lunch and dinner (immediately following the afternoon round) will be served in the HCC clubhouse. A silent auction and door prize drawings will be held in conjunction with dinner.

For more information, contact Kay Currin at currink@vgcc.edu or (252) 738-3409.

Brides on Wheels

Granville’s ‘Brides on Wheels’ Wedding Tour Rescheduled 

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-Press Release and photos, Granville County Government

Brides planning a 2020-2021 wedding are invited to take a scenic caravan tour of Granville County to learn more about wedding locations and resources available to help plan their special day. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was postponed from its original date in April and is now scheduled for July 26, 2020.

The day includes a stop at three wedding/reception venues (The Oaks at Oxford, Carlee Farm and Shadowing Oaks), as well as early access to a brand new venue, The Orpheum at Oxford, located in downtown Oxford. Florists, photographers, caterers, disc jockeys, rental companies, etc. will welcome brides and their guests throughout the tour as a variety of wedding service options are displayed. 

Prior to the tour, registered participants will receive the tour schedule by email/text so that they can travel to each venue in the comfort of their own vehicles. The schedule is tentative and subject to change based on statewide restrictions and guidelines for events and social gatherings. 

A number of venues have indoor and outdoor accommodations that will allow tour participants to move around freely. To ensure safety, each venue guide and vendor will wear face coverings and will practice social distancing. Each bride and guest should also wear a cloth face mask during the tour. It is also suggested that participants bring along hand sanitizer/disinfectant wipes for vehicle use. Sanitized restrooms will be available at each stop, and hand sanitizer will be provided upon entry and departure at each venue. 

This annual event is presented by the Granville Tourism Development Authority (TDA). Interested brides should register online at https://granvillebows2020.eventbrite.com.

For more information about the Brides on Wheels Tour, please visit www.brides-on-wheels.com or contact TDA Director Angela Allen by phone at (919) 693-6125 or by email at angela.allen@granvillecounty.org.

NCDHHS

NCDHHS Expands County Data; Reports COVID-19 Clusters at Schools, Child Care Settings

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-Press Release, NCDHHS

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has expanded the COVID-19 Dashboard to include expanded county data on trends, demographics and testing. The updated dashboard also includes a new report on COVID-19 clusters in child care and school settings.

The interactive NC COVID-19 Dashboard now includes county trends over time in cases and deaths, as well as demographic information on cases and deaths by race, ethnicity, sex and age. It also displays one of the key statewide metrics by county– percent of tests that are positive. Together, these data provide a more in-depth picture of COVID-19 at the county level.

Previously, testing data by county was not available because a large proportion of negative tests were reported manually and did not include county information. With more tests now being reported electronically with county data, there is now sufficient data to reliably share the percent positive by county. The dashboard will also display the number of tests that are reported electronically in each county.

There are limitations to the data. About a quarter of recent tests reported to North Carolina are not reported electronically, and some counties may be more likely to use a lab that reports electronically.

In addition to the expanded county data, the Department now provides a biweekly report on COVID-19 clusters in child care and school settings. A cluster is defined as both a minimum of five cases in the same facility within a 14-day period and plausible epidemiological linkage between cases.

The report includes the facility type (school or child care), county and the number of cases and deaths among staff and children. This information will be part of the Outbreaks and Clusters section of the Dashboard, which also includes cases and deaths at long-term care facilities, other congregate care settings. The first report of clusters in child care and school settings will be available later today.

NCDHHS will continue to assess and provide additional data as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves and more information becomes available. The dashboard can be accessed online at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard.

For more information about North Carolina’s response to COVID-19, visit nc.gov/covid19.

Granville County Public Schools

GCPS Addresses Possible Re-Entry Plans for Fall, Announces Special Called Board Meetings

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THIS STORY IS PRESENTED IN PART BY DRAKE DENTISTRY

-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools

Public School Districts throughout the state have been receiving guidance from both the DHHS and NCDPI about what school might look like on August 17, 2020. Two specific documents may be found at this link HERE. As outlined specifically in the “Lighting Our Way” document from the state, all public schools have been preparing three separate ‘re-entry’ plans for this fall.

Under Plan A, Granville County Public Schools (GCPS) would begin school with minimal social distancing. This means all students and staff would report to school, much like in a regular year, but with special safety and cleaning practices in place.

Under Plan B, GCPS would begin school with moderate social distancing. This means that only some students would physically report to school at any given time. Under this plan, school districts would have some type of alternating schedule for different groups of students. These schedules could look different at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

Under Plan C, no students would physically report to school in the fall. Instead, all learning would occur remotely, either through connected technology devices and/or hard copies of instructional materials and assignments.

Governor Roy Cooper will make an announcement by July 1, 2020, about which of these three plans will be in place for the start of the school year. School districts may choose a more restrictive plan than what he announces, but may NOT decide locally to have a less restrictive plan.

GCPS has been busy planning details for what each of these three plans will require. Plan A, which is the least restrictive, looks a lot like “regular school,” just with more cleaning and attention to the health and safety of all students and staff.

Plan C, which is the most restrictive, looks a lot like what happened in our schools this past spring. We have been working hard to plan for improvements in both the quality and range of service and support for students and families should this plan be implemented.

Plan B, of course, is in the middle. Under this plan, districts have flexibility in choosing how to create alternating schedules and services for students and their families. To date, we have more than 4,500 parent responses to the two surveys we have administered. Part of the questions on this survey will help inform our Board of Education in determining what Plan B looks like.

On Monday, June 29, our Board will be holding a special called meeting. Part of this meeting will be reserved for discussion and sharing of information about these three plans, with a specific focus on what Plan B might look like for our district.

The Board also plans to hold a special meeting on July 2, 2020, after the Governor makes his announcement, to officially vote on and approve a plan for the school district.

It is also important for GCPS families to know that if Plan A or Plan B are implemented, we realize that there are many who may not feel comfortable sending their children back to school. Some children and their family members may be at a higher risk for the virus or simply are not ready to physically return to school. If either Plan A or Plan B are put in place, we will have blended and remote learning options available for these families. We want to make sure that there are options for everyone.

Finally, we want everyone to know that regardless of which of the three plans are chosen by the Governor, we are making specific plans to provide strong support for any students with special needs. We will also be making sure to continue our meal service programs so that no children go hungry during these difficult times.

We thank you for your support and patience and will continue to provide updates with any new information or decisions as they are made. We are all, indeed, in this together!

VGCC Food Industry Webinar

Reminder: VGCC Small Business Center Offering Free Food & Beverage Industry Webinars

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-Information courtesy the Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center

The Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center announces the newest FREE training series of webinars.  This 12-week series aims to help those in the food industry navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you’re in the restaurant or food shop business, you know that a normal day is no longer normal. There are a multitude of new tasks, service limitations, sanitizing requirements and customer expectations. This series is designed to help navigate your new normal so that your business can reopen with confidence.

Sessions will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays, June 22 through July 29, 2020, from 9 until 10:30 a.m.

Sessions include:

  1. CDC Guidelines for Reopening Your Food & Beverage Business
  2. Keeping Your Restaurant Employees and Customers Safe While Dealing With a Pandemic
  3. Learn How to Step Up Your Customer Service Game in Your Food Business in the Era of COVID-19
  4. Tips & Tricks to Market Your Food & Beverage Business
  5. The Magic of Upselling in the Food & Beverage World
  6. Using Social Media to Promote Your Restaurant or Food Business
  7. Communicating Effectively to Your Employees – Food & Beverage Business
  8. Leaders vs. Managers – Food & Beverage Teams
  9. How to Deal With Difficult People in the Food & Beverage Industry
  10. Building Your Food & Beverage Business Around Your Community
  11. Improving the Physical Image, Layout and Presentation of Your Food & Beverage Business
  12. Angry Food & Beverage Customers Can Actually Become Your Best Friends

Register by 12 p.m. the day before the event at www.vgcc.edu/coned/small-business-center/#schedules

For more information, contact the VGCC Small Business Center at smallbusiness@vgcc.edu

Granville County Public Schools

Granville Co. Board of Education to Discuss Budget Amendments, School Re-Entry Plans

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-Information courtesy Granville County Public Schools

The Granville County Board of Education will meet for a Special Meeting on Monday, June 29, 2020, at 4 pm.

The purpose of this meeting is for the Board of Education to consider year-end budget amendments, consider technology purchases, receive updated budget information as requested, and receive updates on school re-entry plans for the upcoming school year.

However, due to the current statewide State of Emergency, and in order to protect the health and safety of board members, staff and the public, this meeting will be conducted electronically, with members of the public invited to view the live stream.

To join the live stream meeting, please use the following link:

https://live.myvrspot.com/player?udi=Z3Nj&c=Z3JhbnZpbGxlMQ%3D%3D

The Board will also meet in Closed Session in accordance with N.C. General Statute 143.318.11 (a)(6), 143-318.11 (a)(3), 143.318.11 (a)(5) and Section 115C-321 for Personnel, and Attorney/Client Privilege.

To view the agenda for this meeting, please click here.

Families Living Violence Free

Families Living Violence Free Presents Domestic Violence Lunch & Learn Series

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-Information courtesy Families Living Violence Free

Families Living Violence Free (FLVF) invites the public to join its six-week Domestic Violence 101 Lunch & Learn series online via Zoom. Sessions will be held from 12 until 1 p.m. each Wednesday beginning July 8 and concluding August 12, 2020.

Sessions Include:

July 8, 2020 – Understanding Domestic Violence

July 15, 2020 – Why Victims Stay in Abusive Relationships

July 22, 2020 – Domestic Violence and the Effects on Children

July 29, 2020 – When Loving You is Hurting Me

August 5, 2020 – Healthy Relationships

August 12, 2020 – Personal Boundaries

Please visit FLVF’s website at www.flvf.org or call (919) 693-5700 to register. The link to each week’s Zoom session will be available on the FLVF website.