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Henderson-Vance Emergency Management Director Brian Short has released the latest situation report, and included in it is information about Vance County’s first positive Coronavirus case.

In an adjoining press release from Granville-Vance District Health Department Director Lisa Harrison, she wrote, “There is one confirmed case of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) that we know of in Vance County. The affected person is currently in isolation at home and has cooperated with the restrictions since being tested. Local public health officials will notify individuals if they may have been at risk of being in contact.”

Short wrote in his latest local situation report, “Today, we had our first instance of an individual who tested positive for the Coronavirus in Vance County. The individual is being isolated at home and our local health department is conducting contact tracing to determine the level of exposure to others. This was anticipated and presently does not constitute any changes to our current response posture or our recommendations to the general public.”

The case count is above 250 in North Carolina, but the death count is zero.  You can track information online.  Short wrote, “Please visit the NC Department of Health and Human Services Coronavirus statistics page at the following link to stay current on the number of cases in our state: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/covid-19-case-count-nc.”

Harrison wrote, “Both Granville and Vance County’s first cases are considered community spread – neither one has traveled out of North Carolina recently that we know of at this time.”

The local health department and health care professionals continue to work tirelessly to identify cases through testing, tracking the cases and notifying the public while maintaining the privacy of the individual patients.

Being smart, practicing good hygiene and limiting unnecessary trips is the guidance right now regardless of the number of positive cases in the local community.

“Personal protective equipment (PPE) continues to be very scarce as global competition for the same supplies is occurring. Responders and health care providers are being encouraged to reuse PPE, in particular masks as often as possible to ensure that we hold on to our supplies for as long as possible. Once they run out, they could be out for an extended period of time,” Short wrote.

Henderson and Vance County remain under a local State of Emergency, a necessary precaution which allows implementation of certain emergency protective measures if and when they should become necessary.

Based on press releases from the respective agencies, both the Henderson Police Department and Vance County Sheriff’s Office are responding to nonemergency calls via telephone.  Both arms of the local law enforcement community are still responding as they always have to emergency calls.

Short concluded his local situation report as follows:

“We continue to encourage our citizens as they shop for groceries and other related items to please shop smart. Our local convenience stores and grocery stores and working hard to restock their shelves and for the most part, items are available for them to do so, however we have to allow them to do that. That means using good shopping practices and buying only what you need for yourself and your family.

“We are strongly encouraging our citizens to continue to observe the social distancing parameters being order by the Governor and suggested by our local and state public health agencies. If you need to go to work, the grocery store, pharmacy or other necessary trip, please do so but we are encouraging everyone to stay home as much as they possibly can. In particular those individuals that are already at risk due to age or other medical conditions.

“Many of our local restaurants have been very creative about continuing to provide their services to our citizens whether it be keeping their drive through services open, offering online ordering or curbside services and this is greatly appreciated.”

Harrison wrote, “Please rely on accurate sources of information from the CDC (www.cdc.gov) and State Division of Public Health (https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina) as well as your own local public health officials. Granville Vance Public Health will provide the most up-to-date and accurate information for COVID-19 in our district online at https://gvph.org/.”

GVPH included the following additional information in the press release from Harrison:

“Although we have enough sample test kits to work with those who are showing symptoms of illness, we do not have the supplies to test everyone at this point. Dr. Guthrie, Granville Vance Public Health Medical Director, offers a reminder there are things we can all do to stay protected from COVID-19:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a generous amount of hand sanitizer, with at least 60% alcohol, on all surfaces of the hands and wrists.
• Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Disinfect surfaces – especially ones that are frequently touched – using household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
• Listen to the advice about social distancing and reducing the spread of this virus – we all have a part to play and staying home is a simple way to reduce spread.
• Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Understand things are changing quickly and everyone is still learning.

“What to do and when to seek medical evaluation and advice:

• If you or a family member has fever AND lower respiratory symptoms (cough or difficulty breathing), call your healthcare provider first. The person who tested positive in Vance did all the right things – called first, was able to prepare the provider for testing and everyone addressing the patient was able to remain at low-risk for exposure in the situation. That is the ideal way to ask for a test – to talk through it first – and that is what we ask of everyone.
• Emergency rooms need to be able to serve the most critically ill so do not use the Emergency Room unless you are very sick. Emergency warning signs include, but are not limited to: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; Persistent pain or pressure in the chest; New confusion or inability to arouse; Bluish lips or face
• Only call 9-1-1 if you are having an emergency.
• You may call the statewide Coronavirus Helpline if you have questions at 1-866-462-3821, which is answered 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.”