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-Information courtesy Franklin County Government
As noted previously in prior communication, on Friday, 4/24/2020, the Franklin County Health Department (FCHD) received positive coronavirus test–results for two (2) employees. Those two (2) employees do not serve as healthcare providers within the department. Also as previously noted, on Friday 4/24/2020 a total of 48 Health Department staff had samples collected and submitted for coronavirus testing.
As a precaution, the FCHD was disinfected on Saturday, 4/25/2020, and as of this current release, the Department is remaining closed for regular business from 4/27/2020 until operations resume on Monday 5/4/2020, at 8 a.m.
The Health Department has received the results for all staff tested on Friday 4/24/2020, and those results indicate that an additional four (4) staff have tested positive, bringing the current total of Health Department Employees with positive test results to six (6). None of the Health Department‘s now six (6) total positive employees are healthcare providers.
The Franklin County Health Department continues to conduct Contact Tracing for COVID-19, so any individual suspected of being exposed to the coronavirus will be notified by Health Department staff and given specific instructions on what they need to do next.
Out of an abundance of caution, the Health Department is adopting a stringent response to this current situation. As of the date and time of this release, the following Health Department programs will be closed from Monday 4/27/2020 until they re–open on Monday, 5/4/2020:
- All clinical services;
- Care Management Services (clients may call their workers for call–back); and
- WIC (clients may call for assistance).
After consultations with NCDHHS, the Health Department has been approved to move forward with the following plan for our CLINICAL closures this week:
- Clinic patients provided with the option of receiving some mandated services at our neighboring counties’ Health Departments;
- Patients given the option to receive services at other healthcare providers both inside and outside the county. Patients whose appointments were canceled are being notified and those appointments will be rescheduled.
Environmental Health Services (septic, wells, food & lodging inspections, etc.) and the Franklin County Home Health Agency services will continue to operate remotely (as they have been doing for some time). Limited drop–off service will be available for Environmental Health needs.
For the week of 4/27/2020 through 5/1/2020, only critical Health Department employees with a negative test and no current symptoms (i.e. with no fever as verified by temperature checks three–times per day) have returned to work to continue the County‘s Emergency Operations Center and to complete contact investigations. The Health Department will resume all services on Monday, 5/4/2020.
Look for more updates from the Franklin COVID–19 EOC as more information becomes available.