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GVPH Director Discusses Spike in COVID Cases Ahead of the Holidays

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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.

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