WIZS Local Noon News 12-23-20; Local Covid Vaccine
WIZS Local News Audio at Noon 12-23-20
- Local Covid
- Local Covid Vaccine
- Perry Memorial Library
- Possible severe weather Christmas Eve, storms, wind
For the news audio, click play…
Tag Archive for: #covid
5.4 Percent of Vance County’s Population Has Tested Covid Positive
The total number of Covid cases in Vance County since the pandemic began equals 2,406 as of today, December 22, 2020, and that means 5.4 percent of the population of Vance County has been diagnosed with the virus. The 883 active cases of Covid-19 right now in Vance County represents 1.98 percent of the population of the County.
Vance County has seen a net increase of 115 cases in a week or just over 16 per day. In the past seven days, the County has experienced a total increase of 214 cases. During the same seven-day period, beginning December 16 and ending December 22, a total of 99 cases have come to an end with the person being released from isolation.
As of Tuesday, December 22, 2020, there are 883 active cases in Vance County, with 873 of them in the community at large. With the community spread increasing, the number of dead is increasing too, three more attributed to Covid in the past week.
The number of cases calling for inpatient care in Vance County is holding steady at 23, of which the lower twenties has been the figure most of December.
Governor Cooper Gives COVID-19 County Alert Update
— press release courtesy of North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and his office
Gov. Cooper Calls on North Carolinians to Stay Vigilant this Holiday Season
More than 90 percent of North Carolina counties now in the red or orange zone; Vaccines continue to be distributed to communities around the state
Today, Governor Roy Cooper and Secretary of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen shared updates on the COVID-19 County Alert System, warning that more than 90 percent of North Carolina counties are now designated as red or orange.
“North Carolina needs to drive down our numbers. To do that, we all need to change our holiday plans if you haven’t already,” Governor Cooper said. “The best and safest option is to connect virtually or by phone. But if you gather in-person, keep it small and do it outside. Get a COVID-19 test before you go. Spread out the tables and chairs. Follow the modified Stay at Home Order and be home by 10 PM. And, always, always wear a mask.”
The County Alert System uses COVID-19 case rates, the percent of tests that are positive and hospital impact within the county to categorize counties into the following tiers:
- Yellow: Significant Community Spread
- Orange: Substantial Community Spread
- Red: Critical Community Spread
There are currently 65 red counties, 27 orange counties and only 8 yellow counties. Read the updated report to see where each county stands and how the alert system was designed.
“The county alert map shows how quickly things can escalate. As you think about the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays please avoid traveling and gathering. If you absolutely must, get tested ahead of time, wear a mask all the time, keep it small and keep it outdoors,” said Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D.
Governor Cooper and Dr. Cohen also highlighted updates on North Carolina’s distribution of two COVID-19 vaccines. The state expects to receive approximately 60,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 176,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine. The Moderna vaccine does not require ultra-cold storage and is slated to go to 59 hospitals and 97 local health department sites.
Governor Cooper and health officials warned against traveling and large gatherings ahead of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. The Governor also reminded people that the statewide mask mandate and Modified Stay at Home Order requiring people to be home between 10 PM and 5 AM will still be in effect through the holidays until at least January 8, 2021
Pastor Joseph Casteel from First United Methodist Church in Roanoke Rapids and Reverend James White from Christ Our King Community Church in Raleigh joined today’s briefing to discuss how critical it is for communities of faith to follow the safety measures while celebrating. They stress that the most important thing people can do for their communities this Christmas is taking the steps necessary to protect their communities, even if that means pausing or adapting traditions.
“The opportunity for you and your family to remain safe, an opportunity not to put anyone else at risk and, the freedom for you to choose the time for meaningful worship that works for you. It’s a win-win. There will be a myriad of online opportunities for meaningful worship. It will be okay,” Pastor Joseph Casteel said.
“Pastors, Rabbis and other faith leaders are often expected to have words of hope. Maybe we are all appropriately lost for words. What is most needed are actions and perspectives that will lead to life now and in the future,” Rev. James White said. “Perhaps we all need to figure out how to create celebrations in the midst of limitations. This is not as impossible as it may sound.”
The CDC is encouraging people to avoid traveling for the holidays. If continuing to gather, state officials urge North Carolinians to keep get togethers small and outside with social distancing and masks. People can also get a COVID-19 test ahead of gathering.
Read the full holiday guidance from NCDHHS.
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Vance County EMS Has Itself Reached Out For Help
Vance County Management, on behalf of the Vance County EMS Department, has reached out to the state to ask for a strike team. The problem is positive COVID cases.
Vance County Manager Jordan McMillen told WIZS News, “We are working through a number of positive COVID cases in our EMS department as is the case in the general public and as a result additional EMS employees have been put on quarantine and sick leave reducing the number of available EMTs and Paramedics. We are working with our in-county first responders and neighboring counties to fill in any gaps…” He said the purpose of reaching out was “to make arrangements from across the state should we need additional assistance down the line.”
Vance County has already heard back from agencies from neighboring counties and beyond, and McMillen said, “…We are doing our best to work through the situation. We have also had a number of off duty firefighters who are willing to step up and assist as well. I wouldn’t say we are at crisis level, but we are doing what we need to stay ahead of it as best we can and to get our folks who are working long hours some relief.”
Vance County EMS was recently selected as a 2020 Mission Lifeline Award recipient by the American Heart Association. On Wednesday, Sept 23, 2020, County Manager Jordan McMillen and Chairman of the Board Gordon Wilder presented Paramedic Christopher Rigg with a certificate of appreciation for his role in coordinating the application process. The County also presented Director Javier Plummer and the entire department with a certificate in recognition of their accomplishments leading to this award. McMillen said the County appreciates all public safety workers and first responders and congratulates Vance EMS on this accomplishment.
Firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, deputies, police and other forms of law enforcement and emergency personal rush into burning buildings, run into homes, reach into private vehicles and more. Sometimes it’s even known these homes, buildings and vehicles have COVID positive people and patients inside. McMillen said, “While we are taking all of the precautions with PPE and other means as we can, it is inevitable that it reaches our public safety staff as well.”
These working and giving heroes are local as well as far and wide and are just the type of people who come together to serve here, there and where ever there is need.
Vance County is working with Granville Vance Public Health and “following all of their guidance,” McMillen said.
Local Vance County Covid-19 Update 12-17-20
For the seven day period December 10 to December 16 in Vance County, there were a total of 182 positive test results for Covid-19. For the same time period, 96 people in Vance County were released from isolation.
Those figures equal a net increase of 86 in a week or about 12 people per day more.
Two deaths occurred December 10 to December 16 in Vance County attributed to Covid-19, and the total daily count of those receiving inpatient care decreased by one, which lowered the figure to 22.
Of the 704 active cases in Vance County on December 16, a total of 694 cases were in the community at large and 10 were divided six to four at two nursing facilities.
This information was compiled by WIZS based on data from Granville Vance Public Health.
Henderson Vance Chamber Informs Businesses About Covid
Covid news for member businesses is out from the Henderson Vance Chamber of Commerce and President Michelle Burgess.
An email this week from Burgess to Chamber members asks for area businesses to “Help Keep Our Economy Open!”
Burgess wrote:
The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce has been alerted to the surging COVID-19 cases here in the county. Because the number of COVID cases doubled in Vance County since December 1st, Vance County has been added to a list of the state’s Top 10 Priority Counties to work with to try and curb the spread of transmissions. Vance County remains in the Red: Critical Community Spread, on the statewide COVID-19 Alert System which uses a combination of three metrics: case rate, the percent of tests that are positive, and hospital impact within the county. There is concern that if the number of cases continues to climb, we may be faced with our economy having to close down again.
Our Chamber has been asked to help get out key COVID information to our local employers. Your immediate help is needed to encourage your employees and their families to stay safe during the holiday season and in the upcoming winter months by avoiding travel and gatherings with people they don’t live with. If they must travel or gather, encourage getting tested ahead of time, wearing a mask all the time, and keeping any gatherings small and outdoors. In a statement this week, Gary Salamido, president and CEO of the NC Chamber, encouraged NC employers to work together to slow the spread of COVID-19 “North Carolina employers know how to keep people safe and their success relies on it. If all North Carolinians work together, we can protect lives and livelihoods.”
Detailed guidance for businesses is available at https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/guidance#businesses (open hyperlink for additional information). Granville-Vance Public Health is available to provide technical assistance and help people access testing and PPE if needed. They also provide free testing at their Henderson facility on Tuesday and Thursday, and at their Oxford location on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Call ahead to schedule an appointment. Their phone number is (919) 693-2141.
Noon News 12-10-20 Eddie Ellington; Chamber Banquet; Covid19
Stories include:
– Mayor Eddie Ellington discusses his life and role as Mayor of Henderson
– Chamber of Commerce Banquet postponed
– Covid19 case counts
– Covid testing event
For full details and audio click play.
Noon News 12-8-20 Covid19 News; Enhanced Rail; Granville Co. Schools; VGCC Degree Program
Stories include:
– Latest Covid19 statistics
– community testing event
– enhanced rail service possibly coming to Henderson
– Granville County Schools
– VGCC partner with Elizabeth City State for degree program
For full details and audio click play
Granville County Public Schools – Return to “Plan C”
— courtesy Granville County Public Schools
GCPS Makes Winter Shift to Full Remote Instruction – Return to “Plan C”
At their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, December 7, 2020, the Granville County Board of Education voted unanimously to shift all students back to remote learning effective Wednesday, December 16, 2020. Superintendent McLean, working closely with officials from the Granville Vance Health Department, recommended this shift due to the surge in the pandemic, which has negatively impacted the readiness indicators for the school district.
Dr. McLean explained, “We have been closely monitoring the metrics that impact our ability to provide in-person learning to our students. The recent trends have made it increasingly difficult to do so in a safe and effective manner. Therefore, in order to keep our students and staff safe, we will be shifting to full virtual learning to bridge us through the winter holiday season.”
In person learning, or a shift back to “Plan B”, could resume as early as Monday, January 25 if the readiness indicators improve. The Board will review updated metrics at their next regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, January 11, 2021. Until then, all students will be served remotely, with the exception of traditional calendar high school students, who are required to take NC standardized final exams in person on December 16 – 22. These high school students’ individual schedules are being shared with students and their families for each school.
Since all students will be shifting to remote learning during this time, families are encouraged to take advantage of the various services offered by the district. Additional support with laptop repairs, free MiFi hotspots and paper learning packets are available for students. In addition, the district will also be giving away a limited number of student desks to families just before the winter holiday break. These desks are being provided to partner with our families in providing productive home learning centers. Also, the meal service program will provide enough meals for students to have breakfast and lunch for each day during the winter break. More information about these programs will be provided to families via email, phone calls and letters home.
Chairman David Richardson offered his perspective on the change in instructional services, stating, “We know that this shift to Plan C will create some new challenges for our families. However, based on the recommendations from our local health experts, we feel that the safety of our students and staff must be our top priority. We will do all we can to continue to keep students’ learning the focus during this time while remembering that grace and flexibility should be practiced by all.”
Written and provided to WIZS Radio by Dr. Stan Winborne, Assistant Superintendent of Operations & Human Resources, Public Information Officer, Granville County Public Schools
Noon News 11-23-20 Court Cancelled; Covid Update; Chamber Board Members; Holiday Trash Collection
Stories include:
– Vance County Court cancelled
– Covid19 Update
– Covid19 Testing event
– New board members on Chamber of Commerce
– Holiday trash collecting schedule.
For full details and audio click play