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Henderson-Vance Emergency Management Director Brian Short has released the area’s latest situation report, including information about Vance County’s second positive COVID-19 case.

The report reads:

Late last evening, Henderson-Vance County Emergency Management was informed of a second individual who had tested positive for the Coronavirus in Vance County. Like the previous case, this individual is being isolated at home and our local health department is conducting contact tracing to determine the level of exposure to others.

This being the second occurrence in our county does not constitute any changes to our current response posture or our recommendations to the general public.

Keep in mind this continues to be a very fluid situation and the information provided and included could change at any time. As the confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to increase throughout the state, nation and in fact the world, we continue to coordinate with Public Health agencies, Maria Parham Health, Department of Social Services, State Emergency Management and our local emergency services response partners. We are communicating several times daily in an attempt to gauge their needs and be as proactive in meeting those needs as we can be.

Testing is ongoing through both Maria Parham Health and our local Health Department. There are currently 297 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus in North Carolina and, thus far, 0 deaths.

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

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.

We continue to submit requests for PPE and related resources to State EM as they are received and so far all of our requests have been filled or are in the process of being filled as supplies become available.

Vance County and the City of Henderson continue to be under a local State of Emergency. Being under a local state of emergency allows us to implement certain emergency protective measures if and when they should become necessary.

The Emergency Operations Center is currently not activated, however, our Emergency Management staff is closely monitoring the situation across the country and at home on a continuous basis.

To date, calls into the Vance County 911 Communications Center have not shown a significant increase, however, we are poised to up staffing should it become necessary. The 911 Telecommunicators are asking additional Coronavirus screening questions on all medical-related calls and will continue to do so until it is no longer needed. As a precaution, our Backup 911 center remains prepped and ready to be occupied if needed.

We continue to ask that citizens please DO NOT call 911 to ask general questions about the Coronavirus. 211 has established a hotline for this purpose and we ask that our citizens contact their local physician or take advantage of the hotline if they have medical-related questions.

There is also a toll-free Coronavirus hotline manned by trained individuals that can answer questions that you may have. The number is 888-892-1162.

You may also visit the NC Department of Health and Human Services website at the following link: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina

Both the Henderson Police Department and Vance County Sheriffs Office are now responding to nonemergency calls via telephone but are still responding as they always have to emergency calls.

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 are working hard to restock their shelves and, for the most part, items are available for them to do so. 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 and closing orders being issued by the Governor and suggested by our local and state public health agencies. If you need to go to work, the grocery store or pharmacy, 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 remained open and 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.

Our office will continue to monitor this event very closely and will continue to issue informational releases as the situation develops.