Coronavirus: What you need to know in Asheville, Buncombe Aug. 21 – Citizen Times

21August 2020

Carrleigh Woodcock, 6, has her temperature checked after answering a list of questions regarding COVID-19 symptoms on the first day of school at Bell Elementary, August 17, 2020. The first grader said she didn't have any symptoms but reported a loose tooth.

ASHEVILLE- Since midday Aug. 20, there have actually been 2,166 cases of COVID-19 in Buncombe County residents, including

54 deaths. In an afternoon instruction, health director Stacie Saunders said the county is seeing 25-30 brand-new cases of the disease every day, which is below approximately about 40 a month ago. “This is an improvement, but not an indication that we can stop doing the things that

help stop the spread of COVID-19 like using a face covering, remaining 6 feet apart and cleaning our hands frequently,”Saunders said. Practically 50,000 tests have been finished in Buncombe County. Saunders said about 5 % have actually returned

favorable over the past couple of weeks. Here are a couple of more things to learn about the coronavirus pandemic in Asheville and Buncombe

County: Trainees returned to school this week

Trainees went back to school Aug. 17, with those in Buncombe County Schools returning under Plan B Beyond, a mostly remote design that consists of some in-person orientation, and those in< a href ="https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2020/07/23/asheville-city-schools-start-school-year-virtual-learning-only/5497302002/"target="_ blank "rel=”noopener”data-t-l= “| inline|intext|n/a”class =”gnt_ar_b_a “> Asheville City Schools returning under completely remote Strategy C. Simply 2 days earlier, a worker at Enka High School tested positive for

COVID-19 and twoothers are in quarantine due to possible direct exposure to the virus. More: Buncombe County Schools worker tests favorable for COVID-19; 3 Enka personnel

in quarantine On the very first day of school, a BCS spokeswoman likewise verified that a professional athlete at Owen High School had evaluated positive in June for COVID-19 during voluntary summer exercises with the football team. More: Buncombe County Schools confirm first COVID-19 case amongst student-athletes Previously, ACS revealed Aug. 3 the system would cancel all athletic workouts

till Aug. 21 after four athletes– 2 middle and 2 high school– evaluated positive for the health problem, affecting four sports teams across both schools.

More: Asheville City Schools suspend summer season exercises after 4 athletes test favorable for COVID-19 Saunders has stated that regional school systems will notify the public to outbreaks of 5 or more cases of COVID-19 at specific schools. They will deal with other cases individually and have not developed a policy of revealing the identification of a single case of the disease.

More: What will Asheville, Buncombe schools do if trainee or instructor tests positive for COVID-19? Emergency situation preparedness director Fletcher Tove said Aug. 20 that county health authorities also are “in regular communication”with local institution of higher learnings.

He said they have not heard yet of any reports of clusters or outbreaks at these schools.

Health officials are prepping for the election Tove stated health authorities are already in routine conversation with the Buncombe County Board of Elections about how to approach the upcoming general election.

He said the focus is on the very same type of mitigation strategies that have actually remained in play for months: social distancing, face coverings, increased sanitation.

“We’re going to do whatever we can to make the voting procedure as safe as possible,” he said.

More info from the local elections board is anticipated next week, the officials said.

Buncombe is bracing for a COVID-19, influenza overlap

As fall approaches, Buncombe health authorities are preparing flu season– something they say will provide new challenges in the time of coronavirus. On a national level, public health

officials have actually said that getting a flu vaccine this year is even more crucial than typical and that anyone eligible should do so in order to avoid overwhelming health care systems. Saunders spoke to that, as well.” For the upcoming flu season, influenza vaccination will be very crucial to decrease concern of influenza illness due to the fact that it can help reduce the general impact of breathing illnesses on the population,”

she stated.”This likewise implies that it can help reduce the resulting burden on our healthcare system throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”More: Buncombe health officials brace for flu season, COVID-19 overlap 9 Buncombe long-term care facilities are fighting COVID-19 outbreaks 3 months after the first case of COVID-19 was recognized in an Asheville retirement home, nine long term care facilities in Buncombe are coming to grips with the health problem. Considering that the pandemic started, 13 such facilities in Buncombe have experienced outbreaks, according to the Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Solutions, which

specifies a break out at 2 or more cases. Of the 53 deaths due to the disease reported in Buncombe since Aug. 18, 43 were of long-term care center citizens, according to Saunders. More: 9 Buncombe long-lasting care centers battling COVID-19 outbreaks There are numerous regional COVID-19 screening alternatives offered Screening is readily available in Buncombe through regional providers, clinics and community testing site. Individuals who do not have a company that uses testing can check out the NCDHHS’s Find My Testing Website website. Details on screening also can be discovered at BuncombeReady.org. Saunders stated those without health insurance who are fretted about cost must contact their closest Federally Qualified University hospital or a regional clinics using reduced fees or programs that cover the cost of testing. Those who are uninsured, may be qualified for assist with paying for certain COVID-19 testing expenses through the North Carolina Medicaid optional COVID-19 screening program. To be qualified, you must: Live in North Carolina. Not be covered by Medicaid, Medicare or other health insurance. Be a U.S. resident or a U.S. national. or have eligible migration status. Free screening for COVID-19

is now available Wednesday and Friday downtown at Western Carolina Rescue Ministries through a partnership between the organization and Appalachian Mountain Community Health Centers, a Federally Certified University Hospital. More: Totally free COVID-19 testing offered at downtown Asheville rescue ministry Buncombe County likewise began offering complimentary, community testing once again on Aug. 9– on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday– however patients must set up an appointment to be seen. Requirements for testing can be discovered at BuncombeReady.org. Medical director Dr. Jennifer Mullendore said that, since Aug. 18, 196 individuals had been evaluated at the community websites throughout the five days they had been back up and running. Here

are the actions to get evaluated at one of the Buncombe County Neighborhood Screening Sites: Total the Buncombe County Self-Checker at

www.buncombeready.org. If you require help, you can call the Ready Team at 828-419-0095 Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.– 5 p.m. Once you complete the Self-Checker online or over the phone, and your responses show that you need to be evaluated, you will complete a registration kind. Once the registration form is total and sent, an agent from the Ready Group will call you over the phone to

set up a date and time for screening. Program up at the testing site on your scheduled date and time and get tested. Saunders has actually worried that people should not show up at the county’s community screening sites before getting a call to make an appointment and getting an appointed consultation time. There is no out-of-pocket cost for the screening however those with insurance ought to bring their details. That insurance will be billed to cover the expense of the test. The National Gingerbread House Competition had to make huge changes COVID-19 precautions have actually canceled the 28th National Gingerbread Home Competition public display, but the show will go on online. The competitors at the Grove Park Inn, which began as a small neighborhood event in 1992, has actually grown to the largest worldwide. More: COVID-19 forces yearly National Gingerbread Home Competitors to make huge changes

Things that aren’t canceled: What to do in Asheville throughout COVID-19 A few of us are stuck inside more than ever right now. However that doesn’t need to be a dull thing. There’s still plenty to do if you want to be innovative. The Citizen Times’Mackensy Lunsford has a new list of fun things to do in the pandemic.

More: Things that aren’t canceled: What to do in Asheville inside and out throughout COVID-19 ___ Mackenzie Wicker covers development, advancement and health care for the Asheville Resident Times. You can reach her at mwicker@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter @MackWick. Assistance journalism: Subscribe to the Resident Times here.

Source: citizen-times. com

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1 County: Trainees returned to school this week

2 He said they have not heard yet of any reports of clusters or outbreaks at these schools.

3 Buncombe is bracing for a COVID-19, influenza overlap