All tagged COVID-19
The Lenoir County Board of Education met in person Monday for the first time in 2021 and unanimously voted to transition middle and high schools to adopt option A under the pandemic policies for school reopening. “In Lenoir County, we already had four days a week available for some students, the problem is that it wasn’t available for all students,” said Lenoir County Public Schools Superintendent Brent Williams.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is updating its visitation guidance for long-term care facilities to allow for in-person, indoor or outdoor, visitation in most circumstances. The change aligns with new guidance released this week from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and reflects rapidly improving trends in long-term care facilities.
Effective today, March 15, 2021, the Greene County Department of Public Health will no longer be adding additional names to the COVID-19 vaccine waiting list for Groups 1, 2, 3 & 4.
The Lenoir County Health Department is reporting six additional deaths since January 5th in the county of residents who had tested positive for COVID-19. This brings the total number to 86.
Local areas counties released information on how their residents can register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Lenoir and Greene County are in Phase 1B and Jones County is in Phase 1A. Here's what to expect and a link to know which group impacts you.
A second stimulus check was approved on Sunday as part of a $900 billion dollar bill. The $600 one-time payment will be sent to those eligible based on their 2019 reported income. The amount of the one-time payment depends on the income of the household. President Trump disagreed with the amount of the one-time payment, and instead recommended the amount of $2000 as a direct payment to eligible individuals. On Monday, the House of Representatives passed a measure to increase the stimulus checks to $2000. On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader McConnell blocked a bid to unanimously pass the $2000 stimulus check without a vote, and then also blocked allowing a vote to be brought to the floor on Wednesday though he did say the $2000 stimulus check was his focus.
In an executive order announced on Wednesday, Gov. Roy Cooper extended Phase 2 of reopening North Carolina until July 17 and made face coverings mandatory in public. The mask requirements take effect Friday, June 26 at 5 p.m. In a recent Facebook post, Jones County Sheriff Danny Heath stated, “NO, I will not be enforcing the wearing of face masks! Be careful and responsible and make your own decision.”
With 345 reported cases of COVID-19 in Lenoir County as of June 25, the capacity of UNC Lenoir Health Care to deal with the number of patients is an important factor. According to UNC Lenoir Marketing Coordinator Barbara LaRoque, the hospital has handled the current volume of COVID-19 patients well.
The proposed budget for next year anticipates steep drops in revenue. It eliminates capital outlay and calls for positions to remain unfilled while raising the possibility of employee furloughs if revenues drop more than expected. Under the proposed budget, city council members and the mayor would receive a raise.
Jones Senior High School held a commencement ceremony for its 2020 graduates, with friends and family viewing the ceremony from vehicles in the school parking lot.
Local representatives are concerned with the slow pace of reopening. Included are statements from Rep. John Bell, Sen. Jim Perry and Rep. Chris Humphrey.
Local salon owners are still wondering when they will be able to go back to work.
A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order, barring enforcement of Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order barring indoor church services with more than ten people. Rep. Chris Humphrey (R-Lenoir) said he was pleased to see the temporary restraining order was granted for what he believes was a reasonable request by the plaintiffs.
With over 50,000 deaths in the United States attributed to COVID-19, the balance between public health and personal freedom has put many governing bodies at odds with business owners and community members. According to Kinston Mayor Don Hardy, Kinston does not have the personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, or testing capabilities if the trend continues in its current rate of infection.
Local representatives expressed concern over economic impacts of continued economic shutdown.
