All in Coronavirus
Governor Cooper announced schools have the option to choose Plan A for Pre-K through 5th grade effective October 5th. Safety protocols, such as daily temperature screenings, social distancing in hallways and common areas, the wearing of masks, and frequent washing of hands/use of hand sanitizer will be required.
The Greene County Board of Education unanimously approved the additional remote learning days in the calendar for both the traditional schools and the Early College.
After discussion among the board, board member Richard Bogan made a motion to amend the July 27 decision and adopt the Plan B model that was presented (see full video in story), while allowing parents to choose the remote learning Plan C option. The motion stated in-person schooling would begin in two weeks on Monday, September 28.
On Sept. 4, Governor Cooper signed Coronavirus Relief Act 3.0. Among its provisions is a new extension of the expiration dates of five DMV credentials. If they have already expired or are about to, their new expiration dates are now 30 days after the governor lifts his state of emergency order related to the COVID Pandemic.
Kinston-Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Director Corey Povar spoke at Tuesday’s City Council meeting to discuss the plans for reopening the Kinston Community Center and other recreational facilities. Governor Cooper announced North Carolina moved into phases 2.5 on Friday, September 4.
In the past two weeks, we’ve had good news on the pandemic front. The second viral wave has continued to come under control, case growth is down significantly from the peak, and the case growth rate has returned to the lows seen in mid-June. Overall, despite the higher case counts, the pandemic is once more again control.
The CSS Neuse Civil War Interpretive Center opened on Saturday while limiting visitors to 50% of occupancy as stipulated by Governor Cooper’s latest executive order. The Center also requires cloth masks to enter as outlined in Executive Order 163.
The Greene County Department of Public Health is reporting the fifth death in the county of a resident who had tested positive for COVID-19. The individual died on Sunday. The individual was younger than 65 and it is not confirmed yet whether the individual had about underlying medical conditions.
To protect the family’s privacy, no information will be released at this time. Greene County Department of Public Health Director Joy Brock said, “I am saddened by this death and so sorry for the family’s loss. My thoughts and prayers are with this individual’s family.”
On Monday, over 200 high school students returned to Parrott Academy classrooms for in-person instruction. This brought a full student body back to the independent school’s campus, as lower and middle school students returned the previous week.
Governor Roy Cooper today announced that after a summer of hard work to slow the spread of COVID-19, North Carolina will take a modest step forward move into Phase 2.5 starting this Friday, September 4th at 5pm. Mask mandates and other prevention methods remain in effect and are even more important to contain the virus, Cooper said.
While reporters and TV talking heads continue to refer to North Carolina as a swing state, they are largely mistaken. We do not “swing” between Republicans and Democrats for president and governor much to the media’s chagrin. Our selection of US Senators, however, would qualify for that designation. The reality is that NC tends to vote for Republican presidents, Democratic governors, and flip flops on US Senators.
The Lenoir County Health Department is reporting its 19th death in the county of a resident who had tested positive for COVID-19. The patient was younger than 65 with no underlying health conditions. To protect the families’ privacy, no further information will be released.
This is the first Lenoir County COVID-19 fatality with no underlying health conditions.
According to a press release, the Lenoir County Health Department is reporting four deaths in the county of residents who had tested positive for COVID-19. This makes a total of 18 COVID-related deaths in the county since March, when the first cases were announced in the community.
Two of the patients were over 65 and two were under 65 years old and all had underlying medical conditions.
The Lenoir County Health Department is reporting its 13th and 14th deaths related to COVID-19. These deaths are the first reported by Lenoir County since July 15. The patients were over 65 and had underlying medical conditions.
Governor Roy Cooper today announced $175 million to help North Carolinians with rental and utility payment support in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Economists have debated the merits of a minimum wage and a living wage throughout the years. Advocates call for a $15 an hour minimum wage increase from the current $7.25. The call for an increase in the national minimum wage got louder when the government added $600 a week to state unemployment to stave off an economic recession.
East Carolina University will move undergraduate courses online for the remainder of the fall semester, beginning Wednesday, Aug. 26, Interim Chancellor Ron Mitchelson announced today.
According to the latest “Ongoing Outbreaks in Congregate Living Settings” report, which can be downloaded in this article, NCDHHS reports the following:
Lenoir County
Harmony Hall: 2 positive cases among staff, 3 cases in residents and 0 deaths; Kinston Assisted Living: 9 positive cases among staff, 25 cases in residents and 0 deaths; RHA Health Services Bear Creek: 11 positive cases among staff, 12 cases in residents and 0 deaths
Jones County
Brook Stone Living Center: 15 positive cases among staff, 53 cases in residents and 9 resident deaths
Greene County
Other Facility Type: Ham Produce Rd, Snow Hill: 0 positive cases among staff, 31 cases in residents and 0 deaths
King’s Restaurant has closed its location at 2405 N Queen St. in Kinston temporarily due to staffing issues. The employees who worked at the Queen Street location were assigned to other areas within the King’s organization, therefore there are no employment losses due to the move.
LCPS Child Nutrition and Transportation departments are teaming up on a plan to begin delivery of meals by school bus to all public school students in Lenoir County on Sept. 1. Child Nutrition is currently operating grab-and-go curbside meal pickup sites for students and their siblings at eight schools throughout the county from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. weekdays. That program, provided under the district’s Summer Feeding Program, will continue through Aug. 31 at Northeast, Contentnea-Savannah, Moss Hill, EB Frink, Southeast, Kinston High, South Lenoir High and North Lenoir High. Curbside pickup is scheduled to end Aug. 31.
