“We will be issuing additional orders soon,” stated Governor Roy Cooper in a press conference this afternoon.
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NC sees first death due to Coronavirus
A person from Cabarrus County died on March 24 from complications associated with the virus. The patient was in their late seventies and had several underlying medical conditions.
Daily COVID-19 Case Count in North Carolina
As of 10:35 a.m., March 25, 2020, NCDHHS has reported 504 confirmed cases (up from 184 on Saturday, March 21) and 0 deaths. Lenoir County has 1 confirmed case. Greene and Jones Counties still have 0 reported cases.
Coronavirus Chat with Pamela Brown, Lenoir County Health Director
Lenoir County Health Department announced its first positive COVID-19 case Tuesday. The same afternoon Neuse News Publisher BJ Murphy was joined by Director Pamela Brown to discuss this development.
Lenoir County has first positive Coronavirus case
The Lenoir County Health Department has received notification of Lenoir County’s first lab-confirmed positive COVID-19 case. The individual was tested on March 17 and confirmation of a positive was received by Lenoir County Health Department on Tuesday, March 24.
Daily COVID-19 Case Count in North Carolina
As of 9:45 a.m., March 24, 2020, NCDHHS has reported 398 confirmed cases (up from 184 on Saturday, March 21) and 0 deaths. Lenoir, Greene and Jones Counties still have 0 reported cases.
Here's what Cooper's Executive Order affects
Yesterday’s announcement prioritized social distancing by lowering the threshold on large gatherings to ban crowds of more than 50 people. To stay consistent with this number, it will require certain businesses to close, including:
Bingo Parlors, including Bingo sites operated by charitable organizations
Bowling Alleys
Indoor Exercise Facilities (e.g. gyms, yoga studios, martial arts facilities, indoor trampoline and rock-climbing facilities)
Health Clubs
Indoor Pools
Live Performance Venues
Movie Theaters
Skating Rinks
Spas
Sweepstakes Lounges
Video game arcades
Barber Shops
Beauty Salons (including waxing and hair removal centers)
Hair Salons
Nail Salons/Manicure/Pedicure Providers
Massage Parlors
Tattoo Parlors
Grocery stores and restaurants providing takeout and delivery will remain open.
UNC Lenoir: Inpatient visitors not permitted and medical supplies needed
Due to the spread of coronavirus / COVID-19 in North Carolina, UNC Lenoir Health Care announced today, in an effort to prevent patient and staff exposure to the spreading coronavirus, it is no longer permitting visitors to the inpatient areas until further notice. In addition, the number of entrances at the hospital will be limited. Any visitors under 18 years old are still not allowed and visitors older than 65, pregnant or are immunocompromised are strongly encouraged to not visit.
Governor Roy Cooper orders K-12 schools closed for in-person instruction until May 15
In a press conference today, Governor Roy Cooper stated, “During the Great Depression, North Carolina’s leaders made sure that, because education was vital to our state’s future, all of our public schools stayed open in spite of tremendous funding challenges. Therefore, today I will sign an executive order that closes public K-12 schools across North Carolina for in-person instruction until May 15.”
BBQ Fest canceled for 2020
BBQ Fest Committee Chair Waylon Adams announced the decision this afternoon. Adams said, “With the health and safety of our eastern North Carolina community top of our minds, combined with the guidelines of local, state and national health professionals, the BBQ Festival on the Neuse Board has decided to cancel the 2020 BBQ Festival on the Neuse due to the Coronavirus threat.”
Neuse News Facebook Live Coronavirus Chat on 3-22-20
Dr. Pradeep and Neuse News Publisher BJ Murphy held a Facebook Live Coronavirus Chat on Sunday, 3/22 at 4:00 pm. Dr. Pradeep gave a COVID-19 update and answered questions posted in the comments feed. Watch the interview in its entirety.
Vidant Health and ECU Op-Ed: Immediate action needed to protect our communities
Vidant Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University are calling on all of eastern North Carolina to do their part to flatten the curve. We need to act quickly and definitively. When you watch what is happening in other communities and are scared about what you see, you should ask yourself a few questions: Will it hit my own community? Why can’t we stop this? What should we do? These are difficult questions, but the answers are clear.
Changes in Sheriff's office operations during the State of Emergency
Under the State of Emergency, the ultimate goal of all the executive orders, requests and other rules has been to reduce exposure of all people to this virus. In our line of work it is hard to limit exposure, but there are some things that we can do to limit our exposure during this time. Therefore, the Sheriff's Office has implementing the following changes in accordance with County of Lenoir decisions:
Visitors now prohibited at all Vidant Health hospitals
Effective 5 p.m. Friday, March 20
Due to the spread of COVID-19 in eastern North Carolina, Vidant is prohibiting visitors across all hospitals and emergency departments.
PSA: American Red Cross needs your help
Public Service Announcement: Casey Stevens with the American Red Cross issues a plea for blood drive locations as they're experiencing a shortage due to COVID-19. If you'd like to help, please contact her at Casey.Stevens@redcross.org.
Lenoir County State of Emergency Declaration
Although Lenoir County does not have a confirmed case of COVID-19 at this time, the Public Health Department considers the novel coronavirus to be a serious public health threat. Therefore, the Lenoir County Board of Commissioners has declared a state of emergency effective today.
Jones County declares State of Emergency
Jones County is officially under a State of Emergency as of 7:00 am today, Friday, March 20, 2020.
Watch: Dr. Pradeep and Rep. Humphrey in a special live Coronavirus segment
Yesterday, Dr. Pradeep and Rep. Humphrey took part in a special live Coronavirus segment with Neuse News Publisher BJ Murphy. They answered questions on the statistics regarding Coronavirus, took medical questions from our viewers, discussed small business and unemployment economic assistance and more.
NC 2-1-1 to provide assistance for COVID-19
Governor Roy Cooper has announced that 2-1-1 is the number to call for assistance and resources related to the COVID-19 coronavirus. NC 2-1-1 is an information and referral service, operated by United Way of North Carolina, where families and individuals can obtain free and confidential information on health and human service resources within their community 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Resources are available in most languages.
A father's love sparked a book
A father’s love for his daughter has turned into a delightful book with engaging prose and images sure to capture the attention of small children.