Agenda - 10-06-20; 8-a - Minutes

Browse Search

28 1 The County has received a total of$6.4 million in COVID-19 related funding as of the end of 2 August. 3 4 Quintana Stewart, Orange County Health Director, reported the following information: 5 6 • 2,305 confirmed lab cases as of today 7 • Actively monitoring 135 cases 8 • Total of 50 deaths 9 • As of 8/26 37,705 people tested (25% of County population) 10 • Percent Postive 12.4% last week, going down to 10% as of today. Goal is 5% or less. 11 • Orange County received additional testing from "Star Med," who is holding testing events 12 around the County. 13 • Plan to hosting testing events weekly in various locations. 14 • Plan to have a consistent test site in Hillsborough once a month 15 • Governor's briefing has changed these plans and 2 mass-event testing sites will be 16 required weekly. 17 18 Quintana Stewart said the CDC put out a new recommendation last week stating that 19 those asymptomatic people who have had close contact with a COVID positive patient, do not 20 need to be tested. She said Orange County is not adhering to that, and will continue to test 21 those who have been in close contact with a COVID positive patient, whether symptomatic or 22 asymptomatic. 23 Quintana Stewart summarized today's Governor's briefing: all are still safer at home, but 24 phase 2.5 will take effect on 9/4/20 at 5:00 p.m. She said many of the state percentages are 25 declining, but remain too high and the state will not yet enter into phase 3. She said the 26 Governor changed mass gathering limits: indoors is 25 (opposed to 10), and outdoors is 50 27 (opposed to 25). She said play grounds are now open; museums can open 50% capacity; 28 gyms, bowling allies may open at 50% capacity; and bars and night clubs, amusement parks will 29 still remain closed— large venues are still subject to the mass gathering limits. She said skilled 30 nursing homes and facilities can now have outdoor visitation, as long as the facility is not in a 31 current outbreak status, and has a testing plan in place. 32 Chair Rich said Orange County's order is slightly different from the Governors order. 33 She said she spoke to the Mayors, and they will determine how closely to align to the 34 Governor's order. She said the goal is to align the order with the Governor's so it does not 35 confuse people, but tailgating is one area of concern. 36 Chair Rich said Orange County is one of the lowest in the state, and the return of the 37 UNC students caused a spike. 38 Commissioner Marcoplos thanked Quintana Stewart for her leadership and masterful 39 communication with UNC. He said she saved a lot of people from getting sick. 40 Commissioner McKee thanked Quintana Stewart for setting up a testing site at the 41 northern side of the County. He asked if the percentage rate was lower prior to UNC student 42 returning. 43 Quintana Stewart said confirmed cases were at 2.4% prior to the return of UNC 44 students. 45 Commissioner Price thanked Quintana Stewart and Chair Rich for all their work. 46 Commissioner Dorosin echoed everyone's high praise. He said he has heard concerns 47 about students whose homes are outside of Orange County and test positive, but are not 48 included in Orange County numbers. He asked if this is accurate, and will Orange County know 49 of these numbers, especially if students are remain here in off campus housing.