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MINUTES - Draft <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br /> March 25, 2020 <br /> ➢ The current positive case count for Orange County is 13. There were 2 deaths in <br /> Cabarrus County. One is attributed to North Carolina and the other, the state of Virginia. <br /> The case count for the county is based on the person's home county of residence. <br /> ➢ On March 18t", the State announced there was community transmission in the state. <br /> They relaxed the need for contact tracing; however, the OCHD continues to do contact <br /> tracing as Orange County's case county isn't as high as other counties. <br /> ➢ The State's guidance on testing is that we can't test everyone. Due to the shortage of <br /> personal protection equipment (PPE), those with mild symptoms (e.g. cough and a mild <br /> fever) will not be tested. The treatment course would remain the same for those <br /> individuals whether they're tested or not. Difficulty breathing and shortness of breath are <br /> considered severe symptoms. <br /> ➢ The OCHD still has the ability to test but we are referring patients to the Respiratory <br /> Diagnostic Center (RDC) at UNC as the results come back quicker than the labs being <br /> sent to the State Lab. LabCorp results have a reported 24 hour turnaround time. <br /> ➢ Emergency Management Services (EMS) has found some vendors to fill PPE orders <br /> and is working regionally with surrounding counties to make one large order. <br /> ➢ Today, screenings started at the Health Department and Department of Social Services <br /> sites as these places have the most traffic. EMS is also actively screening daily. People <br /> will have their temperature taken and will be given a bracelet once screening has been <br /> completed. <br /> ➢ OCHD is now conducting telehealth appointments. <br /> ➢ Some challenges of the current COVID-19 response include: <br /> o Multiple media requests and citizens that want to know specific demographic <br /> information (specifically the infected person's address). <br /> o Threats to be sued because that very specific information isn't being disclosed to <br /> the public. <br /> o We've consulted our County Attorney's office. We have to adhere to HIPPA <br /> laws and handle COVID-19 cases in the same manner we handle all our other <br /> communicable diseases as covered under the Communicable Disease law. <br /> ➢ What's working well: <br /> o Dinah Jefferies, Director of EMS, along with Kirby Saunders and Sarah Pickhardt <br /> of EMS, have been a great team to work with and excellent partners to co-lead. <br /> o Kristin Prelipp, OCHD Communications Manager and Public Information Office <br /> (PIO), established a Joint Information Center (JIC) which is structured with <br /> multiple OCHD and county staff. There's a backup for each position which <br /> handles several tasks to include the Call Center, Emergency Preparedness, <br /> Equity, the COVID email address/texting service, Graphics, Social Media, Rumor <br /> Control (Facts vs Myths), Refugees and a Business Liaison. <br /> o Victoria Hudson and the Environmental Health staff posted informative flyers <br /> about social distancing and other messaging at grocery stores in attempt to <br /> reach those without internet service. <br /> o The OCHD Communicable Disease (CD) Team has been extremely productive <br /> and is doing a great job with contact tracing. <br /> o OCHD has been practicing social distancing with the majority of staff(about <br /> 60%)working from home. <br /> The BOH members had questions that were addressed by Ms. Stewart. <br /> S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agenda &Abstracts\2020 Agenda &Abstracts/ <br /> March Page 2 <br />