Orange County NC Website
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28 <br /> • 2,305 confirmed lab cases as of today <br /> • Actively monitoring 135 cases <br /> Total of 50 deaths <br /> As of 8/26 37,705 people tested (25% of County population) <br /> • Percent Postive 12.4% last week, going down to 10% as of today. Goal is 5% or less. <br /> • Orange County received additional testing from "Star Med," who is holding testing events <br /> around the County. <br /> Plan to hosting testing events weekly in various locations. <br /> • Plan to have a consistent test site in Hillsborough once a month <br /> • Governor's briefing has changed these plans and 2 mass-event testing sites will be <br /> required weekly. <br /> Quintana Stewart said the CDC put out a new recommendation last week stating that <br /> those asymptomatic people who have had close contact with a COVID positive patient, do not <br /> need to be tested. She said Orange County is not adhering to that, and will continue to test <br /> those who have been in close contact with a COVID positive patient, whether symptomatic or <br /> asymptomatic. <br /> Quintana Stewart summarized today's Governor's briefing: all are still safer at home, but <br /> phase 2.5 will take effect on 9/4/20 at 5:00 p.m. She said many of the state percentages are <br /> declining, but remain too high and the state will not yet enter into phase 3. She said the <br /> Governor changed mass gathering limits: indoors is 25 (opposed to 10), and outdoors is 50 <br /> (opposed to 25). She said play grounds are now open; museums can open 50% capacity; <br /> gyms, bowling allies may open at 50% capacity; and bars and night clubs, amusement parks will <br /> still remain closed— large venues are still subject to the mass gathering limits. She said skilled <br /> nursing homes and facilities can now have outdoor visitation, as long as the facility is not in a <br /> current outbreak status, and has a testing plan in place. <br /> Chair Rich said Orange County's order is slightly different from the Governors order. <br /> She said she spoke to the Mayors, and they will determine how closely to align to the <br /> Governor's order. She said the goal is to align the order with the Governor's so it does not <br /> confuse people, but tailgating is one area of concern. <br /> Chair Rich said Orange County is one of the lowest in the state, and the return of the <br /> UNC students caused a spike. <br /> Commissioner Marcoplos thanked Quintana Stewart for her leadership and masterful <br /> communication with UNC. He said she saved a lot of people from getting sick. <br /> Commissioner McKee thanked Quintana Stewart for setting up a testing site at the <br /> northern side of the County. He asked if the percentage rate was lower prior to UNC student <br /> returning. <br /> Quintana Stewart said confirmed cases were at 2.4% prior to the return of UNC <br /> students. <br /> Commissioner Price thanked Quintana Stewart and Chair Rich for all their work. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin echoed everyone's high praise. He said he has heard concerns <br /> about students whose homes are outside of Orange County and test positive, but are not <br /> included in Orange County numbers. He asked if this is accurate, and will Orange County know <br /> of these numbers, especially if students are remain here in off campus housing. <br /> Quintana Stewart said initial student test results go to their home county. She said all <br /> students signed an agreement, prior to returning to school, that they would report their cases to <br /> Campus Health. She said students have cooperated. She said the Health Department gets the <br /> numbers from campus health first, and does also eventually get the numbers transferred back <br /> from the home county. <br />