Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
MINUTES - Draft <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br />September 23, 2020 <br />S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agenda & Abstracts\2020 Agenda & Abstracts/ September Page 4 <br />The Fee and Eligibility Policy was updated to reflect a change in the Billing Cycle for the Health <br />Department (page 7). The Board voted to approve the Board of Health Policy including the <br />change made within the Fee and Eligibility Policy as a result of discussion at last month’s Board <br />meeting. <br /> <br />*Motion was made by Timothy Smith to approve the Board of Health policy, seconded by <br />Shielda Rodgers and carried without dissent. <br /> <br /> <br />VI. Reports and Discussion with Possible Action Action Items <br /> <br />A. Present Chair/Vice-Chair Slate <br /> <br />It is customary for the current Vice-Chair to occupy the Chair position due to the experience <br />gained as Vice-Chair. Jessica Frega, Chair, solicited volunteers to join her and Sam Lasris <br />to serve on a committee to discuss the Vice-Chair position. Timothy Smith volunteered. Ms. <br />Frega directed the Board to send her an email if they’d like to participate on the committee. <br />Vice-Chair options will be presented at the October meeting and voted at the meeting in <br />November. <br /> <br />B. Health Director Report <br /> <br />In addition to her report, Ms. Stewart spoke briefly on the general items below. <br /> <br />• Ms. Stewart agreed to serve on the Carolina PROSPER Board which is a program <br />affiliated with the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. It will offer technical <br />assistance to facilitate the safe re-opening of businesses during the pandemic while <br />promoting worker health. There will be two 2-hour long meetings this fall with the first <br />meeting occuring next Friday. <br /> <br />C. COVID-19 Update <br /> <br />Quintana Stewart, Health Director, gave an update on the COVID-19 status in Orange County <br />as well as took questions from the Board. Some highlights are below. <br /> <br />• DHHS launched a new app called SlowCOVIDNC. It’s an exposure app. SlowCOVID <br />can be accessed on Google and Apple platforms. It needs to be downloaded on your <br />cellphone. It will alert users that have the app if they have been in close contact (6ft or <br />less for more than 15 minutes) with an individual, who has also downloaded the app, <br />later tests positive for COVID-19. The app is completely anonymous and does not <br />collect, store or share personal information or location data. SlowCOVIDNC is voluntary <br />to download and use and designed to enhance the state’s existing contact tracing <br />efforts. <br />• We continue to work on our vaccination plans. We haven’t been given much info. We <br />are awaiting a final list of priority groups with infrastructure healthcare and first <br />responders getting first priority. <br />• We’re gearing up to do our flu vaccinations. Today, Ms. Stewart had a meeting with the <br />County and Deputy County Managers and made a request to offer flu vaccinations at no <br />cost as we want to remove all barriers. They agreed and we’ll be offering free flu <br />vaccinations to the community. They’ll be offered at COVID testing events. We’re