The Alligator River bridge on Route 64 leads to the Outer Banks. Photo: C. Leinbach
Breaking news regarding efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19 continued today with the biggest news that Dare County has restricted access into the county beginning at 2 p.m today.
The Dare County Control Group made the decision following the guidelines from the CDC to avoid discretionary travel and The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America. Although checkpoints were established at entry points to Dare County and no new visitors will be allowed access, visitors already here are not being asked to leave.
Visitors will not be allowed to travel through Dare County to get to Currituck (Corolla) and Tyrrell counties or Hyde County to Ocracoke Island via Hatteras. People who reside, own property or work in Corolla or Ocracoke, will be allowed entry.
Hyde County Public Information Officer Donnie Shumate added that while the restriction is in place, Hyde County residents will be treated as though they are Dare County residents if they need to travel between counties for whatever reason.
He confirmed that although visitors cannot now access Ocracoke via Hatteras (Dare County) there are no restrictions yet via Swan Quarter or Cedar Island, but noted that this may change after the Ocracoke Advisory Control Group meets today at 5 p.m.
Residents in Dare County or adjoining counties traveling to Dare are urged to reach out to businesses, government offices or healthcare providers prior to arriving since businesses may have altered services or hours.
To avoid contact with personnel, please display your re-entry permit (or other ID) on your dashboard so it is clearly visible for checkpoint personnel.
“While there are currently no individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 in Dare County, officials weighed the potential benefits for community health along with the tremendous impacts these restrictions have on our community,” the press release said. “These restrictions may be inconvenient, disappointing and have financial impacts, however, they were made in the interest of public safety to limit the spread of COVID-19.”
As of today, in North Carolina there are now 48 cases in 16 counties. In addition to Dare, there are no confirmed cases in Hyde County.
The President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America, 15 Days to Slow the Spread. Yesterday the federal government announced guidelines and a plan to slow the spread of COVID-19. Dare County will adhere to the guidance from CDC and North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services (NCDHHS). All Dare County community members should adhere to the guidelines that were issued and available at www.coronavirus.gov.
RALEIGH–Gov. Roy Cooper and members of the Coronavirus Task Force will hold a media briefing today at 2 p.m. at
Gov. Roy Cooper today (March 14) ordered public schools closed for two weeks starting Monday. Photo courtesy of Raleigh News&Observer
which Cooper will announce a new executive order in response to COVID-19 that closes restaurants and bars for dine-in customers but allows them to continue takeout and delivery orders.
The executive order will also include an expansion of unemployment insurance to help North Carolina workers affected by COVID-19.
The order is expected to be effective by 5 p.m. today (Tuesday, March 17).
More information about the order and other updates on North Carolina’s response to COVID-19 will be available at today’s media briefing. To view the briefing, live stream here: https://www.ncdps.gov/storm-update.
The south end of Hatteras is where a new underground electric cable is being installed to better serve Ocracoke. Photo: C. Leinbach
From our news services (Story corrected/revised from a previously published version.)
Starting at 11:59 tonight (Tuesday), Ocracoke will lose telephone and data services for several hours due to work on the 10,000 feet of submarine electric cable being installed between Hatteras and Ocracoke Island.
The telephone and data services are expected to be restored before 7 a.m. Wednesday.
The work will also require the use of the generator on Ocracoke to provide electricity beginning 11:59 p.m. tonight.
Hyde County Public Information Officer Donnie Shumate explained that the U.S. Cellular tower on the island has a microwave link to the mainland that should allow 911 calls to go through should they be needed.
Tideland EMC expects that the generator will be able to handle the load for the entire island from late Tuesday night and through all daylight hours Wednesday. While Tideland expects the island to be energized with mainland power early Wednesday evening, it asks that residents on Ocracoke conserve power while the island is running on the generator.
The Village Craftsmen, after finally opening for one week, closed today for an indefinite period due to the coronavirus outbreak. Photo: C. Leinbach
Editor’s note: Ocracoke Island is open. The Observer will post more stories as it learns of closings, cancellations, postponements and other COVID-19 related developments.
By Connie Leinbach
Although Hyde and Dare counties have not reported any confirmed cases, three Ocracoke shops have decided to close voluntarily in the face of the growing coronavirus (COVID-19) threat. There are now 14 counties in the state with confirmed cases.
“After much deliberation and after consulting with friends, family, and health care professionals, we have decided to close the Village Craftsmen until we feel comfortable that the threat of contracting COVID-19 is under control,” Manager Amy Howard wrote on the Village Craftsmen Facebook page.
As Ocracoke gets back up on its feet following catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Dorian on Sept. 6, the shop had just reopened March 9 after months of rebuilding.
In an interview, Howard explained that it was the socially responsible thing to do for her employees and the island.
Howard explained that she agonized over the decision but felt a hardship for a few weeks might help to stop the spread of the virus and not ruin the entire season. The shop will reopen “when we feel comfortable.”
Books to be Red on School Road also made the tough decision.
“We have had a great weekend at Books to be Red and I thank everyone that came in to say hello and support my shop and the island,” Leslie Lanier, owner wrote on Facebook. “I am heartbroken to say that I am going to close my shop while we are dealing with the COVID-19 virus. Maybe this should have been an easy decision to make but it has not been. We are all dealing with fallout from the virus and we are all making sacrifices. I do hope to be able to re-open within the next couple of weeks.”
Books to be Red on School Road has closed indefinitely. A note on the door tells shoppers how to purchase books. Photo: C. Leinbach
Island Artworks owner Kathleen O’Neal also made the decision to close temporarily and posted that on Facebook.
Others posting on Facebook and chatting in the Variety Store over the weekend suggested that the island shut down to prevent islanders getting infected from visitors coming to Ocracoke to flee the outbreak in their cities or the prospect of people coming to the island and buying up groceries and staples.
Indeed, Variety Store workers noted that on Sunday folks from Hatteras were shopping in the store.
“The Sysco truck will be here Tuesday,” said Tommy Hutcherson, store proprietor. “We’re good.”
Sarah Fiore, owner of Bella Fiore on Back Road, was among some business owners against the idea of closing the island.
“We cannot shut this island down again,” she said. “I think that’s ridiculous. People need to stop bickering.”
She said her shop will have hand sanitizer and wipes. She has a website as does Books to be Red and numerous other island shops on which people can virtually shop.
Earl Pugh Jr., chairman of the Hyde County Board of Commissioners, said in an interview that he and other county officials are conferring about how to let county employees work from home among other measures to deal with the outbreak.
“We’re advising people to stay calm and use the precautions that are out there (from the Centers from Disease Control),” he said.
There are so many unknowns about this disease, he said.
“If you got people going off island, they could catch it,” he said. Restricting island access would be premature and would be a disaster, he said.
He and county officials have been talking to surrounding counties.
Dare County at 1:15 p.m. today declared a state of emergency to allow the county and individual towns to quickly implement restrictions necessary to help combat the spread of COVID-19.
At this time, the state of emergency restricts mass gatherings of 50 people or more, guidance that was established by the CDC on Sunday.
A mass gathering according to the CDC, does not include normal operations at airports, bus and train stations, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls and centers, or other spaces where more than 50 persons are gathered. It also does not include office environments, restaurants, factories, grocery stores or other retail establishments.
Local events
As for local events, the WOVV annual meeting scheduled for this Thursday is canceled.
David Tweedie, executive director of Ocracoke Alive, said that although the Ocrafolk Festival, scheduled for June 5 to 7, is more than 10 weeks away, they hope to have a final decision in early April whether to go forth and that decision may involve a modified festival.
Fireman’s Ball May (23): The committee will make a final decision when they get more details and this, too, might be a modified version, said Stephanie Ihle, one of the event organizers.
Portsmouth homecoming canceled The following was posted this morning on the Friends of Portsmouth Island Facebook page: “We regret to announce that we have no choice but to cancel our Portsmouth Homecoming, which was scheduled for April 25, due to the corona virus situation. Not only do we fall into the mandated ‘over 50 people’ category, we also have no hand-washing facilities and cannot keep people separated, per the six-foot requirement.
“We cannot take the chance of anyone unknowingly bringing this virus to Ocracoke, and we do not want you to become infected at our event and take it home. For those members who purchased raffle tickets, we will hold the raffle at a later date and will keep you informed.”
N.C. Ferry System The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division announced today that it is strengthening procedures to protect the health and safety of passengers and crew members during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The safety of our passengers and crews is our top priority,” said Ferry Division Director Harold Thomas. “For that reason, we’ll be putting these measures in place until further notice.”
Ferry crews are increasing regular cleaning practices in seating areas and restroom facilities. Ferry employees are required to regularly wash their hands and are encouraged to wear gloves to control the spread of the virus.
In addition, passengers are now being asked to remain in their vehicles for the duration of the voyage, if possible. Passengers who need to exit their vehicles are asked to follow guidelines developed by the CDC, including limiting contact with surfaces, remaining at least six feet away from other passengers and employees and washing hands for at least 20 seconds before returning to their vehicles.
Guidance on preventing the spread of the virus from the CDC is also being posted in areas where it can be easily seen by passengers and employees.
SBA loans Gov. Roy Cooper today requested that the U.S. Small Business Administration grant a disaster declaration for business owners across North Carolina facing economic losses due to the new coronavirus COVID-19.
“We know that the new coronavirus is already impacting businesses and this financial assistance will help,” he said in a press release.
If granted, the declaration would provide disaster loans to impacted businesses to help fulfill financial obligations and operating expenses.
Cooper on March 10, issued Executive Order No. 116 declaring a state of emergency for the State of North Carolina.
Editor’s note: This guidance announcement is expected to have an impact on many planned spring events on Ocracoke and the rest of the Outer Banks. This story is breaking and as more details become known they will be forthcoming.
To slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now advising against gatherings of 50 people or more for the next eight weeks.
The announcement provided examples of event that include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals.
This recommendation does not apply to the day-to-day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning or businesses.
Although only a recommendation, this guidance announcement may have an impact on several planned events on the Outer Banks. More reporting will be forthcoming.
The state Department of Health and Human Services posted on its website Sunday that North Carolina now has 32 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. In addition, Wilson County reported Sunday it had its first COVID-19 case, bringing the state’s total to at least 33 cases in 14 counties. Most reports are from Wake County. Hyde and Dare Counties have not had any reports.
As of this morning, the New York Times reported at least 3,602 people in 49 states, plus Washington, D.C., and three U.S. territories, have tested positive for COVID-19, and at least 66 patients with the virus have died. West Virginia is the sole state without a report.
A cascade of announcements of shutdowns of schools and libraries and cancellations of activities throughout the country had already begun prior to the CDC announcement.
Stocks plunged this morning with the S&P 500 falling 8% and the Dow opened 9.7%, or 2,250 points lower at the start of trading. A drop of more than 7 percent of the S&P 500 triggers an automatic ‘circuit breaker’ that halted trading for 15 minutes, a measure meant to prevent the markets from crashing.
Gov. Roy Cooper today (March 14) ordered public schools closed for two weeks starting Monday. Photo courtesy of Raleigh News&Observer
Saturday, March 14, 2020. 5:53 p.m. This coronavirus story continues to unfold.
From our news sources
RALEIGH–Gov. Roy Cooper today ordered all K-12 public schools in North Carolina to close for a minimum of two weeks in response to COVID-19. The executive order also bans gatherings of more than 100 people. North Carolina currently has 23 people in 12 counties who have tested positive for COVID-19.
“We do not have the luxury of a wait-and-see approach,” Cooper said. “These are hard decisions but they are necessary so we can learn more about the virus. We do not want any regrets in the rearview mirror, and I am guided by one objective – doing what we must to keep people from getting sick and to make sure that those who do can get excellent care.”
The executive order directs all public schools to close beginning Monday, March 16, for at least two weeks.
The two-week period allows time for North Carolina to further understand the impact of COVID-19 across the state and develop a plan for continued learning for students should a longer closure be needed.
Cooper said he said he wanted uniformity among the state’s 1.5 million public school students instead of having scattered school closings.
Cooper made the decision in consultation with State Board of Education Chair Eric Davis, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson and North Carolina Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen.
Cooper appointed an Education and Nutrition Working Group to develop a plan to ensure that children and families are supported while schools are closed. The working group will focus on issues including nutrition, health, childcare access for critical health care and other front-line workers and learning support for children at home.
The Working Group will be co-chaired by Susan Gale Perry, chief deputy secretary of NC DHHS, and David Stegall, Ed.D, Deputy State Superintendent of Innovation at DPI, and will have representatives from DPI, NC DHHS, the State Board of Education, as well as other education, nutrition and childcare associations.
“I am standing up this new working group to ensure that children have enough food to eat, families have care in safe places for their young children, and student learning continues,” Cooper said.
Cooper said Saturday that teachers would still be paid during the next two weeks.
In addition to closing schools, the executive order prohibits mass gatherings that bring together more than 100 people in a single room or space, such as an auditorium, stadium, arena, large conference room, meeting hall, theater or other confined indoor or outdoor space, including parades, fairs and festivals.
Violations of the order are punishable as a Class 2 misdemeanor.
The ban on gatherings does not include airports, bus and train stations, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls and spaces where people may be in transit. Office environments, restaurants, factories, or retail or grocery stores are also excluded.
The order received concurrence by members of the N.C. Council of State without objection. The full executive order is availablehere.
Make sure the information you are getting about COVID-19 is coming directly from reliable sources like the CDC and NCDHHS.
For more information, please visit the CDC’s website atwww.cdc.gov/coronavirusand NCDHHS’ website atwww.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus,which includes daily updates on positive COVID-19 test results in North Carolina.
Amidst the escalating health crisis surrounding COVID-19, Hyde county schools–Ocracoke and Mattamuskeet–will not close, at least for now, according to Superintendent of Hyde County Schools Stephen Basnight in an announcement on Friday.
But he outlined major steps the district is taking to help protect the students and staff, such as encouraging frequent hand washing and restricting access to school buildings, .
Based on recommendations issued Friday by Gov. RoyCooper, the Centers for Disease Control, state and local health departments, effective immediately, Hyde County Schools has implemented the following:
Hyde County Schools Superintendent Steve Basnight. Photo: P. Vankevich
➢ Limit visitor access to schools. Visitors, including parents or guardians, will not be allowed access to cafeterias, hallways, restrooms or other areas of the school buildings other than the front office.
➢ Eliminate all non-essential out-of-district travel for students and staff.
➢ Cancel all school field trips through April 6.
➢ No longer hold school assemblies or large group gatherings and will practice social distancing to the highest degree possible.
These protocols will be in effect until at least April 6.
Included in the announcement, Basnight said students and staff should stay home if they are sick and two electrostatic disinfectant sprayer systems designed to kill a series of viruses, including COVID-19, have been ordered.
The schools have also prepared a virtual learning plan that would be implemented if the campuses are shut down.
Ocracoke’s County Commissioner Tom Pahl said today he has been part of several phone conferences to gather information and help formulate a unified response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The county staff is working on developing policy and implementing policies that are directed to the operation of our county government as well as recommendations to the people in Hyde County about what we should be doing now and and what we might be expecting in a couple of weeks, “ Pahl said
He said that Luana Gibbs, Hyde County health director, will be on the agenda of the OCBA meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday (March 18) in the Community Center.
“We’ve discussed the wisdom of even holding that meeting, “ he said. “We think it’s okay. It’s fewer than 100 people and I think it’s actually an important meeting because it’ll be a chance for people to ask some questions and put some ideas out there and share their concerns.”
He said the meeting will be set up as a webcast with the link to be determined.
“(This is) so that anybody who is not comfortable going to a public meeting can still sit in on the meeting by a computer link,” Pahl said.
As of this morning, there are now 24 cases in North Carolina of people testing positive for COVID-19. Most of them are in the Triangle area, according to the Raleigh News&Observer. There have not been any reported cases in in Hyde or Dare counties.
The fear of spreading the virus has caused thousands of public gatherings and events throughout the entire country to be canceled or postponed, including the canceling the NCAA basketball tournament, postponing the 2020 Masters golf tournament and the Major League Baseball season opening.
Many colleges and universities are closing their campuses and resorting to online classes, and workers in numerous governmental and private sectors are working from home.
The NC Conference United Methodist Church Disaster Response Team office on Ocracoke is on the United Methodist Church grounds. Photo: C. Leinbach
The North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church Disaster Ministries has suspended operations in all of its disaster ministries centers and satellite offices for the next two and a half weeks due to the coronavirus.
Operations on Ocracoke will be suspended from Sunday, March 15, through Tuesday, March 31.
“While operations are suspended, we will be using the time to thoroughly clean and disinfect all of our facilities,” Al Miller III, director of disaster ministries, said in a press release. “We hope you understand we are doing this out of an abundance of caution for you and your family.”
As the situation continues to develop, the NCCUMC will monitor and evaluate its next steps for April and beyond.
“We apologize for any inconvenience this will cause,” Miller said. “While we certainly understand the magnitude of the work of recovery that we are all involved in, the health and safety of our volunteers, staff, and clients is also of great importance to us.”
Locally, Hyde County Schools Superintendent Steve Basnight explains Hyde’s COVID-19 plans. Photo by Richard Taylor
From our news sources
RALEIGH: North Carolina is taking proactive steps to protect the health and well being of our state in the face of growing cases of the coronavirus COVID-19 around the nation and here in North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper announced today. Included in today’s guidance is a recommendation to cancel or postpone gatherings over 100 people and telework if possible.
“North Carolina has more tough decisions ahead, and we will be ready to make them,” Cooper said in a press release. “We have the benefit of learning from other countries and other states about the best ways to fight this pandemic. We know that if we can slow the spread of this virus now, then fewer people will be infected or become seriously ill. And we can be more effective in avoiding an overload of our medical system. It will save lives.”
North Carolina currently has 15 positive cases reported with more expected. Events all over the state are being canceled daily.
NC Department of Health & Human Services is making the following recommendations for all North Carolinians to reduce the spread of infection while we are still in an early stage in order to protect lives and avoid strain on our health care system. NC DHHS is making these recommendations for the next 30 days and will re-assess at that point.
SYMPTOMATIC PERSONS If you need medical care and have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or suspect you might have COVID-19, call ahead and tell your health care provider you have or may have COVID-19. This will allow them to take steps to keep other people from getting exposed. NC DHHS recommends that persons experiencing fever and cough should stay at home and not go out until their symptoms have completely resolved.
HIGH RISK PERSONS WITHOUT SYMPTOMS NC DHHS recommends that people at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should stay at home to the extent possible to decrease the chance of infection.
People at high risk include people: Over 65 years of age, or with underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes, or with weakened immune systems.
CONGREGATE LIVING FACILITIES NC DHHS recommends that all facilities that serve as residential establishments for high risk persons described above should restrict visitors. Exceptions should include end of life care or other emergent situations determined by the facility to necessitate a visit. If visitation is allowed, the visitor should be screened and restricted if they have a respiratory illness or potential exposure to COVID-19. Facilities are encouraged to implement social distancing measures and perform temperature and respiratory symptom screening of residents and staff. These establishments include settings such as nursing homes, independent and assisted living facilities, correction facilities and facilities that care for medically vulnerable children.
SCHOOLS We do not recommend pre-emptive school closure at this time but do recommend that schools and childcare centers cancel or reduce large events and gatherings (e.g., assemblies) and field trips, limit inter-school interactions and consider distance or e-learning in some settings. Students at high risk should implement individual plans for distance or e-learning. School dismissals may be necessary when staff or student absenteeism impacts the ability to remain open. Short-term closures may also be necessary to facilitate public health investigation and/or cleaning if a case is diagnosed in a student or staff member.
WORKPLACE NC DHHS recommends that employers and employees use teleworking technologies to the greatest extent possible, stagger work schedules, and consider canceling non-essential travel. Workplaces should hold larger meetings virtually, to the extent possible. Additionally, employers should arrange the work space to optimize distance between employees, ideally at least six feet apart. Employers should urge high risk employees to stay home and urge employees to stay home when they are sick and maximize flexibility in sick leave benefits.
MASS GATHERINGS, COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL EVENTS NC DHHS recommends that organizers of events that draw more than 100 people should cancel, postpone, modify these events or offer online streaming services. These events include large gatherings where people are in close contact (less than six feet), for example, concerts, conferences, sporting events, faith-based events and other large gatherings.
MASS TRANSIT Mass transit operators should maximize opportunities for cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces. People should avoid using use mass transit (e.g. buses, trains) while sick.
As the number of cases of COVID-19 rise in North Carolina and the United States, and with the designation of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization, the state is responding with a whole government response. COVID-19 is a new infection that is particularly severe in older persons and those with medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes and weakened immune systems.
At this time there are no approved treatments and no vaccine to prevent it. However, there are known methods to reduce and slow the spread of infection. Individuals can practice everyday prevention measures like frequent hand washing, staying home when sick and covering coughs and sneezes.
Community-based interventions can also help slow the spread of COVID-19. This includes measures collectively known as “social distancing.” Social distancing measures aim to reduce the frequency of contact and increase physical distance between persons, thereby reducing the risks of person-to-person transmission. These measures are most effective when implemented early in an epidemic.
We are at a critical inflection point where we may have the opportunity to slow the spread of this epidemic by taking proactive steps now.
Because COVID-19 is most commonly spread through respiratory droplets, North Carolinians should take the same measures that health care providers recommend to prevent the spread of the flu and other viruses, including washing your hands, avoiding touching your face, staying home if you are sick and covering coughs and sneezes with your elbow.
It is important to make sure the information you are getting about COVID-19 is coming directly from reliable sources like the CDC and NCDHHS. For more information, please visit the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus and NCDHHS’ website at www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus, which will also include daily positive COVID-19 test results in North Carolina.
The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association has information for the hospitality industry here.
March 12, 2020 Like so many members of our community, the staff and board of theOuter Banks Community Foundationare closely monitoring COVID-19. Internally, we are taking necessary steps in our office and business affairs to limit the potential for spreading any illness and for protecting the health and safety of our employees, visitors and constituents.
Just as important, our thoughts turn to our neighbors, both here and afar.
Your community foundation is ready to support the Outer Banks if and when local needs arise. This is an uncertain time, and we are working to connect with our nonprofit partners to learn of their contingency plans, to encourage local readiness and to ascertain local needs as they begin to surface and evolve.
Should the coronavirus spread to the Outer Banks, our nonprofit community will doubtless be on the front lines of the outbreak, providing medical services, nutritional assistance, financial support to people in need and critical care for our most vulnerable neighbors. As ever, your Community Foundation will be here to help.
If your nonprofit has special needs related to the outbreak, contingency plans to share, or concerns for our community, please call our executive director, Lorelei Costa, at 252-261-8839. We want to hear from you.
Our prayers are with our friends across North Carolina, the United States and the World.
