May 1, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: COVID-19 Burke County Media Briefing
Burke County’s Response to COVID-19
• Burke County is currently at 106 positive cases. The cases consist of both traveling and community spread. All positive cases are isolated and Public Health staff continues to investigate the cases and will be locating those close contacts to help contain the spread of the infection.
• Numbers noted on the state website may fluctuate during the public health investigations when staff find out that some positive tests are truly not Burke County residents. Numbers listed above are correct numbers for Burke County.
• Public information line has been opened Monday through Friday, 8am – 5pm for those with questions can call 828-764-9388.
All positive cases are investigated and all close contacts of those are notified and tested. If contacts are determined not to be easily identifiable then the Burke County Public Health officials will get the information out into the public for those that might have been in contact with someone testing positive. Residents will continue to put themselves at risk the more they go into public settings.
Update from Burke County Commissioner Chair, Johnnie Carswell regarding updated State of Emergency for Burke County:
The change to the State of Emergency for Burke County, effective as of May 1, 2020, no longer requires the suspension of rentals, as it pertains to the rental of lodging facilities, including Airbnb rentals, bed and breakfast rentals, VRBO vacation rentals by owners, campgrounds, timeshare units, condominiums, and other rental programs or places where leases or rentals are for less than one (1) month in duration, provided the owners, operators and renters of said facilities strictly adhere to all virus spreading prevention strategies such as wearing masks, social distancing and sanitizing protocols established by the Centers for Disease Control.
I hereby amend the Declaration of State of Emergency to eliminate the suspension of rentals concerning lodging facilities, including Airbnb rentals, bed and breakfast rentals, VRBO vacation rentals by owners, campgrounds, timeshare units, condominiums, and other rental programs or places where leases or rentals are for less than one (1) month in duration. The Declaration of a State of Emergency as amended by the Amendment of March 27, 2020, and by this Amendment, shall remain in full force and effect.
Update on www.burkenc.org/COVID-19Webpage:
• Charts with percentages of positives cases by gender and age breakdowns
• These charts are updated by 5pm daily
Since the data for this situation is continually changing, North Carolina residents can always check the NC Department of Health and Human Services website for updated information. The state has added county level data regarding long term care facilities and the number of cases and deaths associated with those facilities. The website is located at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/covid19.
If you have any further questions or need additional information, contact the Burke County Public Information Line at 828-764-9388, Monday – Friday from 8am – 5pm. After hours, weekends and holidays, the NC Public Information Line number is provided as a resource to contact. The operator will answer your questions or direct you to the correct person to answer your questions. Or you can also visit the Burke County COVID-19 webpage at www.burkenc.org/COVID-19. If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 and inform the dispatcher that you have symptoms listed for COVID-19.
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