July 8, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: COVID-19 Burke County Media Briefing
Burke County’s Response to COVID-19
• Burke County is currently at 1116 positive cases. These are cumulative cases for the county. If you want to see a breakdown of the cases please go visit the https://www.burkenc.org/dashboard webpage and view the data dashboard. The dashboard is updated late in the evening every day.
• Para español llame al 764-9150 y presione el número dos. Si nadie contesta deje un corto mensaje con su nombre y numero de teléfono.
Update from Burke County Health Department:
It is important for all residents to know that if you have been in close contact (which is defined as less than 6 feet away from someone COVID-19 positive for more than 10 to 30 minutes without a face covering) then it is better to wait 4 to 7 days from exposure before getting tested so the test results are more accurate. If you go to get tested too soon the test result could be inaccurate. If you have any further testing questions, don’t hesitate to contact 764-9168.
Update from NC Dept of Health and Human Services:
A press release was sent out yesterday to warn residents about methanol-contaminated hand sanitizers. Methanol is a toxic alcohol that can cause blindness and/or death when absorbed through the skin or when swallowed. No alcohol-based hand sanitizers should ever be ingested. Manufacturers and distributors are working on a voluntary recall of products that have a significant amount of methanol. There has been an increase in products manufactured in Mexico that are labeled to contain ethanol (normal alcohol in hand sanitizer) but was tested positive for methanol contamination. CDC issued the following recommendations to the public:
• Do not swallow any alcohol-based hand sanitizer or rub. These chemicals are not intended for human consumption and can lead to serious health issues, including death.
• Check your alcohol-based hand sanitizer or rub against the FDA’s testing and manufacturer’s recalls list. If your product is on this list, stop using the product and dispose of it immediately in appropriate hazardous waste containers; do not flush or pour them down the drain.
• Only use hand sanitizers for their intended purpose – to clean hands.
• Keep alcohol-based hand sanitizers out of reach of children and supervise their use.
• Seek immediate medical attention if you have swallowed alcohol-based hand sanitizer or are experiencing symptoms from repeated use of these products on your skin, and contact your poison center (1-800-222-1222) for advice. Signs and symptoms include headache, blurred vision or blindness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of coordination and decreased alertness.
Pleases remember: All residents are required to wear a face covering inside and outside when you cannot physically distance yourself more than 6 feet away from others. Public Health would please ask that you follow the community requirement.
If you have any further questions or need additional information, contact the Burke County Public Information Line at 828-764-9168, Monday – Friday from 8am – 5pm. After hours, weekends and holidays, please leave a message and your call will be answered as soon as staff returns. Or you can also visit the Burke County COVID-19 webpage at www.burkenc.org/COVID-19.
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