On Thursday, Buncombe County officals kicked off its new weekly meetings to update the public on Coronavirus(COVID-19).
The first case of Coronavirus was reported in North Carolina this week, but there are no cases reported in Buncombe County. County officials admitted that they are monitoring people who recently returned from potential exposure areas such as Asia or Italy but they would not confirm how many.
“So if people are ill. The first thing we want them to do is pick up the phone. They shouldn’t show up at the emergency department, they certainly shouldn’t show up at their local health department – they shouldn’t even show up at their doctor’s office. They should call their provider,” says Dr. Jennifer Mullendore with Buncombe County DHHS.
Mission Health Vice President Susan Mimms echoed these directions and explained Mission’s newest visitor protocol.
“The biggest change that we have made since last week was that we implemented some enhanced access screening so we are working with our staff to make sure that they don’t have to work with any symptoms and then we are accessing anyone who comes into Mission at this point with some screening questions to make sure that they are no ill,” says Mimms, who is also Chief of Pediatrics at Mission.
Mission Health released this full list of precautions to reduce visitors to Mission Hospital:
We are screening all patients and visitors upon entering Mission Hospital
We will be limiting access to Mission Hospital beginning at 7 pm (instead of the usual 9 pm) until to 5 am daily
During limited access, patients and visitors will need to use either Entrance 1 or 4
From 5 am to 7 pm the following entrances will be open: Entrances 1, 2, 4, 9 and 10
Recommending no visitors younger than 12
Mission Health also wants to direct patients to its virtual clinic as a way to limit contact.
Other Western North Carolina county health departments are releasing similar updates.
Macon County Health Department reports that they still do not have and confirmed coronavirus cases, as of Thursday. However, Macon County announced a confirmed flu outbreak. Three individuals have tested positive for influenza(flu) at Fidelia-Eckerd Living Center in Highlands.
“We understand that the novel Coronavirus, now known as COVID-19, is causing anxiety in our community,” reads a Macon County Health Department press release. “This is the time of year when we see the most cases of respiratory illnesses like the flu.”
NCDHHS says that right now there are over 950 cases of the flu in the state. Macon Health officials advise that people take the time to get a flu vaccine and follow CDC flu protocols.
People who want to stay informed on coronavirus or the flu can follow local media, the CDC website or sign up for county alert systems such as BC Alerts. County health department social media pages will also provide updates and advice.
Officals all agree on one piece of advice: wash your hands.
