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NCDHHS issues immediate directive for NC as COVID-19 passes 17% positivity rating


During Gov. Roy Cooper's weekly COVID-19 update for North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 6, Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, spoke and issued an immediate Secretarial Directive to all North Carolinians. (Photo courtesy of NCDHHS)
During Gov. Roy Cooper's weekly COVID-19 update for North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 6, Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, spoke and issued an immediate Secretarial Directive to all North Carolinians. (Photo courtesy of NCDHHS)
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During Gov. Roy Cooper's weekly COVID-19 update for North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 6, Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, spoke and issued an immediate Secretarial Directive to all North Carolinians.

“Given this high level of viral spread across the spread today, I am issuing a secretarial directive on immediate action North Carolinians need to take to save lives and slow the spread of virus," Cohen said.

She issued the directive, she said, in an effort to utilize every possible tool residents have to slow the spread of the virus as people wait on COVID-19 vaccination supply to be big enough to reach enough of the population, and because the state's percent positivity rate for the virus continues only to climb.


"Hospitals are feeling the strain and this is incredibly worrisome. We are not quite at red but we are in the orange today," Cohen said. "Almost the whole state is red. We now have 84 counties in the red at critical viral spread. That means 96% of our counties are in either red or orange. We are in a very dangerous position."

Wednesday, Cohen said North Carolina surpassed 17% COVID-19 positivity. Cohen stressed several times the likelihood of any person in the state to remember they could likely have COVID-19 and not know it, especially if they were around people outside their own home in the past 2 weeks.

MODIFIED STAY HOME ORDER FOR NORTH CAROLINA EXTENDED FOR THREE WEEKS

"This secretarial order lays out in very stark order immediate protections that folks can take. It’s not about police showing up at someone’s home," Cohen responded to a reporter's question during the press conference, "but about being excessively clear about what I and my department feels is what it takes to protect everyone at this time."

"It’s important to remember you could have COVID-19 right now and not know it, and you don’t want to spread it to others, especially those with underlying medical conditions," Cohen continued. "We need to be protecting each other, helping each other out. We need to really pull together as a state given what we’re seeing.

The secretarial directive is as follows:

  • Only leave home for essential activities such as going to work or school, for health care purposes, to care for family members or to buy food.
  • Avoid leaving home if you are over 65 or at high risk for developing serious illness. Use delivery services or alternative pick-up methods for food and retail.
  • Avoid gathering with people who do not live with you.
  • Wear a mask and keep distance from people when you leave home.
  • Avoid any indoor public spaces where people are not wearing masks.
  • Stay away from crowds. Avoid places where people may gather in large numbers.

As recommended by the White House Coronavirus Task Force to North Carolina, the directive also says that if you have gathered with people who do not live with you, assume that you became infected with the virus and get tested for COVID-19. People should also get tested if they have symptoms or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Cohen said given the level of the spread there is a a high chance that individuals have COVID-19 and do not know it. She is recommending to get tested if you have gathered with people outside of your household.

To find a COVID-19 testing site close to you, visit https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing/find-my-testing-place.

"This is the most worried I have been through this pandemic," Cohen said, noting that hospitals are not overrun at this point, but that she doesn't want it to get to that point.

BUNCOMBE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH STAFF PREPARE FOR PHASE 1B OF COVID-19 VACCINATIONS

When asked about recent reports of people declining the vaccine after being offered it, Cohen also continued to urge people to seek accurate information and education about the vaccine.

"We are seeing no serious side effects as 100,000 folks have been vaccinated here in North Carolina," Cohen said.

To read the full secretarial directive, click HERE.

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