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Mocksville, NC (March 13, 2020) – A public notice has been issued to the residents of Davie County, North Carolina in an effort to take precautionary measures for the Coronavirus (COVID-19). As many of you are well aware, the Governor has declared a State of Emergency for North Carolina due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Davie County Government staff is collaborating with state officials to monitor the daily development of COVID-19, and will take measures to notify citizens and community members should a local State of Emergency Declaration occur. County staff are diligently working to plan and prepare for a response should it be needed.
There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Davie County at this point, but we must plan to mitigate such situations in a proactive way to minimize the impact of it. While there are no approved treatments and no vaccine to prevent it, we may have the opportunity to slow the spread of COVID-19 by taking proactive steps now. We should follow prudent advice from health care experts, including our Davie County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) staff, so fewer people will be infected or become ill. Citizens and community members should also practice everyday prevention measures like frequent hand washing, avoiding touching your face, staying home when sick, and covering coughs and sneezes with your elbow. These measures are most effective when implemented early allowing us to avoid the spreading of COVID-19 present in nearby counties.
DCHHS staff is assisting our community partners with their preparedness efforts by answering questions and providing ongoing clinician guidance. People at high risk of COVID-19 include: infants; those over 65 years of age; or with underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes; or with weakened immune systems. Symptomatic individuals should contact their primary care provider (PCP). Flu has to be ruled out, and other criteria must be met as determined by the PCP, before DCHHS can determine whether testing is needed. DCHHS is coordinating communication between the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Centers for Disease Control/Prevention, and testing facilities in our area.
As part of the public notice, Davie County Government is including the recommendations made by the Governor and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Again these are recommendations and should be considered by all North Carolinians for at least the next 30 days. To read those recommendations, read the public notice in its entirety by clicking here.
After hearing the recommendations of our state officials, Davie County Government will employ the following actions as preemptive measures. Further actions will be taken if a local State of Emergency is enacted. Until then, effective immediately for the next 30 days:
- All Davie County Government meetings will be postponed or rescheduled to avoid mass gatherings. This will include all Davie County Government Boards, Committees, and County Commissioner meetings. This does not apply to faith-based organizations, businesses, and non-governmental organizations, as the county has no jurisdiction over those entities. Davie County Government also has no jurisdiction regarding state governed entities and local municipalities/towns as those elected/administrative bodies will need to make their own informed decisions.
- All public meeting rooms in Davie County Government facilities used by non-governmental organizations and community organizations should be relocated. Please consult with the applicable department where the meeting room is located for further guidance. Davie County Government has no jurisdiction regarding state or federal governed entities who are located in county facilities, as those elected/administrative bodies will need to make their own informed decisions about activities occurring in their space.
- Davie County Manager, John Eller, will continue to discuss contingency plans with department directors and make appropriate decisions regarding county operations, services, programs, and local events within each department. Those departments will notify citizens/participants accordingly based on those plans and decisions.
The Board of County Commissioners would like to encourage citizens and community members to visit the County website at www.daviecountync.gov for the most up-to-date information on the coronavirus (COVID-19). County staff will also be placing information on various social media sites, including:
We encourage you to share this information with others. While this is not what any of us would wish to do, it is the best strategy to keep everyone safe from COVID-19 until more information is available.
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