Wake County Public Health to Launch Phase 1b of COVID-19 Vaccinations on Jan. 19

Wake County Public Health to Launch Phase 1b of COVID-19 Vaccinations on Jan. 19

Shots to Become Available to Residents Ages 75 and Older

Post Date: 01/12/2021 2:05 PM

The following is a news release from Wake County government concerning COVID-19 vaccinations:

Wake County Public Health will start vaccinating residents ages 75 and older against COVID-19 on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Wake County Public Health has made significant progress in vaccinating Phase 1a and is ready to roll into Phase 1b of the process.

“We’ve taken a major step forward in providing protection to our healthcare workers, and now, we’re poised to give the vaccine to our older residents who are at greater risk of serious health problems if they contract the virus,” said Wake County Board of Commissioners Chairman Matt Calabria. “We strongly encourage anyone 75 or older to consider rolling up their sleeves and getting the shots to safeguard themselves and their loved ones from COVID-19.”

How the Vaccination Process Will Work
Wake County Public Health’s COVID-19 response team has worked diligently to create a process that ensures none of our seniors waits outside in a long line in the bitter cold to get vaccinated only to find out the day’s allotment of doses is gone when they get to the door.

To avoid this scenario, the team has built a new tool that will allow residents ages 75 or older to express interest in getting vaccinated, and essentially reserve their place in line. Then, when supply allows, the team will reach out to them to schedule an appointment. That way, they’ll know exactly when and where to get their shot, making for an easy and efficient experience.

The tool will go live in two ways on Jan. 19. It’ll be accessible on our website and via a special phone line staffed by customer service representatives. The county will share the phone number and the web address, as well as more details about the process, as we get closer to Jan. 19.

Limited Supply of the Vaccine

Wake County Public Health is one of five healthcare providers in the county to receive shipments of the vaccine. The others include the three local hospitals and UNC Wakebrook.

Together, the five entities have received 24,757 doses – with just 3,950 of them going to our Public Health clinic. To date, the county has administered 2,000 doses, with more than 2,000 additional doses scheduled to go in arms over the coming days.

“We’re moving quickly to vaccinate as many people as we can, according to the priority order established by the state,” said Dr. Jason Wittes, Wake County’s Pharmacy Director. “The challenge is we never know how much vaccine we’ll get from week to week, which has made planning for all the phases difficult.”

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for determining how much vaccine is allotted to each healthcare provider in each county and when they receive it.

There are 53,000 people in Wake County who fall into the 75 and older age group. If only half of them request an appointment to get vaccinated, Dr. Wittes and his team still don’t have enough supply to serve them all right now. It will take time – and patience – to meet the demand.

Partnering with Local Healthcare Providers

To help, Wake County Public Health is partnering with Duke Raleigh Hospital, UNC Health, and WakeMed Health and Hospitals to expand accessibility to the vaccine for seniors ages 75 and older, with each partner making their own decision as to when they begin vaccinating persons in Phase 1b.

Since the hospitals have the bulk of the doses, they can bolster the limited amount of vaccine Wake County Public Health has by several thousand doses and, ultimately, help inoculate more people in this high-risk group.

“This is why the scheduling process is critical,” said Dr. Wittes. “By asking seniors to request an appointment, we can match up our collective supply with the demand and offer the vaccine in a measured and methodical way.”

Wake County Public Health will continue providing first and second doses of the vaccine to healthcare workers in Phase 1a while it offers shots to the 75 and older age group.

Next Steps

Wake County Public Health will begin reaching out to local organizations that serve the elderly to inform them about the launch of Phase 1b.

Meanwhile, the county will continue answering questions from the community about the vaccine through its COVID-19 hotline – 919-250-1500 – and its email address – covid19.questions@wakegov.com.

Town Hall to Close to the Public Beginning Jan. 6

Officials Make Decision in Response to Rising COVID-19 Numbers

Post Date:01/05/2021 10:48 AM

In response to the latest COVID-19 trends in the state and region—particularly regarding number of cases, infection rates and hospitalizations—the Town of Garner has decided to close Town Hall to the public effective 8 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 6, until further notice. This decision has been made to better protect staff and the community during this especially dangerous phase of the pandemic.

The Town Council's Jan. 19 regular meeting and Jan. 26 work session will be held virtually and will be live streamed at facebook.com/townofgarner. Details regarding public comments and participation in public hearings for the Jan. 19 meeting will be shared at a later date.

The Jan. 11 Planning Commission meeting will be a hybrid in-person/virtual meeting. Town Hall will be open to the public for that meeting; however, people who are not intending to speak at the meeting are strongly encouraged to stay home and watch the live stream at facebook.com/townofgarner.

Development Services (Planning, Engineering and Inspections) will continue to receive submittals and correspondence by means of drop-off bins that are located in the Town Hall main entrance vestibule. These bins are accessible 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For details about how to use the bins for submittals or correspondence, please visit garnernc.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1120/17. For Development Services-related assistance, please call 919.773.4433.

Bill payments will not be accepted at Town Hall during this closure of the building to the public, and residents are asked to NOT use the outside dropbox. Residents wanting to make bill payments to Raleigh Public Utilities or the Wake County Tax Office can do so online or by mailing payments. For Town of Garner payment assistance, please call 919.773.4411.

For continuing updates about the Town's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit garnernc.gov and follow the Town of Garner on social media.

Courtesy Town of Garner

2020 Firemen's Day Festival Cancelled

After careful thought and consideration, Garner Fire-Rescue has made the decision to not hold its Annual Firemen’s Day Festival this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The safety of members, volunteers, vendors and guests is of the utmost importance, Garner Fire-Rescue stressed. We all look forward to enjoying this great Garner tradition again in October 2021.

Post Date: 07/28/2020 

Garner Cancels In-Person Independence Day Celebration: TV Program Planned; Fireworks May Be Rescheduled

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as uncertainties about future directives from the Governor’s Office concerning the phased reopening of the state, the Town of Garner has decided to cancel its traditional July 3rd Independence Day Celebration. The Town is hoping to reschedule the fireworks portion of the celebration for later in the year, but no final decision has been made.

Instead of the traditional in-person celebration—which historically has included fireworks, food vendors, kids activities and a performance by the North Carolina Symphony—the Town is planning to work with Garner-based Show N Tell Ministries to produce a television/video program that would feature Broadway stars, the 82nd Airborne Band, a Salute to the Troops and greetings from Mayor Ken Marshburn and Town Council Members. This program would be broadcast on the Town’s public, educational and governmental television channel starting on July 3 and also would be available on demand on the Town’s YouTube channel (youtube.com/townofgarner).

In addition, the Town is arranging to have an aircraft fly in a loop over Garner displaying a banner with an Independence Day message to residents.

Town staff presented this alternative celebration plan to the Town Council at its May 19 meeting, and the Council approved the proposal. Staff and Council believe this option will maximize opportunities to celebrate Independence Day while keeping staff and residents safe during this challenging time.

More details about this alternative celebration—and about any rescheduling of the fireworks show—will be shared as they become available. You can look for these details on the Town’s website GarnerNC.gov, as well as on the Town’s various social media accounts.

Stay safe.

Garner Town Council Meeting Expected to Be Held Remotely

Town Hall remains closed to the public as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The April 20 Planning Commission meeting has been cancelled. However, as of the publication of this newsletter, the April 21 Town Council meeting is still scheduled to be held, but we expect it to happen remotely. We will have details soon about how the public can view the meeting and submit public comments in advance of it.

Keep up to date on local pandemic information and learn about available resources by visiting and bookmarking https://www.garnernc.gov/about-us/covid-19.

Stay well, stay home.

Re-published Courtesy Town of Garner

Governor’s Task Force Encourages North Carolinians to Increase Preparedness Measures for COVID-19

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EDITOR’S NOTE

THIS RELEASE IS FROM 2/26/2020 AND IS OUTDATED. PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION.

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Press Release

Raleigh

Feb 26, 2020

Governor Roy Cooper’s Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Task Force continues to prepare for the possibility of COVID-19 infections occurring in North Carolina and is encouraging businesses, schools, health care providers, communities and individuals to prepare as well. Currently, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in North Carolina.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has indicated that Americans should be anticipating and preparing for the possibility of widespread COVID-19 in the United States. Since late January, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and NC Emergency Management (NCEM) have been operating a team to coordinate efforts around the state’s response. In early February, Governor Cooper formalized this effort with the creation of the COVID-19 Task Force. 

“NCDHHS has been coordinating with the CDC and state and local partners to prepare for COVID-19 since the beginning of the outbreak in China,” said Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer for NCDHHS. “We are asking North Carolinians to continue to plan ahead for the possibility of the spread of the infection, while the risk for North Carolina is currently low.”

NCDHHS and NCEM are working closely with local health departments, health care providers and others to quickly identify and respond to any potential isolated cases that might occur in the state and prepare North Carolinians to be ready in the event of more widespread, national COVID-19 transmission. The Task Force is developing response plans that address a range of possible scenarios. NCDHHS continues to host regular calls with local health providers and partners, develop and disseminate information and guidance and respond to questions from providers and communities.  

“We have been working closely with our Public Health and Office of Emergency Medical Services partners to ensure our preparedness for all scenarios as it relates to COVID-19 infection,” said Director of Emergency Management Mike Sprayberry, who co-chairs the Governor’s Task Force with Dr. Tilson. "We would rather be over prepared to protect the health and well-being of North Carolinians."

The following are common-sense measures all North Carolinians can take to prepare for potential widespread transmission of COVID-19 in the state:

Individuals, Families and Communities 

• NCDHHS recommends everyone continue taking precautions to protect themselves and others from the spread of respiratory illnesses, which includes COVID-19. 

  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water, and for at least 20 seconds each time.

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

  • Avoid close contact with people who are ill.

  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

  • Do not reuse tissue after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.

  • Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched.

  • It is also good practice to start being more aware of the number of times a day your hands touch an object or hard surface and then touch your face without being washed. Limiting the exposure of your nose, mouth and eyes to unwashed hands can help to protect from the spread of all germs and illnesses.

  • Have a plan in case you need to miss work or other responsibilities due to personal illness or to care for a sick family member.

  • For pregnant women and children, review the information and guidance available on the CDC website.

Businesses and Employers 

• Practice good hand hygiene and encourage your employees and patrons to take common-sense precautions to protect themselves from the spread of respiratory illnesses.

• Review your policies and procedures for remote or teleworking where possible.

• Cross-train employees for key functions so that daily schedules can continue relatively uninterrupted by potential employee absences.

• Review absenteeism policies to make sure employees are not being encouraged to come to work if they are sick.

• If you have not already, establish a relationship with your local health department and communicate with them if you have any questions or concerns about COVID-19.

• Look for more updates and guidance for businesses available on the CDC website.

Health Care Providers and Hospitals 

• Review policies and procedures for infection prevention and mitigation, and make sure that all employees are aware of and following the appropriate steps.

• Consider how to maximize the use of telemedicine, nurse triage lines and other options to prevent sick people from coming to clinics and emergency rooms if they have mild illness and do not need treatment.

• Continue implementing the NCDHHS and CDC guidance for COVID-19 and continue working closely with your local health department and NCDHHS.

• Look for more updates and information for health care professionals on the CDC website.

College, Universities, K-12 Schools and Child Care Facilities 

• Make sure all students, faculty and staff are aware of and practicing good hand hygiene and taking common-sense precautions to protect from the spread of respiratory illnesses.

• Review absenteeism policies and procedures to make sure students or children, faculty and staff are not being encouraged to attend or work if they are sick.

• If you have not already, establish a relationship with your local health department and communicate with them if you have any questions or concerns about COVID-19.

• Learn more about COVID-19 on the CDC website, and look for updates and information for schools, colleges and childcare.

No one group, ethnicity or population in the US is at a higher risk for acquiring COVID-19 infection than others. While some people may be worried or have concerns about COVID-19, it is important to not let fear and anxiety lead to social stigma towards friends, neighbors or members of the community. Treat all people with compassion and speak up if you hear others making statements that cause stigma against people in your community.

All North Carolinians can better prepare for COVID-19 by getting up-to-date information directly from reliable sources like NCDHHS and the CDC. The COVID-19 outbreak has been accompanied by a global flood of misinformation from unreliable sources. Be thoughtful about what you read or hear about the virus and make sure you are separating rumor from fact before you act.  

For more information on COVID-19, please visit the CDC’s website at cdc.gov/coronavirus. North Carolina resources can be found on the Division of Public Health website at ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus. 

If you have questions or concerns, call the COVID-19 Helpline toll free at 1-866-462-3821. To submit questions online, go to www.ncpoisoncontrol.org and select “chat."