Alamance County Health Department has identified a COVID-19 cluster at Highland Elementary in Burlington and EM Yoder Elementary in Mebane. Currently, five (5) cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed among staff at Highland Elementary. At EM Yoder Elementary, six (6) cases have been confirmed among three (4) staff and two (2) children. The cases will be included on the biweekly Child Care and School Settings report for NC DHHS. NC DHHS defines a cluster as minimum of five laboratory-confirmed cases with illness onsets or initial positive results within a 14-day period and plausible epidemiologic linkage between cases.

“We very much appreciate our close partnership with the Alamance County Health Department and always rely on their professional expertise and guidance for the health and safety of our students and staff, particularly during this unprecedented pandemic,” shared Superintendent Bruce Benson. “We have notified staff and families of our students at both schools about the cluster announcements per our established protocols and continue to reinforce the importance of all health and safety protocols we have in place. The areas of the school buildings where the identified individuals were present have already undergone a systematic cleaning and disinfection ensuring that our operations at the schools can continue.”

“Alamance County Health Department is in regular communication with Alamance-Burlington School System, so these clusters were identified and responded to quickly,” stated Health Director Tony Lo Giudice. “We will continue to offer guidance to ensure the safety of staff, children, and the community.”

Alamance County Health Department identified its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 20. Since then, a total of 9181 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the community. Of those confirmed cases, 8169 have been released from isolation and 888 remain active and in isolation. Included in those active cases, 60 individuals are receiving care at a hospital. Sadly, there have been 124 COVID-19 related deaths. COVID-related deaths include only patients who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, and who died without fully recovering from the disease.

COVID-19 cases are continuing to rise in Alamance and surrounding counties. It is important to take steps to reduce your risks of contracting COVID-19, specifically wearing a face covering, maintaining physical distance and avoiding crowds, and washing your hands and cleaning commonly used surfaces regularly. During this holiday season, limit travel and limit physical contact with people who do not live in your household. The health of you, your loved ones, and the community are what matters.

Alamance County Health Department has identified a COVID-19 cluster at Childcare Network in Elon. Currently, five (5) cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed among four (4) children and one (1) staff. The cases will be included on the biweekly Child Care and School Settings report for NC DHHS. NC DHHS defines a cluster as minimum of five laboratory-confirmed cases with illness onsets or initial positive results within a 14-day period and plausible epidemiologic linkage between cases.

A second COVID-19 outbreak has been identified at Blakey Hall Assisted Living in Elon. Currently, six (6) cases have been confirmed among five (5) residents and one (1) staff. NC DHHS defines an outbreak as two laboratory-confirmed cases in a period of 28 days within a congregate living or long-term care facility. Regular testing is required through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in order to provide surveillance as protective factor for both staff and residents.

Ed Weeks, Executive Director of Blakey Hall, stated “We contacted the Alamance County Health Department to report the results as well as to seek any additional guidance once we received the results. This is the classified outbreak in this particular building on our campus.  We also communicated with our resident’s families and responsible parties to inform them of our results. The cases are concentrated to our main assisted living building.  Our residents are quarantining in their rooms as we move forward to further sanitize our facility.  Our medical provider has been conducting weekly tests up until this point.   We will continue to work with the Health Department to aggressively protect our residents and staff.  Our local health department has been an exceptional resource for our community throughout this pandemic and we continue to appreciate their services.” He further stated, “We will continue to exercise our current restrictions and sanitation practices.  We are monitoring our residents and staff daily for symptoms and will be testing weekly until we no longer have any cases in our facilities.” 

 “Alamance County Health Department responded quickly to both Childcare Network and Blakey Hall to offer testing and guidance to mitigate the outbreak as quickly as possible,” stated Health Director Tony Lo Giudice. “We will continue to work with both facilities to ensure the safety of the community.”  

Alamance County Health Department identified its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 20. Since then, a total of 8827 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the community. Of those confirmed cases, 7808 have been released from isolation and 896 remain active and in isolation. Included in those active cases, 56 individuals are receiving care at a hospital. Sadly, there have been 123 COVID-19 related deaths. COVID-related deaths include only patients who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, and who died without fully recovering from the disease.

COVID-19 cases are continuing to rise in Alamance and surrounding counties. It is important to take steps to reduce your risks of contracting COVID-19, specifically wearing a face covering, maintaining physical distance and avoiding crowds, and washing your hands and cleaning commonly used surfaces regularly. During this holiday season, limit travel and limit physical contact with people who do not live in your household. The health of you, your loved ones, and the community are what matters.

Alamance County Health Department has identified an outbreak at two locations of the long-term care facility Springview Assisted Living in Burlington. Currently, three (3) cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at the Springview Ross Building. The confirmed cases are among two (2) residents and one (1) staff. At the Springview Brock Building, the confirmed cases are among two (2) staff. NC DHHS defines an outbreak as two laboratory-confirmed cases in a period of 28 days within a congregate living or long-term care facility. Regular testing is required through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in order to provide surveillance as protective factor for both staff and residents.

“Springview has routinely tested staff and will continue to test weekly,” stated Administrator Beverly Dix McHugh. “We also continue to monitor residents’ temperatures, oxygen levels and screen for any and all symptoms.”  

“Alamance County Health Department has collaborated with Springview Assisted Living to offer testing and guidance to mitigate the outbreak as quickly as possible in order to keep staff, residents, and our community safe,” stated Health Director Tony Lo Giudice. “We will continue to work with the facility by conducting surveillance testing and continuing communication between the Health Department, hospital partners and the facility.”

Alamance County Health Department identified its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 20. Since then, a total of 8032 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the community. Of those confirmed cases, 7133 have been released from isolation and 778 remain active and in isolation. Included in those active cases, 39 individuals are receiving care at a hospital. Sadly, there have been 121 COVID-19 related deaths. COVID-related deaths include only patients who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, and who died without fully recovering from the disease.

COVID-19 cases are continuing to rise in Alamance and surrounding counties. It is important to take steps to reduce your risks of contracting COVID-19, specifically wearing a face covering, maintaining physical distance and avoiding crowds, and washing your hands and cleaning commonly used surfaces regularly. During this holiday season, limit travel and limit physical contact with people who do not live in your household. The health of you, your loved ones, and the community are what matters.

Alamance County Health Department has identified a COVID-19 cluster at South Graham Elementary School in Graham. Currently, nine (9) cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at the facility. The confirmed cases are among staff, all whom are Alamance County residents. The cases will be included on the biweekly Child Care and School Settings report for NC DHHS.  NC DHHS defines a cluster as minimum of five laboratory-confirmed cases with illness onsets or initial positive results within a 14-day period and plausible epidemiologic linkage between cases.

“We appreciate the close working relationship we share with the Alamance County Health Department and appreciate their expertise and support for our schools, shared Superintendent Bruce Benson.” South Graham Elementary School staff and families have been notified about this situation per our established protocols. The areas of the school building where the identified individuals were present have already undergone a systematic cleaning and disinfection. The school is currently closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. Operations at the school will continue as usual after the holiday break and the district will continue to follow all health and safety protocols in place.” 

“Alamance Burlington School System collaborates closely with the health department and this cluster was identified quickly, we are thankful with this partnership to keep staff and children throughout the school system safe,” stated Alexandria Rimmer Interim Health Director. “We will continue offering guidance and support to mitigate the outbreak.”

Alamance County Health Department identified its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 20. Since then, a total of 7293 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the community. Of those confirmed cases, 6432 have been released from isolation and 744 remain active and in isolation. Included in those active cases, 27 individuals are receiving care at a hospital. Sadly, there have been 117 COVID-19 related deaths. COVID-related deaths include only patients who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, and who died without fully recovering from the disease.

With COVID-19 cases and deaths at a historic high, Public Health officials are asking residents to find alternatives to traditional Thanksgiving and Black Friday events that will lessen the spread of the virus. The best way to slow the spread is to avoid travel, in-person gatherings with people outside your household and going to crowded events, like standing in crowded lines at Black Friday sales. Using online alternatives to connect with family members outside your household and to shop for Black Friday deals will help prevent what could be a super spreader holiday.

With COVID-19 cases and deaths at a historic high, Public Health officials are asking residents to find alternatives to traditional Thanksgiving and Black Friday events that will lessen the spread of the virus.

The best way to slow the spread is to avoid travel, in-person gatherings with people outside your household and going to crowded events, like standing in crowded lines at Black Friday sales. Using online alternatives to connect with family members outside your household and to shop for Black Friday deals will help prevent what could be a super spreader holiday.

“During this Thanksgiving holiday we must make decisions that keep our friends, neighbors, and families safe. We must do our part; our actions will be responsible for the trajectory of COVID-19 in our community. We ask that you join us in slowing the spread,” stated Interim Health Director Alexandria Rimmer.

If you do have to go out or have guests over, it’s important to:
– Wear a mask over your mouth and nose anytime you’re around anyone who’s not a part of your household.
– Do not host, travel or go out if you if you’re sick, have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are waiting on test results.
– Gatherings should be no larger than 10 people indoors and 50 people outdoors.
– If possible, hold your gatherings outdoors. If you’re indoors, open windows to increase ventilation
– Arrange space so people from different households can stay at least 6 feet apart and plan activities where social distancing can be maintained.
– Limit physical contact. Avoid handshakes and hugs. Wave or verbally greet each other instead.
– Wash your hands regularly or use hand sanitizer.
– Avoid self-serve food and having multiple people handling the same utensils. Have one person serve the food or encourage guests to bring their own food and drink. Use disposable utensils and dishes.
– Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces, such as door handles, sink handles, and bathroom surfaces.
– If you need to shop in person, go when stores will be less crowded or consider shopping at smaller businesses that won’t draw massive crowds. Do not stand in crowded lines for Black Friday deals.
– Download the SlowCOVIDNC app at https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/slowcovidnc

The Alamance County Health Department will be hosting a drive-thru rabies vaccination clinic on December 5 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Environmental Health Office located at 209 N. Graham-Hopedale Road in Burlington.

The cost of the rabies shot at the clinic will be $5.00 per pet. The vaccination clinic will be a drive-thru clinic with all owners staying in their cars. Dogs will be vaccinated in the cars and cats MUST be in carriers that health personnel may take them into the building to be vaccinated.

“This will be the only rabies clinic that the health department will be able to offer this year; we encourage you to take this opportunity to have your pet vaccinated. North Carolina state law states that every owner of a cat or dog over four months of age is required to have the animal vaccinated against rabies,” stated Interim Health Director Alexandria Rimmer.

To date, there have been two confirmed cases of rabies in 2020 for Alamance County. In 2019, there were seven confirmed rabies cases in the county. For more information or questions about rabies control, vaccination requirements, or upcoming clinics, contact the health department’s Environmental Health office at (336) 570-6367.

In the midst of the current pandemic, Alamance County Health Department wants to help you protect yourself and your family this flu season. Wednesday, November 18 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, the health department will be offering seasonal flu shots to the public. The drive-up event will take place at Alamance County Health Department in the lower staff parking lot on Hilton Street. Participants are asked to enter from Rudd Street into the Hilton Street lot.  

During the event, the health department will be providing the following vaccine options to the public:

• Quadrivalent flu vaccine injection which covers four strains of influenza
• Flublok flu vaccine injection which is recommended for people with egg allergies that are ages 18 years and older
• High Dose Trivalent vaccine which covers three strains and is recommended for people over 65 years

The vaccine is available while supplies last.  One shot is all most people will need. Children under age 9, who have not previously been vaccinated against the flu, may need two doses.

The vaccine is available at no cost to both insured and uninsured children and adults.

Residents can still receive the flu vaccine by appointment only Monday – Friday (excluding holidays), 8:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.

Increase your chances of keeping the flu away by getting the vaccine. Also, remember to wash your hands often, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home if you are sick to help stop the spread of illness. For more information, call the health department at 336-570-6459.

Alamance County Health Department has identified a COVID-19 cluster at Love’s Childcare in Haw River. Currently, five (5) cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at the facility. The confirmed cases are among two (2) staff and three (3) children. One of the staff members is not an Alamance County resident so they are not included in the daily COVID-19 case count, however they are included on the biweekly Child Care and School Settings report for NC DHHS. NC DHHS defines a cluster as minimum of five laboratory-confirmed cases with illness onsets or initial positive results within a 14-day period and plausible epidemiologic linkage between cases.

“At Love’s Childcare of Haw River, our highest priority is to ensure the health, safety and security of our staff and every child entrusted to our care,” stated Angie King, Administrator at Love’s Childcare. “Upon learning of two teachers and 3 children testing positive with COVID-19, the first one being October 26, we immediately notified our staff and enrolled families in that classroom of the positive case and removed the staff and the children on that day (the positive teacher was not at school that day). We personally contacted the parents of the children in the affected classroom. Additionally, we contacted Alamance County Health Department and made the decision along with the health department to close the classroom down for 14 days. We have now reopened the classroom on November 9. We also did a deep cleaning of the classroom and it remained closed until it was reopened on November 9. The children and staff are now able to return to this classroom. We had another positive case on October 31 in a different classroom with a staff testing positive and she was quarantined. We immediately notified our staff and enrolled families in that classroom of the positive case. This was Oct 31 on a Saturday and we immediately notified our parents on Saturday Oct. 31 and the Alamance County Health Department. We have continued to remain in close contact with the Alamance County Health Department.

Ms. King further stated, “As of today, November 9, we have had NO new cases. We will continue our rigorous health and safety measures that include, but are not limited to: cleaning and sanitizing the school daily; frequent handwashing; parent drop off outside of the building; and temperature check and question survey daily. At this time we only have one classroom shut down due to the positive case on October 31. The last classroom that is closed due to a positive test will reopen on Monday November 16. The remainder of the center is up and running. Our thoughts and prayers for a rapid recovery for the last 2 affected with COVID-19. Our prayers are with Loves Childcare and all the children and families and our staff and families that we can remain healthy and safe.”

“We are working together with Love’s Daycare to conduct case investigations and contact tracing to protect staff, children, and their families in order to mitigate the outbreak as quickly as possible,” stated Interim Health Director Alexandria Rimmer.

Alamance County Health Department identified its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 20. Since then, a total of 6086 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the community. Of those confirmed cases, 5562 have been released from isolation and 401 remain active and in isolation. Included in those active cases, 31 individuals are receiving care at a hospital. Sadly, there have been 106 COVID-19 related deaths. COVID-related deaths include only patients who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, and who died without fully recovering from the disease.

The community is reminded to limit their social and group interactions and practice the 3Ws – Wear, Wait and Wash. These important steps can reduce a person’s risk and the risk to their family, friends and neighbors.

Alamance County Health Department has identified a second outbreak at the long-term care facility Brookdale in Burlington. Currently, two (2) cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed at the facility. The confirmed cases are among two (2) residents. NC DHHS defines an outbreak as two laboratory-confirmed cases in a period of 28 days within a congregate living or long-term care facility. Regular testing is required through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in order to provide surveillance as protective factor for both staff and residents.

“The Alamance County Health Department is working closely with Brookdale to mitigate the outbreak as quickly as possible with guidance and support,” stated Interim Health Director Alexandria Rimmer.

Alamance County Health Department identified its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 20. Since then, a total of 5906 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the community. Of those confirmed cases, 5408 have been released from isolation and 397 remain active and in isolation. Included in those active cases, 27 individuals are receiving care at a hospital. Sadly, there have been 101 COVID-19 related deaths. COVID-related deaths include only patients who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, and who died without fully recovering from the disease.

The community is reminded to limit their social and group interactions and practice the 3Ws – Wear, Wait and Wash. These important steps can reduce a person’s risk and the risk to their family, friends and neighbors.

In the midst of the current pandemic, Alamance County Health Department wants to help you protect yourself and your family this flu season. Monday, November 9 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, the health department will be offering seasonal flu shots to the public. The drive-up event will take place at Alamance County Health Department in the lower staff parking lot on Hilton Street. Participants are asked to enter from Rudd Street into the Hilton Street lot.  

During the event, the health department will be providing the following vaccine options to the public:

• Quadrivalent flu vaccine injection which covers four strains of influenza
• Flublok flu vaccine injection which is recommended for people with egg allergies that are ages 18 years and older
• High Dose Trivalent vaccine which covers three strains and is recommended for people over 65 years

The vaccine is available while supplies last.  One shot is all most people will need. Children under age 9, who have not previously been vaccinated against the flu, may need two doses.

The vaccine is available at no cost to both insured and uninsured children and adults.

Residents can still receive the flu vaccine by appointment only Monday – Friday (excluding holidays), 8:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. and 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.

Increase your chances of keeping the flu away by getting the vaccine. Also, remember to wash your hands often, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home if you are sick to help stop the spread of illness. For more information, call the health department at 336-570-6459.