03/28/2024
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Bladen County Health Department released the latest COVID-19 update on Monday afternoon. Compared to Friday’s report, the active COVID-19 cases in the county declined by 30.

On Friday, the cumulative cases totaled 344, with 158 listed as active, five hospitalized, and 183 presumed recovered. Today, the report shows 128 active COVID-19 cases. The total cumulative COIV-19 cases are at 366; however, today’s report shows 235 estimated to be recovered with four hospitalized. The total related deaths remain at three.

Dr. Teresa (Terri) Duncan, Bladen County Health and Human Services Director explained that healthy lifestyles needed to be the focus in Bladen County.

Bladen County ranked 93 out of 100 NC counties for health rankings prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (lower numbers=better health ranking). Better overall health improves the quality of life and increases the chance of surviving illness for everyone.

Dr. Duncan gave a challenge last week. Commit to at least one action that will improve your overall health, such as:

  • decrease sugar and /or salt intake
  • stop smoking
  • exercise daily
  • eat a balanced diet

The local health department asks citizens to please get tested if you meet any one of the following guidelines:

  • Anyone with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
  • Close contacts of known positive cases, regardless of symptoms.
  • Populations with a higher risk of exposure or a higher risk of severe disease if they become infected if they believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19, whether or not they have symptoms.
  • People who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings (e.g., long-term care facility, homeless shelter, correctional facility, migrant farmworker camp)
  • Historically marginalized populations
  • Frontline and essential workers (grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, child care workers, construction sites, processing plants, etc.) in settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain
  • People who are at high risk of severe illness (e.g. people over 65 years of age, people of any age with underlying health conditions

People who have attended protests, rallies, or other mass gatherings could have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or could have exposed others. Testing should be considered for people who attended such events, particularly if they were in crowds or other situations where they couldn’t practice effective social distancing.

A drive-thru testing site is operating in the Walmart parking lot located at 1347 W. Broad St., Elizabethtown, NC on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 7:00 am- 9:00 am. The site test anyone who meets CDC, state and local guidelines on who should be tested, including first responders, health care providers, and others with symptoms of COVID-19, and those in high-risk groups without symptoms. Those interested in being tested need to visit www.DoINeedaCOVID19test.com to see if they are eligible for testing and make an appointment.

CommWell Health (1-910-567-7114 or 1-877-WELL-ALL (935-5255) test in Tar Heel, Monday-Friday, times vary.

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