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Bladen County Health Department released the latest COVID-19 update. According to today’s report Bladen County now has 106 confirmed COVID-19 cases with two related deaths, and 85 presumed recovered. North Carolina has 30,777, with a total of 939 associated fatalities and 18,860 presumed recovered.

Rev. Anthony Henry worked with five churches to help promote today’s testing site in Clarkton. The free testing performed by CommWell Health was held at Booker T. Washington School from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Tamara Dunn, Chief Operating Officer of CommWell Health said over 40 tests were performed at the site as of 2 p.m. today.

Dr. Teresa (Terri) Duncan, Bladen County Health and Human Services Director announced two more testing sites are scheduled. New Hope Church, located on White Plains Church Road, will be a host testing site on June 11, 2020, and East Arcadia Senior Center will hold an event on June 18, 2020.

Recently, Duncan also reminded Bladen citizens of the importance of practicing the 3 W’s as we adjust to living with the pandemic in our work, home, and community settings. In addition to fever, cough and shortness of breath, the CDC identified new symptoms for the coronavirus: chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, and a new loss of taste. There is no vaccine for the virus.

Practice the 3 W’s!

Wear a face covering when out in public
Stand 6 feet from each other
Wash hands frequently with soap and water when available, hand sanitizer otherwise

NCDHHS updated guidance on who should be tested for COVID-19. The new guidance recommends that clinicians test any patient in whom COVID-19 is suspected and ensure the following populations have access to testing, regardless of symptoms:

Anyone with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19
Close contacts of known positive cases, regardless of symptoms
Persons who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings (e.g., long-term care facility, homeless shelter, correctional facility, migrant farmworker camp)
Persons who are at high risk of severe illness (e.g., people over 65 years of age, people of any age with underlying health conditions)
Persons who come from historically marginalized populations
Health care workers or first responders (e.g. EMS, law enforcement, fire department, military)
Front-line and essential workers (grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, etc.) in settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
Bladen County COVID-19 Testing sites.
Bladen County Health Department is excited to announce a collaboration with faith-based organizations and CommWell Health to offer two new drive-thru testing sites for some of the most rural, at-risk populations in our county. No out of pocket expense for individuals. Call CommWell Health 910-567-7114 for more information.

Cape Fear Valley-Bladen Clinics and Express Care offer testing (Bladenboro, Clarkton, Dublin, Elizabethtown and White Lake) for anyone exhibiting symptoms or those in high-risk groups without symptoms, after a visit with the provider on duty. Contact the clinic located in your area for further information:

• Bladenboro 910-863-3138

• Clarkton 910-862-1217

• Dublin 910-862-3528

• Elizabethtown 910-862-5500

• White Lake 910-862-1265

• Express Care 910-862-2122

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 is supported by Walmart, eTrueNorth, state, and local officials to 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 eligible for testing and to make an appointment.

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

Robeson Health Care Corporation is testing at the St. Pauls site (910-241-30420), times vary.