Bladen County confirmed it second positive test for COVID-19 last week and the Smithfield Foods plant in Tar Heel reportedly has had cases of the virus.
The second person in Bladen County to be infected is isolating at home and doing well, according to Bladen County Health and Human Services Director Dr. Terri Duncan. No further information was released.
Smithfield Foods has not released the number of employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 or are in quarantine. The company cited privacy concerns for the employees. It’s not known if any of the employees who have tested positive live in Bladen County.
Last week, Smithfield Foods closed two of its processing plants in other states because of the spread of the coronavirus.
Gov. Roy Cooper on Wednesday charted a path forward for easing restrictions put in place because of COVID-19. Cooper said the state needs to have more testing, do more tracing after someone tests positive and see trends that the curve is flattening. On Friday, Cooper said the curve is showing signs of flattening in the state and announced a partnership with three university medical schools and labs to do more testing for COVID-19.
Locally, the governor’s executive order in March that closed all businesses that are not able to restrict direct contact continues to take its toll.
““I’m not really sure how it will start back,” Joy Everette with New Attitudes Salon said. “I’m sure each stylist will only work on one client at a time. We were already sanitizing everything after each client.”
Salons, barber shops, massage therapy and other personal care businesses have been closed for a month. Cooper’s stay-at-home order is set to expire April 30.
Secondary schools and Bladen Community College remains closed. Students and staff are connecting online for assignments and tests. Schools will be closed at least through May 15 under an executive order from the governor.
The state Board of Education has received a federal waiver for end-of-grade testing, according to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction. The board also has requested a waiver from the state. The legislature is expected to convene in late April to discuss the issue.
In other news,
Steve Smith of White Oak died following an accident at the intersection of N.C. 87 and Tar Heel Road in Tar Heel on Tuesday. Smith’s vehicle was hit by a tractor-trailer driven by Corey Bordeaux and ejected from the vehicle. Smith died Wednesday. On Thursday, Bordeaux was charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle.
Andrew Barksdale with the N.C. Department of Transportation announced more details last week about the new U.S. 701 bridge over the Cape Fear River in Elizabethtown. The department is awaiting federal approval to replace both bridges with one four-lane bridge that also will have bicycle lanes. It’s not certain when construction would begin. The bridges have been damaged in recent years by hurricanes.
Stay safe, practice social distancing and enjoy the week ahead.
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