The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reports a fourth COVID-19 (coronavirus) related death for Bladen County at this time. However, according to the NCDHHS website, all four local COVID-19 related deaths happened in May and June.
The COVID-19 related death dates for Bladen County are listed as May 5, May 8, June 11, and June 21, 2020. Three of the deaths were of the age 75 years or older, and one death was between 50 and 64 years old, according to NCDHHS.
Two of the victims were male, and two were female. The ethnicity is listed as Non-Hispanic, according to the state’s website.
Since the COVID-19 Pandemic began, at times, the NCDHHS has reported COVID-19 cases for Bladen County only to redacted the reports later. One reason was given for the health care officials’ COVID-19 reports’ data varying over time. It was explained that a person’s residence on their driver’s license might be different from the officials’ first report. The officials want to use the address on the citizen’s driver’s license for reporting; however, at times, these documents are not readily available. Once the state acquires official documents, a person’s COVID-19 report may be moved to the proper domicile, which leads to the data reports changing.
This afternoon the Bladen County Health Department released the latest COVID-19 case counts for North Carolina and the county.
Today the total Bladen County COVID-19 (coronavirus) cumulative cases are 406, with active cases reported at 102. The number of citizens hospitalized is reported at four, and the presumed recovered is estimated to be at 301. Related deaths for the county moved from three to four cases. Again, the NCDHHS shows the COVID-19 associated deaths for the county happening in May or June. The local department’s report does have an asterisk beside the reported number of deaths, noting, “NCDHHS dashboard is updated daily and may change based on county residence verification.”
According to the Bladen County Health Department, Bladen County residents are vulnerable to getting or spreading the virus.
Bladen cases have been linked to social gatherings, work, travel, and community-acquired (unknown source). During the COVID-19 Pandemic, remember, there is no vaccine for the virus.
Increased testing, including for those without symptoms, expanded contact tracing, and adherence to control measures like self-isolation and quarantine, are important to control viral transmission across the state. Guidelines for testing include:
➢ Anyone with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.
➢ Close contacts of known positive cases, regardless of symptoms.
➢ Populations with 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.
Bladen County COVID-19 Testing sites:
➢ Bryant Swamp Missionary Baptist Church, CommWell Health and Bladen County Health Department will offer drive-thru testing Tuesday, July 21 9:00 am -12:00 noon, located at 61 Bryant Swamp Road, Bladenboro, NC. For additional registration information contact: Latoya Lucy 910-709-3610, Rev. Thurman Everette 910-619-9358, or CommWell Health 910-567-7114.
➢ 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.
➢ 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
In addition to fever, cough, and shortness of breath, the CDC added symptoms for the coronavirus: chills, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, and a new loss of taste. There is no vaccine for the virus.
• Increased testing, including for those without symptoms, expanded contact tracing, and adherence to control measures like self-isolation and quarantine, are important to control viral transmission across the state. Guidelines for testing include:
➢ 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.
Bladen County Health Department continues to follow CDC and NCDHHS recommendations to protect public health and prevent further infection.
If you believe that you may have COVID-19, please call your health care provider, or the Health Department call center: 910-872-6291. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am – 5:00 pm, until further notice. Individuals may also call 2-1-1. This NCDHHS call center is available 24/7, in English and Spanish. Updates are routinely posted on the Health Department Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/BladenHHS/, and the NCHDDS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ncdhhs/
Wear, Wait, Wash!
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