03/29/2024
Spread the love

On the morning of Monday, March 30, 2020, BladenOnline.com reached out to the office of Dr. Mandy K. Cohen, Secretary with NCDHHS to clarify the information the NCDHHS published on Sunday about the report of a COVID-19 case in Bladen County.

 

Kelly Haight Connor, Communications Manager with NCDHHS stated, “The COVID-19 case counts and deaths are updated after they are reported to and verified by NCDHHS. The website is updated every morning by 11 a.m. Check back later this morning for today’s updated numbers: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/covid-19-case-count-nc.”

At 10:58 a.m. on Monday, the NC Department of Health & Human Services website changed Bladen County COVID-19 Confirmed Case Count back to zero confirmed cases. The State’s county map shows Bladen as an unshaded territory again.

There was no statement released by the NCDHHHS addressing the error on the State’s website.

At 11:00 a.m. the State’s site totals the number of COVID-19 cases in North Carolina at 1,307 with 6 deaths and 137 currently hospitalized.

In reference to the State’s error on Sunday, Bladen County Health & Human Services Director, Dr. Duncan released the following statement on Sunday evening:

Bladen County, NC – BLADEN COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A POSITIVE CASE OF COVID-19

There are currently no positive cases of COVID-19 in Bladen County. A case was inadvertently assigned to Bladen County in the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDPHHS) site. There are positive cases in nearby counties. Community transmission of COVID-19 has occurred in North Carolina.

The Bladen County Health Department is working with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDPHHS) and surrounding county Health Departments to monitor and respond to this rapidly evolving situation.

Because COVID-19 is most commonly spread through respiratory droplets, North Carolinians should take the same measures that health care providers recommend to prevent the spread of the flu and other viruses:

  • Social distancing (e.g. avoiding crowds, self-quarantining, etc.)
  • Washing hands frequently with soap and water, and for at least 20 seconds each time
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Avoid close contact with people who are ill
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, throw it away, and then wash your hands
  • Do not reuse tissue after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched

It is important to make sure the information you are getting about COVID-19 is coming directly from reliable sources such as Bladen County Public Health, CDC, and NCDHHS. For more information, please visit the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus and NCDHHS’ website at www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus.

(BladenOnline.com did get the information reported about a confirmed case of COVID-19 in BladenCounty directly from NCDHHS as you can see from the screenshots above.)

Symptoms for COVID-19 are fever, cough, and other lower respiratory illness (shortness of breath). If you believe that you may have COVID-19, please call your health care provider, or the Health Department call center. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am – 5:00pm, until further notice. Individuals may also call 2-1-1. This NCDHHS call center is available 24/7, in English and Spanish.

About Author