Since Bladen County COVID-19 (coronavirus) testing increased on Friday, May 15, there has been an additional five positive cases confirmed. Bladen County’s total confirmed COVID-19 cases is at 73 as of Monday afternoon, according to the local health department.
According to local Health and Human Services Director, Dr. Teresa (Terri) Duncan, the time it takes for the results from the increased testing may vary depending on the type of test performed. She stated, “Results are returned as early as 24 hours, and may take three to four (3-4) days.”
Only positive COVID-19 tests are reported.
The Honorable North Carolina Governor, Roy Cooper, announced this afternoon restrictions in Phase I would not be lifted until at least May 22, 2020. However, the Honorable District Judge for Eastern District of NC, James C. Dever III, put a temporary block on the restrictions on indoor religious services as outlined in the Stay at Home Executive Orders. In addition to religious restrictions a letter sent by Attorney S.C. Kitchen on behalf of Hair is Essential on May 13 to the Honorable Roy Cooper stated, “If the restriction on operating Beauty Salons is not lifted by Monday, May 18, 2020, at noon, it is our intention to file an action to compel compliance with the General Statutes and the Constitutional provision.”
Gov. Cooper received questions about the Executive Order restrictions on gatherings and hairstylists during the COVID-19 Taskforce press conference held on Monday, May 18, at 2 pm. He responded, “One of the reasons these kinds of businesses have been closed is because of the close proximity and personal contact and the inability to social distance.”
Gov. Copper continued, “Now, that we have more Personal Protective Equipment available out there for people and if both the person providing the personal service and the customer both wear the personal protective equipment there is a lot of sanitation then, Phase Two, potentially looks at allowing those kinds of services to open and we haven’t made the decision on that yet.”
Both the customers and professionals have real responsibilities to each other, according to Gov. Cooper.
“We think that gatherings, particularly indoors, can still be a place where the virus can spread and we want people to be careful about these larger gatherings, particularly indoors, to prevent the spread,” Gov. Cooper said.
At the time of this report, BladenOnline.com staff has been unable to confirm if Hair is Essential filed the action as was stated in thier attorney’s letter to Gov. Cooper last week.
On May 18, 2020 the NCDHHS Dashboard (ncdhhs.gov) listed data for North Carolina:
19,023 positive cases
511 hospitalizations
661 deaths
and Bladen with 73 positive cases and 2 deaths. Bladen reports 48 recovered cases.
(*NCDHHS dashboard is updated daily and may change based on verification of county residence.)
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. Walmart, eTrueNorth support the site, 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 they are eligible for testing and 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.
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