On Monday April 6, the Moore County Health Department was notified of two new positive COVID-19 test results by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Of the two new cases, one of the results came from an individual who passed away on Wednesday, April 1, according to a press release from the Moore County Health Department. Ultimately, the person’s death was determined to be related to COVID-19 infection.
This is the second death in Moore County attributed to COVID-19. In total, there have been 20 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Moore County. To protect privacy, no further information about the individuals who have tested positive will be shared by the Health Department.
Moore County Health Department staff are monitoring the individuals who tested positive and will follow up with anyone who is identified as a close contact. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines “close contact” as being within six feet for 10 minutes or more.
The Moore County Health Department continues to urge all residents to take measures to reduce the spread of
coronavirus:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home, especially if you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
The Moore County Health Department also strongly suggests that individuals follow the CDC’s latest recommendation to wear cloth face coverings in public to help protect others and further slow the spread of coronavirus. Cloth face coverings can be fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost and can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure. Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators. Those are critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and other medical first responders, as recommended by current CDC guidance.
Instructions on how to create and wear your own cloth face covering can be found here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/DIY-cloth-face-covering-instructions.pdf
Health officials also encourage everyone to implement social distancing measures to reduce frequency of contact, like maintaining six feet of distance, avoiding crowds, and staying home to the greatest extent possible. This is important for everyone and especially those at high risk of severe illness, specifically anyone over 65 years old or anyone who has an underlying health condition like heart disease, lung disease, diabetes or a weakened immune system. Further, individuals in this high-risk category should take extra care to be mindful of the recommendations and directives from state and local government in order to avoid exposure.
Contributed
