North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has declared a State of Emergency for our state based on the health emergency posed by COVID-19.
This comes on the heels of the confirmation of multiple cases of the respiratory disease. Those cases are in the Triangle area and Chatham County, not Wayne County.
Let me start by explaining that a “state of emergency” does not mean that there is an imminent threat to your health or we are under martial law. It is not a reason to panic.
A declaration allows the State of North Carolina to requisition resources, to seek federal assistance, and to protect consumers from price gouging and deceptive trade practices, among other steps necessary to respond to this health concern.
The college is also addressing issues as they arise. It has created a Pandemic Response Team consisting of President Thomas Walker, Jr., Vice President of Academic and Student Services Patty Pfeiffer, Vice President of Administrative and Financial Services Joy Kornegay, Associate Vice President of Human Resources, Marketing, Safety, and Compliance Charles Gaylor, IV, Associate Vice President of Administrative Services Derek Hunter, Director of Information Technology Matthew Bauer, Senior Executive Assistant to the President Amber Tyler, and myself, Public Information Officer Tara Humphries.
A couple of the concerns that have been voiced are related to face-to-face classes and travel. In both cases, the safety and health of all is paramount.
If anyone is sick and running a fever or has traveled to areas with known community spread of the disease, we ask that you let us know so we can work with you to create an appropriate action plan.
If Wayne County is impacted directly by COVID-19, the college will use alternative instruction methods where appropriate, whether on an individual basis or with a large-scale shut down.
All college-sanctioned travel for meetings, workshops, conferences, etc., outside of Wayne County, both in-state and out-of-state, by both student groups and employees, has been suspended until further notice. Threats to the health of the traveler and those who may come in contact with them when they return are the primary factors in this decision.
Please continue to take these basic steps to avoid contracting and spreading the disease:
♦ Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
♦ Wash your hands often using soap and water and scrubbing for at least 20 seconds. If you can’t wash, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
♦ Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are touched frequently using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
♦ Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
♦ Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw that tissue into the trash.
♦ Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. If you suspect that you have COVID-19, call the doctor’s office or emergency room to alert them before you go.
♦ Facemasks should be used by people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. (The CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a facemask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19.)
♦ Make sure you are getting information from trusted sources. There are a lot of rumors, false promises, and wrong reports floating around. Please don’t allow yourself to be tricked.
As we have more information to share, we will send it out to you. We will also include timely and useful information on our website at waynecc.edu/safe-wayne/health-