STATE NEWS BRIEFS OR 03-12-20
NHC SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY RESIGNS
[WILMINGTON] Saying that he’s been subjected to “extreme harassment and attempts at intimidation by several members of the public,” Wayne Bullard, attorney for the New Hanover County School Board, submitted his resignation as general counsel, effective March 17th. Bullard had apparently recorded several speakers during a March 3rd public hearing “who were attacking me’ he continued. Bullard maintained in his letter that he had the right to protect himself.
191 TO BE LAID OFF BY VIDANT HEALTH
[GREENVILLE] Thanks to an $18 million budget shortfall, 200 employees are scheduled to be laid off by Vidant Health, according to published reports. According to an email from Chief Executive Dr. Michael Waldrum. He said that the layoffs would be in the business and administration side of the health care corporation. “While beds are full and patient volumes are up, net revenue has declined and costs associated with serving our mission have increased. This resulted in an $18 million budget shortfall …”
UNIVERSITIES READY TO CANCEL CLASSES BECAUSE OF COVID-19
[RALEIGH] Administrators at Shaw University in Raleigh and Campbell University in Buies Creek say if more and more cases of COVID-19 become evident in the state, they are prepared to cancel classes on campus, and conduct courses online instead. They are also prepared to do the same with students who are quarantined after return from foreign studied.
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HBCU GRADUATIONS - ARE THEY
PREPPING FOR COVID-19
PREVENTION SPREAD?
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
Now that winter is just about over, many are preparing for the warm spring and summer months, and the traditional activities that come with them.
But right now, literally as you read this, the sponsors of many of those upcoming events are wondering if they’ll even happen at all, or if they do, how, all because of the ever-increasing threat of COVID-19…the novel coronavirus.
In the black community, where every week, people hug and greet each other weekly at church or social/civic events, graduations are on the horizon both in secondary schools, HBCUs and larger universities throughout May and June.
Tens of thousands of people, particularly families, will be coming to or through North Carolina, to take part.
What can, or is being done to safeguard against COVID-19 transmission in settings where joyous hugging, kissing, and vigorous handshaking are essential parts of the occasion? According to the U.S. Centers and Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that is most commonly transmitted by close contact, person to person, via respiratory droplets (coughs, sneezes0 within six feet, or indirect contact with contaminated surfaces or objects.
A quick review of HBCU campus websites in North Carolina found St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh; North Carolina Central University in Durham; N.C. A&T University in Greensboro; Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville; and Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, as the only HBCUs out of ten across the state, to have COVID-19 advisories on their websites where they could be easily found.
Several of the schools have advised students coming back from international studies in China, Italy and other foreign countries known to be fighting COVID-19 spread, to self-quarantine for 14 days upon return. All other students are advised to follow CDC guidelines in COVID-19 prevention.
And when it comes to those guidelines for large gatherings and events like graduations, the CDC has issued “interim guidance.”
“As the COVID-19 outbreak evolves, CDC strongly encourages event organizers and staff to prepare for the possibility of outbreaks in their communities. Creating an emergency plan for mass gatherings and large community events can help protect you and the health of your event participants and local community.’
The CDC guidance continues, “If possible, identify a space that can be used to isolate staff or participants who become ill at the event. Designate a space for staff and participants who may become sick and cannot leave the event immediately. Work with partners, such as local hospitals, to create a plan for treating staff and participants who do not live nearby. Include a plan for separating and caring for vulnerable populations.’
[Go to https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/mass-gatherings-ready-for-covid-19.html our more].
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COOPER DECLARES COVID-19
NC STATE OF EMERGENCY
by Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in response to growing cases of the novel coronavirus, otherwise known as COVID-19.
During a noon press conference, Cooper said the declaration allows state officials “increased flexibility in responding to containing the spread of the virus.”
As of press time Tuesday, there were seven known COVOD-19 cases in North Carolina.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, state Health and Human Services Secretary, advised that those most vulnerable to the disease - the elderly who have weakened immune systems - should remain home if they feel ill, and should not travel, and avoid large groups. She added that currently, officials see no need to order a curtailment of large gatherings or events, as long as sanitary precautions are observed such as washing one’s hands frequently, covering one’s face when sneezing or coughing, or no touching of one’s face.
Officials also want event organizers to adopt lenient refund policies for those who cancel out on attending an event.
Dr. Cohen added that, for now, they see no reason to call for the closure of schools , but with the situation across the stat rapidly changing, that will warrant constant monitoring.
For more information about the COVID-19 crisis in North Carolina, please go to https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina.
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2020 NC PRIMARY ELECTION
BREAKDOWN
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
Early voting was key to victory for many Democratic candidates in the March 3rd 2020 primaries, according to “VoteTracker,” and online election project by the conservative Civitas Institute, using data from the North Carolina Board of Elections.
Per the One Stop early voting period between Feb. 13th - 29th, 801,708 early ballots were cast, which the largest share between Thursday Feb. 27th and Saturday Feb. 29th.
Of that number, Democrats cast 380,326; Republicans 204,587 and unaffiliated cast 215, 660.
In terms of race, 587,760 early ballots were cast by whites; 173,602 by African-Americans and 33,315 undesignated.
Female out balloted males, 435, 830 to 341, 320. Genderwise. 24,558 were undesignated.
The congressional district with the most early votes cast was District 4 in Wake County.
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