Brunswick County ends state of emergency for COVID-19

BOLIVIA, NC (WWAY) — On Monday, Brunswick County Chairman Randy Thompson has ended the state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While we still need to remain vigilant in our efforts to prevent future spread of COVID-19, the improvements we are seeing in our recent case counts and vaccination rates are the most encouraging signs we’ve seen for a year now,” Thompson said wrote in a release. “Just as we do following every hurricane or major storm, the time has come for us to begin our recovery efforts for both public health and our local economy.”

Over the past several weeks, Brunswick County Health Services and its partners at Novant Health and Dosher Memorial Hospital, as well as other vaccine providers in the county, have vaccinated nearly 30% of residents with their first dose and nearly 20% with their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Cases have also significantly decreased since the peak in the first two weeks of January when 1,038 cases were identified, dropping to 286 cases identified in the first two weeks of March.

“The commissioners and I cannot thank nor commend our health, public safety, and community partners at the local and state levels enough for the service and support they have offered throughout this pandemic,” Thompson wrote “They truly are the reason that we have come so far already, and will be an essential part of our recovery efforts moving forward.”

Previous Chairman Frank Williams issued the state of emergency March 24, 2020 in response to the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus across the nation and world.

Brunswick County has not issued additional restrictions under the state of emergency or throughout the pandemic that extend beyond Governor Roy Cooper’s executive orders and directives. The Governor’s executive orders still remain in effect in Brunswick County and across North Carolina until any set expiration dates. This includes the following orders:

• A face covering is still required in all public indoor settings if there are non-household members present, regardless of the individual’s ability to maintain social distance. Face coverings continue to be required in public outdoor settings if individuals are unable to maintain 6 feet of social distance from non-household members.
• The capacity limitations on certain businesses, sanitation standards, other public health restrictions and N.C. Department of Health and Human Services guidance remain in effect.
• The state’s mass gathering limit allows for a maximum of 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors
• North Carolina’s moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent continues until March 31, 2021.
• The authorization of delivery or carry-out of mixed beverages as an alternative to on-site consumption until at least March 31, 2021.

On top of continued vaccination efforts, Brunswick County’s next steps in the recovery process will include continued education and guidance on best health practices related to COVID-19. The county will also begin to plan for the use of its local funding from the American Rescue Plan after it receives official instructions from the federal government as to eligible uses of the funds and the first allocation in the coming weeks.

To date, Brunswick County Health Services has identified more than 8,400 positive cases among residents, with 141 deaths related to the virus and more than 8,000 considered recovered.

Visitors to county government buildings are highly encouraged to practice the Three Ws—wear a face covering, wait six feet apart, and wash hands regularly.

More information about COVID-19, testing and vaccines, visit here.