State of Emergency Amended for Alamance County
Amy Scott Galey, Chair of the Alamance County Board of Commissioners, signed an amended local State of Emergency for Alamance County effective Sunday, March 29, 2020, at 10am.
The amended State of Emergency states for-profit racetracks in Alamance County per Governor Roy Cooper’s Executive Order #121 are not considered essential businesses and are subject to the limitation to mass gatherings of no more than ten (10) persons and shall close effective 10:00 am on March 30, 2020 for 30 days.
For general Coronavirus (COVID-19) questions or information regarding the County’s response, please call the County COVID-19 Call Center at 336-290-0361 which is open from 8am to 7pm. For updated COVID-19 Alamance County program or event cancellations or changes, please visit https://www.alamance-nc.com/covid19/.
For the most current state and national information or recommendations regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at https://cdc.gov/coronavirus or the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services website at https://ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus.
Alamance Department of Social Services Updates / Actualizaciones del Departamento de Servicios Sociales del condado de Alamance
In an effort to keep the community safe from the COVID-19 outbreak, the Department of Social Services has implemented procedures to promote social distancing.
Economic Services will no longer conduct face-to-face contact with customers but will continue to accept applications for Food and Nutrition (Food Stamps), Medicaid, and Work First benefits. Applications can be completed online at https://epass.nc.gov/CitizenPortal/application.do or by phone at 336-570-6532. Paper applications will continue to be available at the agency or can be mailed per customer request.
Completed applications can be returned to the Department of Social Services:
- Secured dropbox: Located at the main entrance of Social Services
- Mail: 319 N. Graham Hopedale Road Suite C, Burlington, NC 27217
- Email: AskDSS@alamance-nc.com
- Fax: 336-290-8651
If you have questions regarding current benefits or wish to speak with a caseworker, please contact the agency at 336-570-6532. Changes can be reported by phone or online at https://www.alamance-nc.com/dss/
EBT Cards and mail pick up will be available between the hours of 8 am to 10 am, Monday – Friday, at the ground floor lobby.
For updated COVID-19 Alamance County program or event cancellations or changes, please visit https://www.alamance-nc.com/covid19/. The County COVID-19 Call Center is also available daily 8 am to 7 pm. Residents and organizations are encouraged to call 336-290- 0361 for general Coronavirus (COVID-19) questions or information regarding the County’s response.
En un esfuerzo por mantener a nuestra comunidad a salvo de la epidemia del COVID-19 (Coronavirus), nuestra agencia implementó procedimientos para promover el distanciamiento social.
Los Servicios Económicos ya no realizará transacciones en persona con nuestros clientes. Continuaremos aceptando solicitudes de beneficios de Alimentos y Nutrición (estampillas para Alimentos), Medicaid y Work First. Las solicitudes se pueden completar en línea en https://epass.nc.gov/CitizenPortal/application.do o por teléfono al 336-570-6532. Los
formularios en papel continuarán estando disponibles en nuestra agencia local o pueden ser enviados por correo si lo solicita el cliente.
Los formularios completados pueden ser devueltas a nuestra agencia por:
- La caja asegurada ubicada en la entrada principal del edificio de los Servicios Sociales
- Enviar por correo a 319 N. Graham Hopedale Road Suite C Burlington, NC 27217.
- Email (correo electrónico) AskDSS@alamance-nc.com
- Fax al 336-290-8651
Si tienen preguntas sobre sus beneficios actuales o desea hablar con su agente social, comuníquese con nuestra agencia al 336-570-6532. Si tienen algún cambio que informar, los cambios se pueden informar por teléfono o en línea en https://www.alamance-nc.com/dss/
Alamance County Identifies Second Case of COVID-19
On March 21, Alamance County Health Department received notification of their second positive case of COVID-19. The affected individual has been in isolation while tests were pending and will remain in isolation for the duration of illness. The individual is doing well and complying with all control measures set forth by the Health Director. The individual has not traveled outside of North Carolina and has no known contact to a previous case. To protect the individual’s privacy, no further information about them will be released.
The Health Department urges individuals to take the following standard precautions to help protect themselves and others from this respiratory illness:
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water, and for at least 20 seconds each time
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact with people who are ill & stay at home if you are sick
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
- Do not reuse tissue after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
- Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched
- Have a plan in case you need to miss work or other responsibilities due to personal illness or to care for a sick family member
- People over 65 or who have chronic health conditions or with compromised immune systems are at highest risk of severe illness from the virus, and are advised to avoid large gatherings
The Alamance County Health Department will transition at this time from notification via press release to updating our website and social media with the NC DHHS COVID-19 Case Counts website at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/covid-19-case-count-nc. Alamance County residents are encouraged to use reputable sources of information to learn more about COVID-19 such as the CDC or NC DHHS. Alamance County residents may also contact the Alamance County COVID-19 Call Center at 336-290-3061 for general questions regarding COVID-19, and visit Alamance County Government social media accounts for updates as well.
Alamance County Tax Office Closed to the Public
In order to protect the health of our visitors and employees during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Alamance County Tax Department will be closing to the public beginning Monday, March 23. Tax services will still be provided by phone and email. All payments will continue to be processed by mail, drop-box, online, and by phone.
“While the Tax Department is closed to the public, our staff will be working hard to continue offering all tax services to the public,” says Jeremy Akins, Tax Administrator. “We appreciate the community’s support during this time and will reopen again when able to safely and responsibly provide services to our residents.”
For mail or drop-off payments:
124 West Elm Street
Graham, NC 27253
Please visit:
www.alamance-nc.com/tax/
336-228-1312
Alamance County Identifies First Case of COVID-19
BURLINGTON – On March 20, Alamance County Health Department received notification of their first positive case of COVID-19. The affected individual is currently in isolation at home and is doing well. To protect the individual’s privacy, no further information about them will be released. Alamance County Health Department is identifying close contacts to the affected individual. A close contact is defined as anyone who was within six feet of the individual for 10 minutes or more.
“We have been preparing and planning for cases in Alamance County. Our public health response team has been in contact with the individual and they are complying with all control measures and orders,” said Health Director Stacie Saunders. “It is likely we will see other confirmed cases in the community. We urge the community to continue to practice social distancing and general precautions in order to protect themselves, their loved ones, and our neighbors.”
Alamance County Health Department is continuing to collaborate with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS), Alamance County Emergency Management, Alamance County leadership, municipal leaders, and other community partners to respond to the situation and prepare for any future potential cases.
The Health Department urges individuals to take the following standard precautions to help protect themselves and others from this respiratory illness:
- Practice social distancing by keeping more space between individuals and avoid large gatherings
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds each time
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact with people who are ill & stay at home if you are sick
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
- Do not reuse tissue after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
- Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched
- Have a plan in case you need to miss work or other responsibilities due to personal illness or to care for a sick family member
- People over 65 or who have chronic health conditions or with compromised immune systems are at highest risk of severe illness from the virus and are advised to avoid large gatherings
Alamance County residents are encouraged to use reputable sources of information to learn more about COVID-19 such as the CDC or NC DHHS. Alamance County residents may also contact the Alamance County COVID-19 Call Center at 336-290-0361 for general questions regarding COVID-19, and visit Alamance County Government social media accounts for updates as well.
Alamance County COVID-19 Update
In response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations to limit large events and mass gatherings along with the White House guidelines that advise people to refrain from any gatherings of more than ten people, County Manager Bryan Hagood implemented COVID-19 protective procedures for County Departments effective immediately.
County Management, in conjunction with Emergency Management and Alamance County Public Health, directed departments to create work and staffing schedules that maintain service provision to residents while protecting the public and employees. County employees are encouraged to use a hybrid model of staggered shifts and remote working options that follow social distancing recommendations. While all county departments remain open, residents are asked to limit person-to-person contact and use online resources and services or call in to conduct county business.
For updated COVID-19 Alamance County program or event cancellations or changes, please visit https://www.alamance-nc.com/covid19/. The County COVID-19 Call Center is also available Monday through Friday from 8 am to 7 pm. Residents and organizations are encouraged to call 336-290-0361 for general Coronavirus (COVID-19) questions or information regarding the County’s response.
For the most current state and national information or recommendations regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov/coronavirus or the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services website at ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus.
ALAMANCE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARIES WILL BE CLOSED AS OF 5:00 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18TH FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE
As of 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, the Alamance County Public Libraries will be closed to the public. This decision was made due to the nature of the library as a gathering point for the community as well as recommendations to practice social distancing.
While closed, libraries will be instituting a new curbside service beginning Monday, March 23 at three of the main library locations (May Memorial, Graham, and Mebane libraries). The North Park Library, inside the Mayco-Bigelow Community Center, is closed per a City of Burlington mandate.
This new curbside service will adhere to the following guidelines:
- Patrons may place items on hold via phone and the website
- Once items have been pulled, you will be notified by text, email, or phone (whichever you have chosen)
- Patrons should call the library when they arrive outside the designated doors
- Mebane Public Library: staff entrance on the right-hand side of the building
- Graham Public Library: staff entrance on the right-hand side of the building near the Graham Police Department
- May Memorial Library: the entrance to the right of the front doors near the carousel horse
- Items may be picked up Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Be prepared to show your library card or photo I.D. when picking up items
- Late fees are being suspended until the libraries reopens
- Please do not use this service if you think you are sick
All Alamance Parks Programming Is Suspended Through April 6
Beginning Monday, March 16th Alamance Parks will be suspending all recreation programming. This includes open gym and fitness center hours. This action is being taken following social distancing guidelines for the safety of the public.
All park locations including Cedarock Park, Haw River Trail, and the Pleasant Grove and Eli Whitney Community Centers will remain open during their normal operating hours. Park opening status may change as the situation evolves.
Alamance Libraries – All programming, mobile cafe, and meeting room services are suspended
As of Monday, March 16th the Alamance County Public Libraries will be suspending all library programs and public meeting rooms use. For the safety of the public, under social distancing guidelines we are limiting the services that draw groups of people together in our spaces. For these same reasons, the Mobile Café will also be suspending their routes.
All library locations will be open their normal operating hours, but keep in mind that this may change as the situation changes. That being said, now may be the time to stock up on library materials and always remember that our electronic and online resources are available.