Sampson County recently issued the following announcement.
COVID -19 Resource Page
We have developed a resource page that will offer you information on what the County is doing in response to COVID-19 as well as guidance from public health professionals. Please understand that information is subject to change frequently, and with little to no notice.
- Governor's Executive Order 121:Though we do not have direct answers to some of the many questions, you can read Governor's Executive Order 121 here.
- See the County's Declaration of a State of Emergency here.
- Sampson County COVID-19 Testing Figures here. (as of March 27, 2020)
The Sampson County Health Department will continue to provide health care services during this difficult time. The health department will abide by guidelines from the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Effective March 23rd, the health department will be operating on a limited basis Monday-Friday, 8-5pm. Patients will be seen by appointment only. The public is encouraged to call before walking in without an appointment.
Clients entering the Health Department will be screened when arriving for services. Children 17 years and under are prohibited from entering the health department until further notice unless they have an appointment.
See the links below for helpful information:
- Sampson County Health Department Guidance
- NCDHHS COVID-19 Guidance
- NCDHHS Guidance - What To Do If You Feel Sick
- NCDHHS Updated Guidance on COVID-19 Mitigation (3/20/2020)
- NCDHHS Community Events and Information for Groups
- NCDHHS Guidance for Local Health Departments Providing Care for Pregnant Women
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention Print Resources (in various languages)
- CDC Water Transmission and COVID-19
Based on the current guidance to minimize the spread of COVID-19, Sampson County departments are adjusting access and operations to protect the health and safety of the public AND county staff. To preserve continuity of operations, many employees are working remotely or on staggered shifts. To accommodate these staffing changes, some office locations may limit public access to appointments only or to limited hours. Please check with the specific location before traveling to our offices, as we may be able to handle your requests electronically. Here’s a quick listing of our departmental phone numbers (here) and a link to our online services (here).
County staff are making every effort to minimize delays and interruptions as we continue to serve the public during this time, and we appreciate your continued patience and understanding. This is an evolving situation and subject to change at any time, with little notice. See attached access guide, effective March 23, 2020, here.
STATE GUIDANCE REGARDING RESTRICTED OPERATIONS OF RESTAURANTS & BARS:
We have been asked to make the public aware of clarification of the state guidance regarding the operation of restaurants and bars in the presence of community spread of the COVID-19 virus. From the Division of Public Health/Environmental Health Section:
"In light of new information today regarding the presence of community spread of COVID-19 in North Carolina, local jurisdictions should enforce the more stringent Order of Abatement of Imminent Hazard issued by the Secretary of the NC Department of Health and Human Services, which states that “seating areas of restaurants and bars constitute an imminent hazard for the spread of COVID-19.” Restaurants shall close all seating areas immediately and bars are directed to close immediately. Restaurants are restricted to carry-out, drive-through, and delivery to ensure food is available while maintaining social distancing. Restaurant staff are not permitted to serve patrons indoors or in the outdoor seating area, and all areas of North Carolina are subject to mass gathering restrictions and social distancing guidelines. If a restaurant has outdoor seating, onsite consumption in the outdoor seating area is not permitted pursuant to the Order of Abatement."
Officials will be visiting local restaurants to ensure they are aware of these restrictions.
STATE GUIDANCE REGARDING MIGRANT FARM WORKERS (INTERIM GUIDANCE FROM DHHS)
To see state Guidance on Migrant Farm Workers, click here.
Get the Facts, Not Misinformation - General Information on COVID-19
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Fact Sheet
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) “What You Need To Know” Fact Sheet
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- FAQs about Coronavirus (COVID-19) - NCDHHS
- What to Do If You are Sick (CDC)
- COVID-19 Poison Control Hotline
- North Carolina businesses are now eligible to apply for Disaster Loan Assistance from the Small Business Administration. Find the application here: disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/
- What’s COVID-19: https://youtu.be/ZvzDRwARoYg
- Self-care during COVID-19 outbreak: https://youtu.be/ooBRqfZjKhQ
Preventative Measures You Should Take
- Follow the CDC guidance for keeping yourself and others healthy: See here.
- Are you in a high-risk population? Older adults and people who have severe underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. Please consult with your health care provider about additional steps you may be able to take to protect yourself. Here’s a quick guide for you.
- The CDC recommends “social distancing”. Here’s what that means: remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible.
In compliance with the Governor’s prohibition on mass gatherings that bring together more than 100 persons in a single room or single space at a time, many events and programs are cancelled. As this situation evolves, additional cancellations, even small group meetings, are likely to occur. We will offer guidance in the future regarding our Board of Commissioners meetings and the scheduled public hearings.
- Sampson County Parks and Recreation has suspended its Baseball and Softball season along with all other sports activities, including all assessments, workouts, skill development, practices and contests, until further notice.
- All events scheduled to be held at the Sampson County Exposition Center are cancelled through Thursday, April 30, 2020.
Changes are tough, but our guiding principle in making tough decision about operational changes is that we need to protect both our citizens (especially those in high risk categories) and our employees. With that in mind, some of our services (and our partner agencies) have been adjusted. Anyone needing services from Sampson County offices should call prior to arrival to get the most updated information on closures, operating procedures, and provided services.
Women, Infant, and Children (WIC)
The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) office will continue to serve clients while protecting the health of WIC participants. If you or anyone in your family has a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, please call us at (910) 592-1131 to reschedule your appointment. If you have a scheduled appointment or need to make an appointment, please call us at (910) 592-1131 before coming into the office. You may also be able to complete your WIC appointment over the phone. See attached WIC Program Update, as of March 25, 2020, here.
Environmental Health
Environmental Health Services will operate on a regular schedule but with restrictions. Customers may obtain applications from the county website here. Citizens will need to contact the health department on how to submit applications.
A table with applications and other information will be placed in the Environmental Health Foyer for those that do not have access to a computer. If you are submitting an application or need to make a payment, please call the health department prior to coming to the office. Payment can be made by credit card or check.
Onsite will continue to perform duties such as checking lots, water samples, etc. Food and Lodging section will continue to perform their inspections for compliance for all food handling facilities on a daily basis as needed.
Please be patient with us as we try to provide services in a timely manner. Please contact the Environmental Health Office if you have any questions or need assistance, at (910) 592-4675.
Sampson County Fire Marshal Office
The Sampson County Fire Marshal Office will perform inspections per COVID-19 event guidance provided by the Chief State Fire Marshal. Thus, fire inspections will be primarily limited to those for life safety matters.
Aging Department
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak nutrition sites and senior centers will be closed to congregate participants starting Thursday, March 19, 2020 through Friday, April 3, 2020. The Department of Aging will reassess the situation and make updates at a later date. At this time, home delivered meals will continue to be delivered to those participants as normal. The Adult Day Health Care is open, however, it is recommended to keep the participants home if at all possible.
Register of Deeds
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and the declaration of local, state, and national emergency, this is notification the Register of Deeds Office will be taking the following steps to restrict access to the public since receiving confirmation of COVID-19 in Sampson County!
- Effective March 23, 2020 the office will be closed to the public until further notice.
- All submitters are urged to use our electronic recording system for recording documents.
- The office will accept regular mail-in recordings, as well as overnight deliveries via FedEx, UPS, USPS, etc.
- The public is urged to use our website to process requests for copies of birth, death, and marriage records. If internet availability is a problem, the customer may mail in a written request for copies. The request must contain the type or record requested (birth, death, or marriage certificate), name of the individual on the record, relationship to the individual (self, parent, child, etc.), a return address, and a signature of the requestor. Request may be mailed to: Sampson County Register of Deeds, 126-A W. Elizabeth Street, Clinton, N.C. 28328.
- Notaries wanting to take their oath of office, couples wanting to obtain a marriage license, have all been postponed until further notice. Veterans wanting to record their discharge papers (DD214) will need to call Ann Knowles at Veterans Affairs, (910) 592-2862.
- A drop lock box has been installed for attorneys, surveyors, funeral homes, etc., to leave deeds, documents or plats to be recorded. You will be notified when they are ready, or they will be mailed back to you.
- There will be no walk throughs by funeral homes. All documents must come to this office by way of mail.
In accordance with Federal Government USDA Departmental Administrative Guidance, Sampson Soil & Water Conservation will be closed to the general public effective Friday, March 20, 2020. To conduct business via phone or reach essential staff, please call (910) 592-7963 ext 3.
Social Services
As a result of Coronavirus (COVID-19), certain program requirements have changed at DSS. Assistance including Food and Nutrition Services, Energy, Medicaid, Childcare and Child Support may not require an office visit. You may call the Agency at 910-592-7131 or utilize available online services linked on this website. DSS also has an outside drop box available for those who may not need to enter the Agency and there are public computers with internet service available as needed for any visitors.
Sampson Area Transportation
Effective immediately and through April 3, 2020, Sampson Area Transportation will limit transportation to those which are medically necessary or for employment. Clients will be notified. Precautions will be taken to protect the health of clients that may be high risk due to age or underlying medical conditions, including increased sanitation of transportation vehicles and screening questions for symptomatic individuals to identify those with potential exposure to COVID-19.
Sampson County Public Works
An important front-line defense to prevent the spread of the disease is to wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; therefore, Public Works will temporarily cease water disconnects. That does not release customers from payment of their water bills. If you have concerns regarding your water bill, please contact them at (910) 592-0188.
Sampson County Public Libraries
Sampson County Public Libraries will be closed to the general public beginning Wednesday, March 18th through March 31st. If you have questions or concerns regarding your library account, some essential staff can be reached by calling the J.C. Holliday branch, (910) 592-4153, from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm each day. Patrons are encouraged to use the book drop box for returning borrowed materials; however, fines and fees will be discontinued during this closure.
Sampson County Schools/Clinton City Schools/Sampson Community College
Decisions and updated information for our educational partners can be found at the following links:
- Sampson County Schools: Website I Facebook I Twitter
- Clinton City Schools: Website I Facebook I Twitter
- Sampson Community College: Website I Facebook I Twitter
Pertinient information regarding visitor restrictions and patient services.
- Sampson Regional Medical Center: Website I Facebook I Twitter
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and state/federal/local guidance to minimize its spread, the Sampson County Veterans Office will be closed to the public effective March 23, 2020 and until future notice. However, we will be seeing clients by appointment, with a limit of no more than 2 clients per hour. Please call (910) 592-2862 to schedule an appointment. We regret any inconvenience as we seek to serve you while respecting public health guidance to keep you and our staff safe and preserve continuity of services.
Sampson County Courts
Notice will be posted at all court facilities directing any person who has likely been exposed to COVID-19 to not enter the courthouse. Any person who has likely been exposed and has business before the courts should contact the Clerk of Superior Court’s office by telephone at (910) 596-6630 or other remote means for further instruction.
For information on court closures, go to NCcourts.gov.
Original source: http://www.sampsonnc.com/news_detail_T6_R413.php
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