HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrange County State of Emergency Declaration - August 11 2021 t 96nge
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Renee Price, Chair
Jamezetta Bedford vice-Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners
Amy Fowler Post Office Box 8181
Sally Greene 300 West Tryon Street 1z 5z
Jean Hamilton
Earl McKee Hillsborough, North Carolina, 27278
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AMENDMENT TO THE DECLARATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY IN ORANGE COUNTY
Sec.1. The Chair of the Board of County Commissioners declared the existence of a state of
emergency in Orange County pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 166A-22 on March 13,
2020 ("Original Declaration") and revised the Original Declaration on March 25, 2020, April 23,
2020, May 6, 2020, May 21, 2020,June 10, 2020, June 26, 2020, July 9, 2020, July 17, 2020,
August 18, 2020, September 4, 2020, October 2, 2020, November 13, 2020, December 1, 2020,
March 19, 2021, June 21, 2021, and July 23, 2021.
Sec. 2. The undersigned, in consideration of changing circumstances related to COVID-19,
previously adopted revised declarations of emergency incorporating the terms of various
gubernatorial Executive Orders with some changes and exceptions deemed necessary and
specific to Orange County. Despite improving COVID-19 trends over several months of Spring
and early Summer 2021 the undersigned, in consultation with the Orange County Health
Director, determines the following:
a. COVID-19 Variants continue to spread throughout the nation and Orange County; and
b. COVID-19 positive test rates are increasing both nationwide and in Orange County and have
recently surpassed five percent (5%) positive in Orange County and continue in an upward
trend; and
c. Hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have increased substantially in Orange County and are
similar to the nationwide and statewide upward trend for hospitalizations; and
d. Even though vaccinations in Orange County are at or near the highest level in the state,
vaccination rates have slowed considerably; and
e. Vaccinated persons are far less likely to contract COVID-19, however the Delta variant has
infected and continues to infect vaccinated persons and can be retransmitted to others by
them as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and
f. The CDC and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services have issued
guidance calling for all people, including those who are vaccinated, to wear masks in indoor
spaces when they are around people they do not live with in order to reduce the spread of
COVID-19; and
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g. Many of those who contract the virus may be asymptomatic and may not be aware they
carry the virus but can still transmit the disease; and
h. Data shows the disease and the Delta variant in particular is easily spread and indoor
gatherings can result in further transmissions of the virus; and
i. It is essential to slow viral transmission and community spread as much as possible to
protect the most vulnerable and children under twelve (12) years old, and to prevent the health
care system from being overwhelmed; and
j. Prompt action now together with cooperation from and vigilance by the public can reduce
the transmission of COVID-19 and prevent the need for greater restrictions in the future.
Sec. 3. The undersigned, in consideration of changing circumstances related to COVID-19,
previously adopted revised declarations of emergency incorporating the terms of various
gubernatorial Executive Orders with some changes and exceptions deemed necessary and
specific to Orange County. Despite improving COVID-19 trends over several months of Spring
and early Summer 2021 the undersigned, in consultation with the Orange County Health
Director, further determines the following:
a. Executive Order No. 224, dated July 29, 2021 by Governor Roy Cooper implements
measures to address COVID-19 and related variants. More specifically, Section 4.1 of Executive
Order No. 224 defines measures to protect state employees at cabinet agencies by requiring
vaccination or weekly COVID-19 testing for unvaccinated workers; and
b. Orange County is committed to protecting the health and safety of County employees and
the public by mitigating the Spread of COVID-19 and its related variants in the workplace; and
c. In accordance with Orange County's duty to provide and maintain a safe and healthy
workplace Orange County employees will be required to demonstrate proof of vaccination
against COVID-19 OR be tested once weekly for COVID-19 infection;
d. This shall apply to all permanent, temporary, and seasonal employees, paid and unpaid
interns, and volunteers.
e. The Orange County Manager is directed to adopt a policy to this effect and to implement
such policy by September 1, 2021. The Orange County Manager is authorized to make changes
to the policy as necessary to comply with guidance from the CDC and the Orange County Health
Director as may be needed.
Sec. 4. In consideration of all available data related to the impacts of COVID-19 in Orange
County the undersigned, in consultation with the Orange County Health Director, hereby
determines it is in the best interest of the residents of Orange County to leave in place the
declaration of emergency and to continue to follow the terms of Governor Roy Cooper's
Executive Order 220 related to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and any other currently
effective COVID-19 Executive Orders. Pursuant to factors set out above, the available data
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related to the impacts of COVID-19 in Orange County, and the recommendation of the Orange
County Health Director, the Orange County Declaration of Emergency related to COVID-19 is
hereby amended as follows:
a. The State of Emergency in Orange County is amended as stated herein and continues until
such time as it is rescinded or terminated by the Chair of the Board of County
Commissioners; and
b. In addition to the terms of Executive Order 220, and all subsequent COVID-19 related
Executive Orders, the following additional restrictions are mandatory in Orange County;
i. Face Coverings are REQUIRED in all indoor public places including public
transportation facilities and vehicles. "Face Covering" means a complete covering
of the nose and mouth that is secured to the head with ties, straps, or loops over
the ears and fits snugly against the side of a person(s face. A Face Covering may be
made of synthetic or natural material.
ii. Face Coverings need not be worn by anyone who
(a) has a diagnosed medical or behavioral condition or disability, including
difficulty breathing,
(b) is a child under two (2) years of age,
(c) is a child under five (5) years of age and their parent, guardian, or
responsible person has been unable to place and maintain a Face Covering
safely on the child's face,
(d) is actively eating or drinking,
(e) is seeking to communicate with someone who is hearing impaired in a
way that requires the mouth to be visible,
(f) is giving a speech or performance for a broadcast or to an audience
where they maintain a distance of at least twenty (20) feet from the
audience,
(g) is working alone in an individual office setting (however, such person(s)
shall apply a Face Covering when in common areas such as breakrooms,
hallways, restrooms, or other areas where additional persons may be
encountered),
(h) has determined the Face Covering is impeding their visibility in the
operation of equipment or a vehicle,
iii. Anyone who declines to wear a Face Covering for these reasons should not be
required to produce documentation or other proof of a condition.
iv. Businesses may accommodate anyone who declines to wear a Face Covering for
these reasons by choosing to offer outdoor service, curbside service, home delivery,
or use some other reasonable measure to deliver goods or services.
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Sec. S. This amendment is adopted pursuant to the authority granted by Chapter 14 of the
Orange County Code of General Ordinances and Chapter 166A of the North Carolina General
Statutes. The imposition of a Face Covering requirement does not have the effect of restricting
state or federal government operations and Section 4 of this amendment to the declaration is
effective in all state and federal government offices operating in Orange County.
Sec. 6. A copy of this Amendment shall be provided to the Clerk to the Board of
Commissioners. Reports of the substance of its prohibitions and restrictions shall be sent
immediately to the mass communications media serving Orange County. As soon as practicable,
the full text of this Amendment shall be distributed to the mass communications media serving
Orange County. A copy of this Amendment shall be posted conspicuously on the Orange
County website at www.orangecountync.gov. Notice and a signed copy of this Amendment to
the Declaration of a State of Emergency in Orange County shall be submitted to the
Department of Public Safety WebEOC.
Sec. 7. This Amendment is effective at 5:00 pm on Wednesday August 11, 2021.
August 10, 2021
Renee Price, Chair Date
Orange County Board of Commissioners
www.orangecountync.gov
Protecting and preserving—People,Resources,Quality of Life
Orange County,North Carolina—You Count!
(919)245-2130 •FAX(919)644-0246