Durham, NC - April 23, 2020 - The total number of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases confirmed among Durham County residents is 500 as of April 23, 2020.
The Durham County Department of Public Health (DCoDPH) has also confirmed two COVID-19-related deaths of Durham County residents, for a total of nine COVID-19-related deaths confirmed within the county to date. The residents were over 65 years old and had multiple underlying health conditions, putting them at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19,
according to the CDC.
To protect the families' privacy, no further information about these residents will be released. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of these residents. The Health Department will continue to report COVID-19 deaths in daily COVID-19 case update news releases and
on our website.
The Durham County Department of Public Health is continuing to respond to COVID-19 outbreaks at
three Durham long-term care facilities. As of now, the following COVID-19 case totals have been confirmed for all residents and staff at the facilities:
- 97 at Durham Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
- 29 at Treyburn Rehabilitation Center
- 4 at Durham VA Healthcare System Community Nursing Home
Durham County COVID-19 Response
DCoDPH is coordinating with the North Carolina Department of Health Human Services (NC DHHS) as NC DHHS leads the COVID-19 response efforts for the state. On March 14, 2020, Chair of the Durham County Board of Commissioners Wendy Jacobs signed a
Declaration of State of Emergency in Durham County. The declaration was made following President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency and Governor Roy Cooper's Executive Order and the North Carolina State of Emergency issued in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
On Saturday, March 28, 2020, Chairperson Jacobs signed a Durham County Stay-At-Home Order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Durham County Stay-At-Home Order went into effect at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 29.
On April 3, the City of Durham and County of Durham issued
a single Order to reduce confusion between the city and county Orders and offer clearer guidance to businesses and residents. The specific provisions of the combined and amended Order are detailed
here. The Order will remain in effect until April 30, 2020.
COVID-19 Mitigation Recommendations
DCoDPH and NCDHHS encourage everyone to take steps to protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19:
- 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.
- 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.
- Practice social distancing; maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet away from others
- Individuals at high risk should stay home to the extent possible. High risk individuals include those over 65 years of age; or with underlying health conditions including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes; or weakened immune systems
More Information
NCDHHS & DCoDPH offer COVID-19 hotlines for general questions and information related to COVID-19. For the DCoDPH hotline, call 919-635-8150 8:30am - 5:00pm, 7 days a week. For the NCDHHS hotline, call 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162. This hotline is available 24/7. Text COVIDNC to 898211 to receive text updates from NC DHHS. These hotlines can not provide direct medical services.
DCoDPH also offers daily emails providing specific guidance for different audiences. Click below to subscribe to one or more email lists:
Updated information may be found at any time on the DCoDPH website at
dcopublichealth.org, the CDC website at
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus, and the NCDHHS website at
www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus. Follow along on the DCoDPH (@durhamhealthnc), CDC (@CDC), and NCDHHS (@NCDHHS) Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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For media inquiries, contact:
Alecia Smith
Communications and Public Relations Manager, Durham County Department of Public Health