 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PUBLISHED ONLINE MARCH 27, 2020 • VOL. 2, NO. 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Stories and photos by Wingate Lassiter unless otherwise noted (click highlighted link to e-mail the editor) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Johnston County reports its first coronavirus death The following announcement was received this morning (Friday): The Johnston County Public Health is reporting the first COVID-19 associated death in a Johnston County resident. The individual died on March 26, 2020 from complications associated with the virus. The patient was in their mid-sixties and had underlying medical conditions. To protect the family’s privacy, no further information about this patient will be released. CORONAVIRUS CASE COUNTS
I've added neighboring Wake County to the table above because it's a coronavirus "hotspot," with many more cases than what has been reported in Johnston so far. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
County Commissioners hear doctor's advice to assume you're infected even if you're not The dreaded shelter-in-place order wasn't issued at Wednesday's special meeting of the County Commissioners. But it was on everyone's mind who spoke during briefings on the coronavirus threat in Johnston County. The medical professionals repeatedly advised us all to practice "social distancing," stay at home as much as possible, and "wash your hands!" Dr. Eric Janis, chairman of the board at UNC Johnston Health, offered the most poignant advice. "We have to assume that each one of us is infected and our neighbor is infected," he warned. "You can be asymptomatic (without symptoms)... and you really don't know you have it."  With just
nine (9) confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus
reported in Johnston so far, officials are hoping
further restrictions on the local population, businesses
especially, can be avoided.Evidence shared at Wednesday's meeting shows that Johnstonians are cooperating with local prevention advisories. Jason Barbour, the county's 9-1-1 director, said calls for emergencies are down considerably, Sheriff Steve Bizzell said his department's "calls at night are extremely low," and County Manager Rick Hester said "traffic" inside the Courthouse has been reduced about 90 percent. JAIL NUMBERS REDUCED; HOSPITALS HALF FULL The sheriff said 80 inmates have been released from the county's jail during the past week as a result of special judicial proceedings. That has helped reduce the jail's census from 315 to 230, just above the jail's licensed capacity of 191. Visitations by the public are banned, and "the inmates understand" the reason, the sheriff added. Johnston Health's hospitals at Smithfield and Clayton are licensed for 199 beds and only about half of those are occupied just now, reported interim CEO Tom Williams. He told commissioners additional bed space could be arranged for up to 318 patients if need be. Of more concern to health-care providers, Mr. Williams indicated, is a shortage of PPEs --- an acronym for Personal Protective Equipment like masks, which are in short supply, he said, since many of them have been imported from China where commerce has been severely disrupted by the coronavirius pandemic. Commissioners asked about the difference between the coronavirus outbreak and the common flu. Unlike influenza, there's no vaccine for COVID-19 and "we have treatments for flu" but not for coronavirus, Dr. Janis explained. While flu has affected about 30-million persons worldwide this season and caused about 30,000 deaths, the doctor noted, "we don't yet know how many people this (coronavirus) will affect." CONCERNS ABOUT FUTURE OF SMALL BUSINESSES Commissioners voiced empathy for small businesses and self-employed persons who have been shut down or put out of work because of statewide restrictions ordered by Governor Roy Cooper. "Folks are getting restless," said Commissioner Tony Braswell. "They're scared." Commissioner Chad Stewart added: "People's livelihoods are at stake." Mr. Braswell, who operates Holt Lake Gas and Grill, said he and others like him are frustrated that "big box" retailers with large numbers of customers continue to operate as usual while smaller businesses with fewer patrons have been closed. Even so, Commissioner Bruce Lawter said more restrictions affecting individuals and businesses need to be under consideration by county officials. "I want us to be prepared" to take additional steps to protect public safety, he said. The only major action taken by the board on Wednesday was unanimous approval of a motion to waive credit-card fees for online payment of county water and sewer services through April 30. Another resolution approved by the board authorizes commissioners and other county governing bodies to conduct future meetings by "remote participation" if the coronavirus situation worsens. Johnston County Government is posting updates on Facebook> |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Media coordinator Angela Causby and Principal David Allen hold one of the Chromebooks picked up Thursday by Smithfield-Selma High School students. Well over 400 Chromebooks loaned to SSS students for "distance learning" More than 400 students at Smithfield-Selma High School put in requests this past week to borrow Chromebook laptop computers for online lessons being offered by the school while classes are on hold because of the coronavirus threat. Many others showed up without advance notice when the computers were distributed Thursday, and everyone who wanted one got one. Principal David Allen said the school keeps about 800 of the laptops on hand for students who lack computers of their own during normal school classes. Most of those were readily available this week for lending to students to take home, he said --- much like checking books out of the Public Library. And like library books, the Chromebooks should be returned at the school year's end, he said --- whenever that may be. Currently, all of North Carolina's public schools are closed through May 15. In the meantime, schools across the state are scrambling to set up online teaching options and provide tools like the Chromebooks for "distance learning." LEARN what SSS has set up online for its students> |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Distributing meals Thursday at Smithfield-Selma High School were off-site cafeteria employees Amy Byrd (left) from McGee's Crossroads Elementary and Tracy Barfield from West Smithfield Elementary. Schools handing out 10,000 meals daily to students sent home by the virus threat Johnston County Public Schools reported handing out about 3,500 free meals to students across the county last Friday, the third day of distribution started at 13 schools and expanded to a number of off-site drop-off points. By Tuesday of this week, that number had grown to almost 10,000. Smithfield-Selma High School and West Johnston Elementary are places for curbside pickup 11:30 to 1:30 Monday-Friday by any household who comes by, with no questions asked about income eligibility. It's a statewide effort, and likely going on nationwide, that's based on the federal Summer Food Service Program for needy children. MORE about the school system's coronavirus response> MEAL DELIVERIES TO SENIORS MAINTAINED Neal Davis, director of Community & Senior Services of Johnston County, reports that deliveries of weekday meals to elderly residents, many of them shut-ins, are continuing under modified arrangements. "Foodrunners, our contract kitchen, is shut down (no hot meals) but has been able to help us anyway," Mr. Davis wrote in a note to the Sun. "As was the case this week, we'll be delivering five frozen meals to each recipient on Monday to cover the week. "We will provide frozen meals for congregate diners that can pick them up, or we'll deliver," he said. "We're screening everyone to ensure that frozen meals are workable. For those that cannot handle preparation (operate a microwave, etc.) we're making other arrangements." Mr. Davis said his staff and some from the Department of Social Services are making deliveries where volunteers who usually make those runs "are uncomfortable getting out" because of the coronavirus threat. RESTAURANTS & OTHER SERVICES: WHAT'S OPEN? The Triangle East Chamber of Commerce has a website page listing services now being provided by Smithfield restaurants, pharmacies, financial institutions, and other specialized businesses. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| More
CORONAVIRUS odds & ends . . . JOHNSTON HEALTH COLLECTING MEDICAL SUPPLIES Johnston Health is in short supply of critical medical supplies, including personal protective equipment, and will accept community donations from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. next Tuesday (March 31) and Friday, April 3. The Smithfield drop-off site will be the parking lot at Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, north end of Johnston Medical Mall. Most urgent needs are N95 masks, surgical masks, surgical masks with shield, and nasal swabs. Other needed items are hand soap, disinfectant and hand sanitizer with 60 percent or more alcohol, eye protection including safety goggles or glasses, face shields, disposable gloves, gown and shoe covers, and handmade masks. RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE AT THE SRAC NEXT MONDAY Although the Smithfield Recreation & Aquatics Center courts, pools, and workout spaces remain closed to the public, it will be open to host the Red Cross Bloodmobile from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. next Monday (March 30). Donations are by appointment only at redcrossblood.org. The Red Cross promises to maintain "appropriate social distancing" during appointments. TOWN ISSUES WARNING ABOUT UTILITY SCAMMERS "Town of Smithfield utility customers are urged to be cautious if receiving a telephone call or other communication regarding their utility bills," warns an advisory issued Thursday. "The Town of Smithfield will not use the telephone to contact you regarding your utility bill unless you have initiated the call with the Town and provided your phone number. "If you receive an unsolicited call do not listen to the scammer’s instructions. The call may come from a live person or from a computer system/robo type call. Please hang up immediately and contact Smithfield customer service at 919-934-2116, extension 1101. After hours, you may contact the Smithfield Police Department at 919-934-2121. Please do not share any personal information with these scammers." MORE about the coronavirus effect on OBSERVATIONS>
is "Philanthropist of the Year" at JCC Lynn Daniels was honored March 12 as "Philanthropist of the Year" by the Linda Vann Lassiter Women's Society, established by the Johnston Community College Foundation last year in memory of one of its most generous benefactors. Ms. Daniels, owner and operator of Smithfield's Sleep Inn & Suites, is active in numerous non-profits, including the Junior Women's League, Triangle East Chamber of Commerce, Johnston County Travel and Tourism Authority, Alpha International Ministries, the Business Women's Network, and the Johnston Health Foundation. In addition to honoring philanthropists, the Linda Vann Lassiter Women's Society is building a scholarship endowment fund with a goal of $75 million. READ the full story on the JCCollege website> |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DEATHS & FUNERALS Each week we post links to obituaries about persons who have died during the past week. We monitor the websites of local funeral homes to compile our list, and we welcome links provided by readers to obituaries of persons with Smithfield connections who have died outside our immediate area.... JOHNNIE MELVIN DUPREE, 79 - died March 25 SHELBY ANTOINETTE TOLER GRAHAM, 53 - died March 24 WILLIAM EDWARD (ED) THOMPSON, 71 - died March 23 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
THAT'S THE WAY IT WAS  It would have been ideal for "social distancing" . . . The County Drive-In, that is, shown here in a Smithfield Herald photo from 1990, taken during the iconic landmark's demolition to make way for Wal-Mart (note the now-defunct Winn-Dixie grocery store in the background). An article in The New York Times earlier this week told about a drive-in movie theater still operating in Austin, Texas where the automobiles filled with movie-goers were spaced far enough apart to guard against spreading the coronavirus. According to the United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association, the U.S.A. has 305 drive-ins remaining. (Photo, slightly damaged, from archives of the Johnston County Heritage Center) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
ONE OTHER PAGE IN THIS WEEK'S EDITION: OBSERVATIONS |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
