Davie updates state of emergency declaration

Published 10:10 am Tuesday, August 4, 2020

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The State of Emergency Proclamation/Declaration issued by Davie County Government has been modified and updated since being first released in March and will take effect on August 3, 2020.
Updates to the proclamation/declaration include:

Whereas, since this last Emergency Proclamation/Declaration modified on March 16, 2020, the number of laboratory confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the State of North Carolina and Davie County continue to climb; and

Whereas, there is still an imminent threat of, or existing conditions have caused or will cause, widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property, and to ensure that health and public safety authorities can maintain order and protect public health, safety, and welfare, lives and to provide adequate protection of property; and

Whereas, our local governmental departments must use all preventative measures, which will require access to available national, state, and local services, personnel, equipment, and facilities to respond to COVID-19 due to the public health threat to protect our most vulnerable citizens; and

Whereas, based on CDC recommendations, Davie County encourages all residents to wear a face covering or non-surgical protective face mask in public settings where multiple persons are present, practice social distancing, and wash one’s hands frequently as measures designed to help slow or prevent the spread of the virus and to prevent individuals who may be infected and unaware from transmitting the virus to others; and

Now therefore it be resolved, in compliance with the Proclamations and Declarations of the President of the United States, the Executive Orders of the Governor of North Carolina, and the North Carolina Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Order of Abatement of Imminent Hazard, and after consultation with local departmental authorities, the undersigned hereby still declares that a State of Emergency continues to exist in Davie County.

In accordance with the Proclamation/Declaration, and until it is rescinded or modified, the following should be adhered to:

1. A State of Emergency continues to exist within Davie County, North Carolina. This Proclamation/Declaration, and the directives included within it, includes all the unincorporated areas of the County, and, with the consent of the incorporated areas/municipalities of the Town of Mocksville, Town of Cooleemee, and Town of Bermuda Run.

2. The Proclamations and Declarations of the President of the United States, the Executive Orders of the Governor of North Carolina, and the North Carolina Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Order of Abatement of Imminent Hazard, and any Proclamations/Declarations of any municipality that has consented to this Proclamation shall be followed.

3. Local governments shall take action as necessary to promote emergency contingency plans to secure the safety and protection of those dwelling in Davie County.

4. As able, local government buildings shall provide the public alternative means of contacting each department/entity on the exterior doors, online/electronically, and/or via social media
notifying residents of options to do business without entering the premises.

5. All upcoming local government meetings shall be assessed by each governing body to prevent gathering persons together risking exposure to the public. This will include all Boards, Committees, and Council/Commissioner meetings. Such meetings should provide alternative means to meet electronically to avoid mass gatherings whenever possible or feasible. Alternative means of meeting (electronic streaming, webinar, conference call, pre-submission prior to meetings, etc.) should be assessed according to each governing body to ensure that citizens have a means of public comment each month. If meetings physically occur, all members shall implement social distancing of 6 feet between each individual and recommend all participants to wear masks whenever possible or feasible. Davie County Government has no jurisdiction regarding state governed entities, as those elected/administrative bodies will need to make their own informed decisions. Therefore, all such local government meetings including boards, committees, and other community meetings required by ordinance, shall adhere to the following rules and procedures:

a) All meetings shall be conducted such that there is at least 6 feet between each individual in the room.
b) All meetings shall be conducted so that attendees can attend either on-line/electronically (audio and/or video), or via social media, or other electronic methods/options approved by the governing body (pre-registering with the Clerk beforehand to speak at the electronic meeting by calling or emailing the Clerk before the meeting, or pre-record a comment via a voice mail message that the Clerk can play during the meeting, etc.) so as to allow citizens the option of participating/attending without entering the premises or being physically present.
c) Whenever it is possible or feasible for the governing board to meet physically/in-person, there shall be no more than 10 individuals allowed into the meeting room at any one time other than board members and/or essential staff members. In the instance of public comment and/or the public hearing period, if more than 10 people have signed up to speak, no more than 10 individuals shall be allowed in to the room at any one time. Each speaker shall speak and then leave if others are awaiting behind him/her to avoid exceeding the 10-person limit.
d) When a public hearing is anticipated to yield a large crowd, alternate venues may be assessed to allow more than 10 individuals, but only when social distancing of 6 feet between each individual in the room can be enforced. It is recommended that all participants wear masks whenever possible or feasible

6. All meetings in interior governmental facilities used by non-governmental organizations and community organizations shall ensure social distancing and recommend all participants to wear masks whenever possible or feasible. Davie County Government has no jurisdiction regarding state or federal governed entities who are located in governmental facilities, as those elected/administrative bodies will need to make their own informed decisions about activities occurring in their space.

7. Local governmental departments must use all preventative measures, which will require access to available national, state, and local services, personnel, equipment, and facilities to respond to COVID-19 due to the public health threat to protect our most vulnerable citizens; and

8. Based on CDC recommendations, Davie County encourages all residents to wear a face covering or non-surgical protective face mask in public settings where multiple persons are present, practice social distancing, and wash one’s hands frequently as measures designed to help slow or prevent the spread of the virus and to prevent individuals who may be infected and unaware from transmitting the virus to others; and

9. All residential facilities (nursing homes, independent and assisted living facilities, correction facilities, and facilities that care for the medically vulnerable) shall continue to follow the Governor’s Executive Orders and NCDHHS guidance to ensure the health and safety of high risk.

10. All businesses that have devices that use an entertaining display for video gaming/sweepstakes purposes shall be closed to restrict the flow of visitors in Davie County; and

11. All Davie County staff under the authority of Davie County Manager, John Eller; all law enforcement officers under the command of the Davie County Sheriff, JD Hartman; all county emergency service and public safety resources at the direction of Davie County Emergency Services Director, Brian Byrd; and all resources under the authority of the Health and Human Services Director, Suzanne Wright, shall cooperate in the enforcement and implementation of the provisions of this Proclamation/Declaration, all applicable local ordinances, and Davie County Emergency Operations; and

12. Public Notice shall be given to: the general public; filed with Clerk to the Davie County Board of Commissioners; posted on the doors of the County Courthouse and County Administration and/or Municipal Administration Building(s); the Davie County Enterprise Newspaper, the NC State WebEOC system, and the County and/or Municipal website(s) to ensure proper implementation of this Proclamation/Declaration.

13. The Original Proclamation/Declaration “Checklist” enacted on March 16, 2020, enforcing the Davie County Emergency Ordinance and authorizing the prohibitions and restrictions during a State of Emergency, shall remain in effect with no changes.

Questions or concerns regarding this proclamation/declaration can be directed to the Davie County Manager’s Office at 336-753-6001.