Dare County’s “Stay Home – Stay Healthy” declaration goes into effect Saturday at 5 p.m.

In North Carolina, there are currently 764 cases of COVID-19 in 61 counties. There have been three fatalities in NC associated with COVID-19, and there is now evidence of community-wide spread in 31 of North Carolina’s 100 counties.

The Dare County Control Group met Friday morning to receive a briefing from public health officials and discuss further restrictions necessary to ensure the public health and safety of our community. As part of their continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic, additional restrictions have been added to the State of Emergency Declaration that is currently in effect. The “Stay Home – Stay Healthy” declaration goes into effect on Saturday, March 28 at 5:00 p.m. and is being implemented to further minimize opportunities for exposure and transmission of COVID-19 in Dare County.

The declaration directs residents to “Stay Home – Stay Healthy” by limiting nonessential movements outside of their homes and limits gatherings to no more than 10 people.  These measures will be regularly reviewed and will remain in effect until it is determined they are no longer necessary to protect the public health and safety of our community.

This is not a Shelter in Place declaration. Shelter in Place only permits emergency travel and emergency services. Dare County is not currently planning to enact a Shelter in Place order.

A “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” guide with frequently asked questions, summaries of what citizens can do and should not do, and information on distinctions between essential and nonessential businesses, can be found here.

Dare County
The Dare County COVID-19 Call Center is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to help address your questions on “Stay Home, Stay Healthy”, travel restrictions, testing and symptoms, and can be reached at 252.475.5008.

For updated information regarding Dare County services and department operations, visit www.darenc.com/covidservices. A list of community resources is available for those impacted by COVID-19 at darenc.com/covidresources.

Surf Pediatrics and Medicine
Surf Pediatrics and Medicine continues to serve the community and are stressing the importance of providing medical care during this time – we have segregated the two offices into a well and sick center to keep you safe during your visit.  Since March 18, our Kitty Hawk office has been a dedicated well center to continue preventative and chronic care follow-ups.  We have enhanced cleaning procedures and patient triage protocols to safeguard the community at this location. Sick visits have been directed to our Kill Devil Hills center where a dedicated medical team can provide in-car services and have the necessary patient protections in place based on CDC guidelines.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has reaffirmed its recommendation that all routine well child care continue as usual, given its important role in keeping kids healthy and provide critical vaccinations. We urge you to keep your scheduled well visit appointments, and to make one if you haven’t gotten around to it yet or might be overdue.

Surf Pediatrics and Medicine also has the capability to provide online telehealth virtual visits, which can be used for sick visits and chronic care follow-ups, such as ADHD, mental health, asthma, blood pressure, and diabetes checks.

The next bulletin will be issued no later than 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 28.