Orange County to Begin Phased-in Lifting of Restrictions at 5 p.m. May 8

Orange County’s Stay at Home Order will end on May 8, 2020. Thereafter, the County will fall under the state order. According to Governor Roy Cooper, restrictions will be lifted in three phases, with the first phase beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 8. The state of emergency for Orange County, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough will be extended.

Residents have been following stay-at-home orders in place since March 27 to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Through 5 p.m. May 8, the orders permit leaving home only for essential needs, such as food, medicine, outdoor exercise and to provide help to a loved one.

The governor’s new executive order continues stay-at-home guidance with some modifications. In the first phase of reopening, people will be allowed to leave home for commercial activity and more businesses will be open. Restrictions to encourage social distancing will continue.

Click here for more information.

Orange County COVID Update: Friday, May 8, 2020

The Orange County Health Department has provided the following information about COVID-19 cases in Orange County as of 9 a.m. Friday, May 8.

TOTAL CASES: 239
TOTAL DEATHS: 30

For the latest information and guidance relating to Orange County’s COVID-19 response:

Click here for the weekly summary press release with data by gender, race, etc.
Visit www.orangecountync.gov/coronavirus
Receive daily text updates on the crisis by texting 888-777 with OCNCHEALTH for English speakers and OCNCSALUD for Spanish speakers.
Sign up for a twice weekly e-newsletter about the COVID-19 response via the county website.
Follow the Orange County Health Department on Facebook and Twitter.

Chart of Orange County COVID cases by day

Creative Orange Works: The Writers

It takes work to be a creative. Work to develop a creative skill, yes. But often, it also means work to financially support a passion, the thing we do outside of the work week that refuels our spirit and stretches other parts of our brain. There are of course those rare few artists whose livelihoods are also their artistic lives. The majority, however, wear multiple hats, finding employment and helping others as teachers, tax collectors, software developers, librarians, sales associates, the list goes on. All this is to say: beware! Artists are among you.

Some artists even (gasp!) help our community as employees in Orange County Government. During this time of uncertainty, our local government employees are working especially hard to support our county’s safety and sense of community. The Orange County Arts Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Community Relations and the Orange County Public Library, thus wants to celebrate our Orange County employees who also hold creative passions, hobbies and backgrounds.

This month, we’re starting with a feature on our amazingly talented local creative writers who just happen to also be Orange County employees. Meet Library Assistant Christopher Hopkins, Deputy Tax Collector Tonya Smith, Community Relations Director Todd McGee and Arts Commission Assistant Emilie Menzel whose passion for creative writing comes through in their work for Orange County.

Orange County Board of Commissioners
Virtual Budget Public Hearing Agenda for May 12, 2020

The agenda for the Orange County Board of Commissioners’ Virtual Budget Public Hearing on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, has been posted to the link below.

https://www.orangecountync.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05122020-995

Due to current public health concerns, the Board of Commissioners is conducting a Virtual Budget Public Hearing on May 12, 2020. Members of the Board of Commissioners will be participating in the meeting remotely.

In this virtual process, there are two methods for public comment.

Written submittals by email
Speaking during the virtual meeting (Pre-registration is required)

Detailed public comment instructions for each method are provided on the agenda linked above.

As in prior meetings, members of the public will be able to view and listen to the meeting via live streaming video at www.orangecountync.gov/967/Meeting-Videos and on Orange County Gov-TV on channels 1301 or 97.6 (Spectrum Cable).

Celebrating Mother’s Day or Graduations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Orange County Residents have been following stay-athome orders in place since March 27 to reduce the spread of COVID-19. At 5 p.m. on Friday, May 8th Phase One of the reopening plan will begin just as Mother’s Day weekend begins.

In years past, this would have also been the weekend that Carolina held commencement ceremonies. The governor’s new executive order continues stay-at-home guidance with some modifications. In the first phase of reopening, people will be allowed to leave home for commercial activity and more businesses will be open. Restrictions to encourage social distancing will continue.

This means that our community will have to find new ways to celebrate Mother’s Day and graduations. Choosing to stay away from those you love is the most caring thing we can all do to support each other, at least for now. But, just because we cannot physically be together does not mean that we cannot be there for each other.

Mother’s Day is May 10th Here are some ways to safely celebrate our mothers this weekend during Phase One of the Stay at Home order:

If you live with your mother, make her breakfast in bed or a picnic in the backyard.
Create a craft with the kids
If you can drive by your mom’s house, decorate her front door, so she and her neighbors can see how much she is loved.
Take a virtual tour at the same time.
Watch a movie together (pop in a DVD/Blue-ray or stream, if you are not in the same household Netflix has made it possible to synchronize video playback so multiple parties can be watching a movie/show at the same time: )
Host a virtual brunch (Zoom, Skype, Google Hangout, or another service).
Send her an e-card or an e-gift card.
Make a video message to send to her.

Click here for more ideas and ways to celebrate your graduate, too.

Join Ms. Heather for a virtual storytime! We'll have a great time singing songs and telling stories! This storytime will be available for 24 hours after it premiers on Facebook, YouTube, and the Library’s Virtual Branch.

Scam callers using phone numbers linked to Orange County Sheriff's Office

Deputies with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office investigated a fraudulent phone call on Monday. A woman received a call during which the caller, identifying themselves as a Deputy, advised her she had two outstanding warrants. The caller claimed the woman could resolve the warrants by purchasing gift cards and bringing them to the Sheriff’s Office. The caller said they could meet in the parking lot.

“These calls occur frequently,” said Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood. “Sometimes the caller will say the person has outstanding warrants. Other times, the allegation is the victim missed jury duty and must pay a fine to avoid arrest. However, there is no criminal or court matter that can be resolved with gift cards.”

The woman on Monday fortunately recognized the call as a scam. However, these calls are sometimes successful. The caller usually identifies him or herself, using the name and rank of an actual employee of the Sheriff’s Office. Sometimes he or she states a rank and gives a common name such as Jones or Roberts. In this particular incident, the caller did the latter, and provided two phone numbers – one connected with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and a second unaffiliated number.

If the person receiving the call uses the internet to check the first number, he or she would learn the number is valid, which might seem to authenticate the call. If he or she calls the second number, which is not a Sheriff’s Office phone line, an automated system falsely claiming to be the Sheriff’s Office answers. After navigating a series of prompts such as “Press 1 to reach the Outstanding Warrant Division,” the victim is again told there are warrants against him or her. Often the victim is told the gift cards must be purchased and delivered within a narrow window of time in order to avoid arrest. Some people become so anxious they fall into the trap.

Anyone who receives such a call and is concerned that it might be legitimate is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at (919) 245-2900 for reassurance.

Orange County parks facilities to maintain current status during Phase 1

Orange County’s parks facilities will maintain their current status when the county shifts into the state’s Phase I recovery plan on Friday at 5 p.m.

Little River Regional Park, Hollow Rock Nature Park, Blackwood Farm Park, River Park and Seven Mile Creek Natural Area have been open during the pandemic with limited facilities (trails open for exercise but bathrooms and playground equipment are closed). That status will remain the same through Phase 1. (Blackwood Farm Park is open Thursday-Sunday only.)

Cedar Grove Park, Fairview Park, Efland Cheeks Park and the Soccer.com Center remain will closed through Phase 1.

In terms of State Parks in Orange County, Eno River State Park (which includes Occoneechee Mountain State Natural Area) will open with limited facilities Saturday, May 9. The N.C. Parks Service has prepared a video to explain how state parks will operate in Phase 1.

Visitors to county parks are asked to observe social distancing. The CDC encourages you to wear a mask when you go out, particularly if social distancing is difficult to maintain.

Click here for more information on the Phase 1 reopening.

www.orangecountync.gov