Hillsborough testing, vaccine clinics closed Sunday
Orange County announces closings, changes for MLK Day and winter stormDue to the impending winter storm, StarMed's Hillsborough testing (113 Mayo Street) and vaccination (Bonnie B. Davis Agricultural Center) sites will be closed Sunday, Jan. 16. Orange County administrative offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 17, in observance of MLK Day. The following changes or exceptions will be in effect. - Both county-sponsored COVID testing sites will be open normal hours that day. Please note the testing sites are run by different vendors. Please attend the clinic at which you registered. Tests are by appointment only. The vaccination clinics will be closed that day.
- Solid Waste administrative offices and facilities will be closed, but curbside recycling scheduled for Monday will be collected that day. Please have carts out by 7 a.m.
- Orange County Transportation Services will offer limited service, operating the in-county dialysis route only (Carolina Dialysis).
Orange County will resume normal operations on Tuesday, Jan. 18. |
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Sheriff Blackwood advises preparation, courtesy for winter stormForecasters expect a wintry mix of snow and ice to impact Orange County on Sunday during the day and into the overnight hours. Possible accumulations could be as much as five inches.
If the storm materializes as expected, people are advised to stay home if they can. Doing so reduces the pressure on emergency personnel who will be responding to crashes, downed trees, and to motorists who experience difficulty traveling in the treacherous conditions.
Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said, “This storm is likely to be a brief but intense weather event. The systems that dump snow, sleet, and freezing rain are particularly dangerous. Road conditions vary and catch motorists off-guard. Residential streets might be covered in snow, but more well-travelled roads may be covered in ice, especially on bridges and overpasses.”
Power outages are possible. The Sheriff's Office reminds everyone to consider all downed power lines “live” and to avoid them.
Residents are always encouraged to be able to be self-sufficient for 72 hours. In advance of storms, it is especially important to:
- Charge phones, tablets, and laptops.
- Replenish your emergency kit with water, non-perishable foods, and medications.
- Gather flashlights, batteries, blankets, and other supplies and put them in an accessible area of your home before you need them.
- Fuel vehicles. Make sure generators, chainsaws, and other power equipment are in safe, working order. Find your safety glasses!
- If you are dependent on supplemental oxygen, contact your vendor and make sure you have an emergency supply of reserve oxygen.
- If you are on a well, fill a bathtub with water.
- Make a plan for pets - make sure they can stay warm and maintain access to fresh (not frozen) water.
- Keep generators and grills outdoors and be very cautious with any open flame source (candles, lanterns, camp stoves, etc.)
Updates about road conditions and power outages will be posted on the Sheriff's Office's Facebook page.
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Public Health Officials Urging Vaccination and Boosters Against COVID-19 Omicron Variant
COVID-19 cases have risen 587% since the end of November in Orange County, with 1,010 new cases reported last week. Orange County health officials urge the public to take steps now to protect themselves and others and to avoid overwhelming hospital capacity and healthcare workers.
Most new cases are due to the extremely contagious variant Omicron, which is spreading rapidly and is expected to cause the pandemic’s highest rates of COVID-19 infections in the coming weeks. Vaccinating and boosting against COVID-19 remain the most effective ways for people to protect themselves from serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Early evidence shows boosters provide a significant level of protection against Omicron.
This Winter Everyone Should
- Vaccinate and Boost: Get vaccinated now, including obtaining a COVID-19 booster as soon as you are eligible. This is critical for those over age 65, those with underlying medical conditions and healthcare workers. The Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are the best choice for most people. Layer protection with a flu shot.
- Test: Get tested if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
- Mask: Wear a face covering indoors in public, even if you are vaccinated. If possible, wear a medical grade mask for more protection, such as a surgical mask, procedural mask, KN95, or N95.
- Avoid large gatherings: Omicron has spread quickly even in gatherings of vaccinated people where proof of negative tests was required.
Extra Protection Is More Important Now“Omicron is highly contagious; therefore, well-fitting and high-quality face masks are immensely important. Wearing masks is nothing new. Masks have been among the most effective ways to limit the spread of COVID-19,” said Renee Price, Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners. “With Omicron surging, we have to be more conscientious and diligent. Please take the necessary precautions by wearing masks and wearing them properly."
Orange County Health Director Quintana Stewart said, “If people wear face coverings and avoid indoor gatherings, it could help to flatten the curve. Currently our percentage of positive tests is 11.2% which is way above our goal of 5% or below. It is important for us to flatten the curve to make sure we all continue to have access to hospital care when we need it, whether it’s for COVID-19 or all of the other life-threatening conditions that demand care in a hospital.” - Click here for more information.
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COVID testing in HillsboroughPlease note that the COVID-19 Testing Clinic in Hillsborough has a new schedule! It will now be open weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding. https://www.orangecountync.gov/2451/Testing
COVID testing in Chapel Hill
- Monday through Friday from 7 am to 3pm
- Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm
- At Southern Human Services Center (SHSC) at 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. Testing will take place in the large conference room. It may be accessed via a side entrance, not the main entrance.
- Registration may be done online: https://lhi.care/covidtesting. You may also call 877-562-4850 to register. For test results call 877-562-4828.
Optum offers both PCR and rapid tests. |
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University Place drop-off recycling site to close Jan. 31
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The University Place drop-off recycling site used by Orange County Solid Waste will no longer be available to residents after Jan. 31, 2022. The property owner is redeveloping the area and has decided not to continue with the month-to-month agreement, said Robert Williams, Orange County Solid Waste Management Director. Residents can use one of our other staffed recycling sites, including the Eubanks Road Waste and Recycling Center in Chapel Hill, for their recycling disposal needs now and after Jan. 31, 2022. All dumpsters will be removed from University Place. Anyone caught dumping recycling after the deadline may be fined for illegal dumping. |
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Orange County to host presentation on Hospice CareThe Orange County Department on Aging and the Project EngAGE End of Life Choices Senior Resource Team invite the public to attend a virtual presentation, Let’s Talk About Hospice Care, on Jan. 26. The end-of-life care journey encompasses and should involve all care options along its spectrum, one of those options is hospice care. Join Heartland Hospice for an in-depth conversation on what hospice looks like now, when you might need care, who makes up the hospice team, and what support programs are available. The FREE virtual event will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 26, from 4 – 5:30 p.m. The room will accept entry beginning at 3:50 p.m. to assist with any questions or platform issues prior to the start of the program. To register, please visit www.orangecountync.gov/HospiceCare If technology assistance is needed, please contact Shenae McPherson at 919-245-4243 by Monday, Jan. 24. |
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County Government Academy returns in 2022The Orange County Government Academy will return in 2022 after a two-year COVID hiatus. The academy educates citizens about the many services and programs Orange County Government provides its residents. The course is open to all county residents aged 16 and older and meets every other Tuesday in the winter/spring, beginning at 6 p.m. The 2022 cohort will begin February 2022 in a combined virtual/physical format. Please visit the schedule page for the complete schedule of presentations. Faculty from the School of Government at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill will teach an overview class on the role of counties in the intergovernmental system. Orange County staff will discuss the services provided by their departments. Students also receive behind-the-scenes tours of county facilities, if circumstances allow.
Staff from the following departments will present and answer questions - Aging
- Animal Services
- Arts Commission
- Board of Elections
- DEAPR
- Economic Development
- Emergency Services
- Health
- Housing/Community Development
- Register of Deeds
- Social Services
- Solid Waste
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