October 14, 2020

Slow Covid Exposure Notification App

NCDHHS APP https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/slowcovidnc

SlowCOVIDNC Exposure Notification App

It’s easy. All you have to do is download SlowCOVIDNC and you can help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Download the SlowCOVIDNC Exposure Notification app, enable your Bluetooth and Exposure Notification settings, and be notified if you have been in close contact with someone who has shared a positive COVID-19 test result in the app.

Once you opt-in to the notification system, you can also anonymously share a positive COVID-19 test result in the app. SlowCOVIDNC protects your identity and privacy while empowering you to protect yourself, your family, and your community.

How it Works

•Download the SlowCOVIDNC Exposure Notification app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and enable Bluetooth and Exposure Notifications. Bluetooth must be on for the app to work. After opting-in to receive notifications, the app will generate an anonymous token for your device. A token is a string of random letters which changes every 10-20 minutes and is never linked to your identity or location, but is linked to date. This protects your privacy and security.

•Through Bluetooth, your phone and the phones around you with the SlowCOVIDNC app work in the background (minimizing battery) to exchange these anonymous tokens every few minutes. Phones record how long they are near each other and the Bluetooth signal strength of their exchanges in order to estimate distance.

•If you test positive for COVID-19, you may obtain a unique PIN to submit in the app. This voluntary and anonymous reporting notifies others who have downloaded the app that they may have been in close contact with someone in the last 14 days who has tested positive.

•PINs will be provided to app users who receive a positive COVID-19 test result through a web-based PIN Portal, by contacting the Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) call center, or by contacting their Local Health Department (LHD).

•SlowCOVIDNC periodically downloads tokens from the server from the devices of users who have anonymously reported a positive test. Your phone then uses its records of the signal strength and duration of exposures with those tokens to calculate risk and determine if you have met a threshold to receive an Exposure Notification.

Your Privacy is Protected

Using SlowCOVIDNC is entirely voluntary, and you can enable or disable it at any time. When using SlowCOVIDNC, your privacy is protected. Tokens will collect and share date, time, signal strength and duration of proximity. No location data or personally identifiable data will ever be collected or stored.

By enabling Bluetooth and Exposure Notifications, you can anonymously share a positive COVID-19 test result to help slow the spread of COVID-19. You may also be notified if you have been in close contact with someone who has shared a positive COVID-19 test result in the app.

Follow the link and find additional information.

https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/slowcovidnc

❤lmsp

October 13, 2020

Step By Step: How To Vote Absentee By-Mail In North Carolina

Step By Step: How To Vote Absentee By-Mail In North Carolina

WFAE | By WFAE
Published September 22, 2020 at 11:27 AM EDT


With the coronavirus causing many of us to stay away from crowds, an unprecedented number of people are expected to vote absentee for the Nov. 3 election. Are you voting absentee by-mail for the first time? Do you have questions about how to do it and want to make sure you do it right so your ballot is accepted? Follow this step-by-step guide.

First, collect your absentee ballot. (Want to know how to request one? Do that online here, or by submitting a completed request form via mail, email, fax or in person to your county board of elections.)

You'll receive a ballot like the one below.

Make sure you follow directions and mark each vote with a black ball point pen. Fill in each oval completely to the left of your selection.

Link: https://www.wfae.org/politics/2020-09-22/step-by-step-how-to-vote-absentee-by-mail-in-north-carolina

❤lmsp

October 8, 2020

Coronavirus can survive on skin for 9 hours

By Rachael Rettner



Snip


SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, remained viable on samples of human skin for about 9 hours, according to the study. In contrast, a strain of the influenza A virus (IAV) remained viable on human skin for about 2 hours.

Fortunately, both viruses on skin were rapidly inactivated with hand sanitizer.

The findings underscore the importance of washing your hands or using sanitizer to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

"This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 may have a higher risk of contact transmission [i.e. transmission from direct contact] than IAV because the first is much more stable on human skin [than the latter]" the authors wrote in their paper, which was published online Oct. 3 in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. "These findings support the hypothesis that proper hand hygiene is important for the prevention of the spread of SARS-CoV-2."

snip

Link: https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-survives-9-hours-on-skin.html

❤lmsp

October 5, 2020

Covid-19 Update

Governor Cooper Moves North Carolina to Phase 3 With Stable Numbers
Safety precautions set for large outdoor and some indoor venues

September 30th, 2020

Raleigh

North Carolina will ease cautiously some restrictions while continuing safety measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 as the state’s metrics remained stable in September, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

“Our top priority remains getting children back to in-person learning. This month marks a major shift for many families now and in the coming months as schools open their doors, some for the first time since the pandemic,” said Governor Cooper. “The virus continues to spread, so we must take the next steps methodically, and responsibly.”

“We must continue our hard work to slow the spread of this virus,” said Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. “By practicing the 3Ws — wear, wait and wash, — getting your flu shot, and downloading the SlowCOVIDNC app, each of us can protect the progress we have made.”

Dr. Cohen reviewed the state’s key metrics:

Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days

North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness has a slight increase.

Trajectory of Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days

North Carolina’s trajectory of lab-confirmed cases is level.

Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days

North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive is level.

Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days

North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations is level.

In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread in testing, tracing and prevention.

No-cost testing events are being deployed across the state and testing turnaround times are improving.

New contact tracers are bolstering the efforts of local health departments.

A new NCDHHS app, SlowCOVIDNC, is notifying users of exposure to the virus.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies are stable.

As these metrics and capacity remain stable, the state will ease some restrictions starting Friday. Executive Order 169 begins Oct. 2 at 5 p.m. and continues for three weeks through October 23.

Its new provisions include:

Large outdoor venues with seating greater than 10,000 may operate with 7% occupancy for spectators.

Smaller outdoor entertainment venues, like arenas or amphitheaters, may operate outdoors at 30% of outdoor capacity, or 100 guests, whichever is less.

Movie theaters and conference centers may open indoor spaces to 30% of capacity, or 100 guests, whichever is less.

Bars may operate outdoors at 30% of outdoor capacity, or 100 guests, whichever is less.

Amusement parks may open at 30% occupancy, outdoor attractions only.

The limits on mass gatherings will remain at 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors.

The 11 pm curfew on alcohol sales for in-person consumption in locations such as restaurants and outdoor bars will be extended to October 23.

State and public health officials will continue watching the key COVID-19 trends over the next several weeks to determine if any further restrictions can be eased when the current Executive Order expires October 23.

Visit the link for downloads*

*Read Executive Order 169. PDF download

*Read the FAQs on Executive PDF download

*Read the slides from today's briefing PDF download

###

This press release is related to:
Governor's Office COVID-19
Contact Information
Ford Porter
govpress@nc.gov
919-814-2100

*Link: https://governor.nc.gov/news/governor-cooper-moves-north-carolina-phase-3-stable-numbers

Good luck everyone. Stay safe.
❤ lmsp

October 4, 2020

Together against Corona, Zusammen Gegen Corona

Here you can find out how to stay mentally healthy and fit despite contact restrictions and the possible fear of infection during the corona pandemic.

https://www.zusammengegencorona.de/inform/mental-health/

Select the English language translation.

Full Web Menu here:

https://www.zusammengegencorona.de/

❤lmsp