News Flash

For Immediate Release

05/19/2020                        

Phone: 980-432-1800
Website: www.rowancountync.gov/covid-19
Email: covid-19@rowancountync.gov

Rowan County Case Information: https://bit.ly/rowan-covid19-hub

COVID-19 Testing Criteria Update

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has released updated guidance on testing individuals for COVID-19.  Healthcare providers and clinicians are urged to test individuals with symptoms suggestive of the Corona Virus.   

According to an NCDHHS Press Release, the updated criteria are intended to ensure all populations have access to testing regardless of symptoms including:

• Anyone with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19
• Close contacts of known positive cases, regardless of symptoms
• Persons who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings (e.g., long-term care facility, homeless shelter, correctional facility, migrant farmworker camp)
• Persons who are at high risk of severe illness (e.g., people over 65 years of age, people of any age with underlying health conditions)
• Persons who come from historically marginalized populations
• Health care workers or first responders (e.g. EMS, law enforcement, fire department, military)
• Front-line and essential workers (grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, etc.) in settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain

Additional NCDHHS Provider Guidance (PDF) has also been released for clinicians and laboratories to help facilitate increased testing goals for our communities.

Even as we move closer to Phase 2, the Rowan County Public Health Command Center urges everyone to stay home as much as possible.  While in public, please remember your mask and be sure to keep a six-foot distance from others.

Remember the 3 W’s

Individuals and families can help stop the spread by continuing to follow the 3 W’s.  Whether working or shopping at local businesses, please remember to WEAR, WAIT, and WASH!

• Wear a cloth face covering
• Wait 6 feet apart/avoid close contact
• Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer

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Contact:
TJ Brown
704-216-8918
tj.brown@rowancountync.gov

Download Media Release COVID-19 - May 19, 2020 (PDF)