In an attempt to further minimize all opportunities for exposure and transmission of COVID-19 across the jurisdiction, the following sites across WNC have been closed until further notice:

• All community and recreation centers – Including the WNC Nature Center 
• Lake Powhatan
• Bent Creek Road and the associated Ledford Branch trailhead 
• Azalea Park – Including John B. Lewis Soccer Complex and dog park
• Carrier Park – Including playground
• French Broad River Park – Including dog park
• Martin Luther King Jr. Park – Including playground
• Pack Square Park
• Pritchard Park
• Richmond Hill Park
• The Biltmore Estate has temporarily closed to the public –  Refunds for guests with tickets or reservations during the impacted time will be issued. 
• The Botanical Gardens at Asheville
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park areas – Except the Foothills Parkway and the Spur, on the far western Tennessee side of the park
• Carl Sandburg Home
• DuPont State Recreational Forest
• Half of the Black Mountain trailhead on U.S. 276
• One entrance to the Pisgah Ranger Station/Visitor Center on U.S. 276
• The lower portion of Avery Creek Road and associated designated roadside campsites.
• Coontree Recreation Area
• Looking Glass Falls Picnic Are – The falls are barricaded and parking on U.S. 276 will be limited.
• Pink Beds Recreation Area
• NF State Road 816 – At the Blue Ridge Parkway intersection at Black Balsam
• Rice Pinnacle trailhead – Bent Creek Experimental Forest
• Beaver Lake
• Gorges State Park
• Mount Mitchell State Park
• Chimney Rock – Chimney Rock State Park
• Max Patch – Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests
• Roan Mountain/Carvers Gap – Cherokee and Pisgah National Forests
• Lovers Leap – Pisgah National Forest
• Wayah Bald – Nantahala National Forest
• Cheoah Bald – Nantahala National Forest
• Laurel Falls – Cherokee National Forest
• Osborne Farm – Cherokee National Forest

At this point, the Blue Ridge Parkway and walking trails in the City parks remain open. Trailheads and parking areas will have signs posted warning of the closures.

If using trails, please practice social distancing, including maintaining a distance of 6 feet between one another, washing your hands, not engaging with individuals outside of your home and reducing your exposure as much as possible! And for your safety, limit high-risk activities – Law enforcement and search and rescue operations may be limited due to COVID-19!

Visit the NC Forest Service website for a complete list of closures that will be updated continually.

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

To further minimize all opportunities for exposure and transmission of COVID-19 across the jurisdiction, Buncombe County issued a “Stay Home – Stay Safe” Supplemental Declaration that went into effect Thursday, March 26, 2020, at 8 pm and has been extended indefinitely.

All current Buncombe County residents, including Woodfin, Black Mountain, Weaverville, Biltmore Forest, Montreat and Asheville citizens, are ordered to stay in place at their residence and to limit movements outside of their homes that are not deemed essential. 

Although the weather is getting nicer and we live in a beautiful place, PLEASE remember to not use that as a reason to gather with anyone outside of your household – That includes rafting, mountain biking and picnicking. Get fresh air and exercise but don’t forget social distancing measures!  Limit the number of people in a room, maintain a distance of 6 feet between one another, wash your hands, and reduce your exposure as much as possible! 

New details of the declaration were released April 8 in a public announcement by county officials: 

– Auto sales are now considered essential but have to be conducted by appointment.

• Services should be conducted remotely to the extent possible
• No more than 10 people can gather and six-foot social distancing must be observed
• No test drives are permitted unless expressly requested by the purchaser and vehicles have to be completely sanitized before and after each drive with documentation of the cleaning
• A vehicle can’t be driven again by a potential customer for 72 hours.

– Real estate agents can now conduct business.

• They follow the Centers for Disease Control guidelines and local orders on physical distancing, hygiene and sanitation practices.

– Hotels, short term vacation rentals and other lodging must cancel all leisure travel reservations though current guests can stay.

• County residents and people on essential business can be customers, though the essential nature of the business must be documented by lodging operators.

– Weddings and funerals can happen

• Though only 10 people can attend, including officiants and staff – This overrides the state rule allowing 50 people
• Social distancing must be observed

KEY POINTS: 

• There is NO curfew
• All non-essential businesses must cease.
• Essential businesses must still comply with the social distancing guidelines; 6 feet apart and takeout, delivery and/or drive-through only.
• Essential Businesses must continue to comply with the guidance and directives for maintaining a clean and safe work environment issued by the Department of Health i.e. social distancing and sanitation practices.
• If you work in Buncombe County, then your business/employer must comply with this order.
• Workers at essential businesses will NOT be required to show any documentation of their employment as they travel to and from their jobs.
• Religious services must only meet via video or telecom; there must be less than 10 people at the establishment to perform the service.
• All elective medical procedures have been prohibited in Buncombe County.
• The houseless are exempt from this restriction – But are urged to find shelter.
• The county is NOT setting up checkpoints or roadblocks.
• Law enforcement response to violations of the statute are complaint-driven – If you would like to report a violation of the local statute, please do so on a NON-emergency line.
• If voluntary cooperation is not achieved, Buncombe County Law Enforcement is equipped to enforce these restrictions through citations or misdemeanor charges.

Buncombe County residents CAN:

• Go to the grocery and convenience store
• Go to the pharmacy to pick up medications and healthcare necessities
• Visit a health care facility for medical services that cannot be provided virtually (call first!)
• Go to a restaurant, for take-out, delivery, or drive-thru service only
• Care for or support a friend, family member, or pet
• Take a walk, ride your bike, hike, jog (as long as social distancing measures are maintained)
• Walk your pets and take them to the veterinarian
• Help others to get necessary supplies
• Receive deliveries from any business that delivers

Buncombe County residents CAN NOT: 

• Go out at all if they are sick
• Go to work, unless providing essential services
• Visit friends and family if there is no specific, urgent need
• Be closer than 6 feet from others if out in public
• Visit loved ones in the hospital, nursing home, skill nursing facilities, or other residential care facilities, except for limited exceptions as provided by the specific facility
• Travel, except for essential travel and activities.
• Engage in door-to-door solicitation
• Engage in public or private social gatherings (any amount of people)

Essential Activities: 

• For health and safety
• To get necessary supplies and services
• For outdoor activities (walking, hiking, golfing, running, cycling, using greenways)
• For work for essential businesses/operations
• To take care of others

Essential Travel:

• Any travel related to the provision of or access to essential activities, essential governmental functions, essential businesses and operations, or minimum basic operations.
• Travel to care for the elderly, minors, dependents, persons with disabilities, or other vulnerable persons
• Travel to or from educational institutions for purposes of receiving materials for distance learning, for receiving meals, and other related services
• Travel to return to a place of residence from outside the jurisdiction
• Travel required by law enforcement or court order, including to transport children pursuant to a custody agreement
• Travel required for non-residents to return to their place of residence outside the County. Individuals are strongly encouraged to verify that their transportation out of the County remains available and functional prior to commencing such travel

Essential Health Care Operations:

• Research and laboratory services
• Hospitals
• Walk-in-care health facilities
• Emergency veterinary and livestock services
• Eldercare
• Medical wholesale and distribution
• Home health care workers or aides for the elderly
• Doctor and emergency dental
• Nursing homes, or residential health care facilities or congregate care facilities
• Medical supplies and equipment manufacturers and providers
• Blood drive and blood collection sites

Essential Infrastructure:

• Utilities including power generation, fuel supply and transmission
• Public water and wastewater
• Telecommunications and data centers
• Airports/airlines
• Transportation infrastructure such as roads, bus, rail, or for-hire vehicles, garages
• Hotels and places of accommodation 

Essential Manufacturing:

• Food processing, manufacturing agents, including all foods and beverages
• Chemicals
• Medical equipment/instruments
• Pharmaceuticals
• Sanitary products
• Telecommunications
• Microelectronics/semi-conductor
• Agriculture/farms
• Household paper products

Essential Retail:

• Grocery stores including all food and beverage stores
• Pharmacies
• Convenience stores
• Farmer’s markets
• Gas stations
• Restaurants/bars (but only for take-out/delivery)
• Hardware and building material stores
• Pawnshops

Essential Services:

• Trash and recycling collection, processing and disposal
• Mail and shipping services
• Credit unions
• House cleaning
• Babysitting
• Laundromats
• Building cleaning and maintenance
• Child care services
• Auto repair
• Warehouse/distribution and fulfillment
• Funeral homes, crematoriums and cemeteries
• Storage for essential businesses
• Animal shelters
• News Media
• Banks
• Insurance
• Payroll
• Accounting
• Notary public
• Services related to financial markets
• Logistics
• Technology support for online services
• Child care programs and services
• Government-owned or leased buildings
• Essential government services

Providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations are also exempt from this declaration, including: 

• Homeless shelters and congregate care facilities
• Food banks
• Human services providers whose function includes the direct care of patients in state-licensed or funded voluntary programs; the care, protection, custody and oversight of individuals both in the community and in state-licensed residential facilities; those operating community shelters and other critical human services agencies providing direct care or support

Essential Services Necessary to Maintain the Safety, Sanitation and Essential Operations of Residences or Other Essential Businesses, including:

• Skilled trades such as electricians, plumbers and other related construction firms and professionals for essential infrastructure, including public works, roads and bridges, or for emergency repair and safety purposes.
• Defense and national security-related operations supporting the U.S. Government or a contractor to the US government, to include the Defense Industry Base’s (DIB) Essential Critical Infrastructure
• Law enforcement
• Fire prevention and response
• Building code enforcement
• Security
• Emergency management and response
• Sanitation 
• General maintenance whether employed by the entity directly or a vendor
• Automotive repair
• Disinfection

The declaration will be regularly monitored and evaluated which may lead to revision, amendment or extension. 

To review the entire declaration click here.

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

Throughout the wake of COVID-19 and practicing social distancing, information and resources will be posted here under “What You Need to Know: COVID-19 in Buncombe County”

According to the NC Department of Health and Human Services, there have been 2,585 lab-tested cases of COVID-19 in the state, as of 11 a.m. April 5.

In Buncombe County, officials released an updated case count of 31 residents diagnosed with the virus on April 2 at noon. There have been no new cases in visitors to Buncombe County.

As of April 3, the CDC suggests that cloth face coverings should be worn in any public setting where other social distancing measures may be difficult to maintain – like grocery stores, pharmacies and workplaces – to further prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The state has confirmed 31 deaths across NC, including one each in Cherokee County and Buncombe County.

According to the official state tally, 271 people with COVID-19 were hospitalized across North Carolina as of April 4. But that number only includes patients who have tested positive for the disease.

As of April 6, Asheville Sanitation has implemented the following precautions to protect City workers from potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus and to ensure continuity of regular curbside trash collection for the duration of the pandemic.

• Curbside trash and recycling collection will continue as scheduled.
  • All trash in green carts must be bagged.
  • All recycling in blue carts should remain loose and un-bagged.
• Brush collection will continue to be postponed. 
• Sanitation will continue to provide a limited collection of large piles with a claw truck in an effort to minimize obstructions. 
• Bulky trash collection will be limited to only large items that can be collected with the claw truck.
  • Bulky items must be placed in an area accessible to the claw truck.
  • Please avoid blocking sidewalks with refuse.
  • Please ensure that any containers, bags, or piles of brush are not obstructing sidewalks or traffic.
• Sanitation is unable to collect extra bags or boxes of loose trash material.
  • Households that are regularly generating more trash than can fit in one cart are asked to request an extra trash cart by calling 828-251-1122. 

Sign up for Sanitation service alerts at ashevillenc.gov/AVLcollects. Or download the AVL Collects app.

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour