Posted 3/17/2020 @4:o0pm
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. It will be updated as we monitor Asheville and Buncome County relating to COVID-19. Here is some basic information and resources.
Food Options:
- Buncombe County Schools is hosting drive-thru pick up stations for breakfast and lunch in all of their districts at
- Oakley Elementary
- Johnston Elementary
- Emma Elementary
- West Buncombe Elementary
- Hominy Valley Elementary
- Pisgah Elementary
- Owen High School
- Black Mountain Primary
- Weaverville Elementary
- North Windy Ridge Intermediate
- Estes Elementary
- Baked Pie Company will be giving out free bagged lunches that include PB&J on wheat bread, an apple, white milk, and a cookie. They will be doing this from 10am to 8pm Tuesday thru Saturday.
- White Duck Taco in Asheville will be giving away 1 free regular taco to students K-12 Monday thru Friday
- Biscuit Head will be offering one free biscuit to school age kids
- Boondocks Sports Bar and Grill of Marion is offering a free kids meal to students everyday until 5pm until school is back open.
- YMCA will use its mobile food markets to hand out prepacked take home dinners. 11:30 am to 1 pm. Located at:
- Oakley Elementary
- Estes Elementary
- Black Mountain ELementary
- Pisgah Elementary
- West Buncombe ELementary
- Weaverville Elementary
- WLOS has information on locations providing free breakfast and/or lunch
Buncombe County Health and Human Services will begin operating two drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites, starting Tuesday, March 17. Testing sites will be located at Biltmore Church in Arden and at UNC Asheville off of W.T. Weaver Boulevard.
North Carolina’s number of known COVID-19 cases (positive and confirmed) stood at 33 cases at the end of this weekend. Nationally, there are around 3,800 confirmed cases. There have been 69 deaths in the United States, none in North Carolina. At least 20 states have closed all schools. Buncombe County had a visitor from Macon County that tested positive for COVID-19.
BCHHS gave the following guidelines for seeking medical evaluation and advice:
- If you or a family member has a fever AND cough or difficulty breathing, call your healthcare provider, or an urgent care if you do not have a health care provider. DO NOT show up at your health care provider’s office or the urgent care without calling first.
- Do NOT go to the emergency room. Emergency rooms need to be able to serve the most critically ill.
- If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 and tell them your symptoms.
- If you do not have a health care provider and cannot afford to be seen at an urgent care, call 828-250-5109 to speak with a Communicable Disease nurse at BCHHS. Leave a message and a CD nurse will return your call as quickly as possible.
- People with symptoms should NOT come to the health department.
Test Information:
- What to do if you experience symptoms
- People struggling to breathe should call 911 and communicate with the EMS dispatcher about what is going on so they can make appropriate decisions
- People who are not critically ill and have a primary care provider should call that provider before going to the office and prevent unnecessary exposure to others
- If you do not have a primary care provider can call an urgent care facility or call the Buncombe health department at 828-250-5109 ONLY IF NECESSARY
- Your Primary Care Provider
- Local physicians can order a COVID-19 test. Dont go to the local DHHS in person
- Tests will be taken in your health care facility and sent to a lab, you will NOT be routed to a lab
- Testing is free of charge, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay
- People are eligible for testing if they:
- Have a fever combined with cough or shortness of breath
- Have had contact with someone with COVID-19
All NC restaurants and bars go take-out and delivery only, no dine in services as of 5 pm today