Although Durham was not identified by the state as a county of concern for coronavirus spread, Durham Mayor Steve Schewel said he worries about fatigue and mental health of citizens as the pandemic wears on.
IN A ROW. THE AVERAGE ANALYSIS OF 25 PER DAY. SOME OTHER HEADLINE TODAY IS THE THIRD PHASE WILL STAY AS IT IS FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT THREE WEEKS. THE STATE ALSO UPDATED GUIDANCE FOR FOLLOWING EVENTS TIED TO RELIGIOUS GATHERINGS AND 12,000 APPLICANTS FILED FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THE HOPE PROGRAM. IT WAS MEANT TO HELP RENTERS STRUGGLING WITH PAYMENTS YOU CAN APPLY FOR HELP BY CALLING 211. >>> DURHAM COUNTY IS NOT ON THE LIST OF COUNTIES URGED TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION FROM THE STATE BUT FAR FROM OUT OF THE WOODS. WRAL'S DAVID CRABTREE SPOKE WITH THE MAYOR IF THEY HAVE ANY PLANS TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION TO SLOW THE SPREAD . >> THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING WITH US. LOOKING AT THIS LETTER FROM DHHS THIS AFTERNOON ASKING 36 COUNTIES TO DO A BETTER JOB WITH ENFORCEMENT, YOUR COUNTY IS NOT ON THERE. YOU TOOK ACTION EARLY. YOU TOOK SOME HEAT FOR THAT ACTION BUT STAYED THE COURSE. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FURTHER COUNTIES WHO ARE ON THE LIST? >> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THE CLIENT BUT WE ARE NOT ON THE LIST BUT I DO NOT WANT TO BE COMPLACENT. OUR CASES ARE NOT AS BAD AS THEY ARE IN SOME COUNTIES AND CERTAINLY OUR HEALTH SYSTEM IS NOT THREATENED, BUT WE DO HAVE AN INCREASE IN CASES WE WERE DOWN TO LESS THAN 30 A DAY BUT NOW UP TO 40 A DAY FOR THE 70 AVERAGE. I THINK THE KEY IS THE THINGS THAT WE ALL KNOW ABOUT. WEARING A MASK IS SO CRUCIAL. WEARING A MASK WHENEVER YOU'RE AROUND OTHERS IS SO IMPORTANT. WASHING YOUR HANDS AND SOCIALLY DISTANCING. THE THING ABOUT THESE PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES IS THEY WORK AND IF WE DO IT WE CAN KEEP OURSELVES SAFE. >> ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT PEOPLE BECOMING COMPLACENT IN DURHAM? >> I AM. I WORRY ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT. I WORRY ABOUT WHAT I THINK OF AS CORONAVIRUS FATIGUE. IT IS HARD FOR US. WE ARE SEVEN MONTHS SINCE THE FIRST CASE IN DURHAM. I THINK WE ARE WORN OUT WITH DOING ALL OF THE THINGS THAT KEEP US SAFE, BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP DOING IT. I'M ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THE WINTER PEOPLE GOING INSIDE MORE. WE KNOW THAT THE OUTSIDE IS SAFER. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT I WORRY ABOUT DURING THE WINTER WITH PEOPLE BEING ISOLATED WILL HAVE TO REACH OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND THOSE WHO ARE ELDERLY AND THAT WE KNOW THEY NEED ASSISTANCE AND A SMALL GIFT AT CHRISTMAS TIME WERE A SOCIALLY DISTANCED WALK AROUND AND A CHECK IN. THOSE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT WE ALL NEED TO DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS OTHER POTENTIAL EFFECT OF THE CORONAVIRUS DOES NOT HIT AS HARD. >> AS FOR ANY OTHER RESTRICTIONS, MAYOR STEVE
