Vance County stepping up coronavirus precautions
North Carolina counties considered coronavirus hotspots for viral spread are stepping up their approach to improve conditions.
Health officials in Vance County said going from orange to red on the state's alert map was a wake-up call about community spread.
As of result, they’re counting on local businesses, like grocery stores to ramp up enforcement of mask wearing.
On Monday, Gov. Roy Cooper tightened restrictions on the statewide mask mandate, stating they must be worn indoors when you're around someone you don't live with and outdoors when physical distancing isn't possible.
"I think it's just a sacrifice everybody needs to make, trying to help better society and slow the spread of this pandemic," said Seth Steinbicker, a Vance County resident.
Steinbecker said he's doing his part to slow the spread by wearing a mask and has noticed others following suit.
"Especially in grocery stores," he added, "they seem to be better than some places."
WRAL's Aaron Thomas spent time in Wake County, a county in the yellow (or significant) zone, and Vance County, a county in the red (or critical) zone.
At a Wake County Food Lion, 52 people were wearing masks, and only one person wasn't, while at a Vance County Food Lion, 46 people were wearing masks, and eight were not.
"We are providing education and good warnings that they should practice the three Ws as much as possible," said Granville Vance Public Health Director Lisa Harrison.
The state’s new county alert system shows Vance County in the red, meaning community spread is critical, with more than 10 percent of tests coming back positive and a moderate impact on hospitals. Wake County is yellow with significant community spread. The percent positive rate for tests there is 5.7%, and the pandemic's impact on hospitals is slow.
Vance County currently has 414 active coronavirus cases. The county has recorded 54 deaths over the course of the pandemic.
Harrison said she wants residents to understand the severity of the pandemic.
"I certainly hope it inspires them to understand that community spread is getting worse, and it is up to each of us to participate in trying to bring those numbers back down," she said.
