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The original item was published from 4/18/2020 9:32:26 PM to 4/19/2021 12:00:03 AM.

News Flash

Coronavirus Updates

Posted on: April 18, 2020

[ARCHIVED] Burke County Media Briefing 4/18/2020

April 18, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: COVID-19 Burke County Media Briefing

Burke County’s Response to COVID-19

• Burke County is currently at 68 positive cases. The cases consist of both traveling and community spread. All positive cases are isolated and Public Health staff continues to investigate the cases and will be locating those close contacts to help contain the spread of the infection.

• Numbers noted on the state website may fluctuate during the public health investigations when staff find out that some positive tests are truly not Burke County residents. Numbers listed above are correct numbers for Burke County.

• Public information line has been opened Monday through Friday, 8am – 5pm for those with questions can call 828-764-9388.

Update from Burke County Public Schools:

BCPS receives donation of refrigerated truck, packaging boxes

Burke County Public Schools recently received a donation of a refrigerated truck from Case Farms in Morganton that will help to keep our students fed. Since the change in food distribution packaging methods, child nutrition staff has had an increased need for places to keep meals frozen. In seeing that need, BCPS Superintendent Dr. Larry Putnam reached out to Jon Strange, vice president and general manager of Case Farms in Morganton, to see if they had a truck available. A few days prior, Putnam granted permission for Case Farms to use property on Freedom High School for a public chicken distribution.

Putnam said, “That is a true partnership. It speaks volumes when different organizations within the community can depend on each other during a time like this.”

Daniel Wall, director of Child Nutrition said, “The refrigerated truck will be able to freeze up to 26,000 meals. This was a very big need that was met for our community and our students. This will provide extra storage and help us to keep meals frozen.”

This was not the only donation that BCPS has been receiving. Packaging Corp of America has been donating cardboard boxes continually to our child nutrition staff who are using them to package and store the individual meals.

PCA General Manager Bret Hatfield said, “We are happy to help in any way we can. It is a privilege to do our part during this time for our community as we pull together and find ways to contribute.”

Case Farms and PCA have not laid off any of their workers due to COVID-19 which includes some of our student’s parents. BCPS is very fortunate to be a small part of keeping local businesses going by forming partnerships and allowing them to use our facilities.

Putnam said, “Thank you to both Charles Rigdon and Jon Strange with Case Farms and Bret Hatfield with PCA for their leadership in our community. Donations like these and many others that Burke County Public Schools has received are what keep us going and help us to support our students and staff. We look forward to a continued partnership even after COVID 19 is over. Thank you once again for giving to our BCPS family.”

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Training Information from Partners Behavioral Health Management:

Here is the link to the Training Calendar: https://www.partnersbhm.org/event-calendar-training/

Any new trainings/webinars will be put on the training calendar so you might want to check it regularly!

Below are some that are currently listed on the calendar:

Please register for QPR Suicide Prevention During COVID 19 Crisis on Apr 20, 2020 12:00 PM EDT at:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4937959903146057229