Harnett County Board of Health Minutes of Regular Meeting March 4, 2021  The Harnett County Board of Health met in regular session on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in the Health Department Board Room, Harnett County Governmental Complex, 307 W. Cornelius Harnett Blvd., Lillington, North Carolina. A virtual Board of Health meeting using audio conference call was held for the March 4, 2021 meeting. Due to COVID-19 the Board of Health meeting was not open to members of the public to attend in person however, citizens were provided options to listen to the meeting. Only Public Health staff necessary to conduct the meeting or to speak on scheduled agenda items were in attendance. As the Board demonstrated compliance with State law and Members present by conference call: Dr. Amanda Langdon, DVM, Ms. Stacie Hogan, RPH, Ms. Linda Sturdivant, Ms. Gayle Adams, Dr. Kim Fowler, PhD, Dr. Catherine Evans, DDS, Ms. Amy Allen, RN, Ms. Barbara McKoy and Ms. Emily Barefoot. Members present: Dr. Laura Smith, Chairwoman, and Mr. John Rouse, Jr., Health Others present: Mary Jane Sauls, Oliver Tolksdorf, Debra Harris-Hawkins, Ainsley  prudent public health practices.  Director.  Johnson, Gail Hobbs and Natasha Johnson.  Chairwoman Smith called meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.  Announcements - Mr. Rouse announced Dr. Amanda Langdon, DVM, completed her Board of Health training on February 23, 2021. Board of Health members have not received W-2s for 2020 from Harnett County, Mr. Rouse will contact the Finance Department on Friday and then follow up with Board of Health members. Consent Agenda = Minutes = Motion made by Ms. Linda Sturdivant, for the January 21, 2021 minutes to be approved as presented and seconded by Dr. Consider additions and deletions to the published agenda - None made. Public Comment - Period of up to 30 minutes for informal comments allowing 3 minutes for each presentation - Chairwoman Smith opened the floor for informal comments by the public, allowing 3 minutes for each presentation up to 30 minutes. Public comment made by Rosanne Teniente, she addressed the Board about Health  Catherine Evans, DDS, Motion Carried.  Disparities in Harnett County.    Page 2 Board of Health March 4, 2021  Harnett County Health Department Board Room  FY 2021-2022 Budget Proposal - Mr. Rouse discussed the overall budget proposal and fee schedule for FY 2021-2022 budget. Mr. Rouse reviewed each line item including decreases and increases, and reviewed the programs fee schedule. Mr. Rouse related the overall budget decrease from FY 2021-2022 is $925,320 less than FY 2020-2021 budget. COVID-19 funds have been removed from the budget due to not being guaranteed in the upcoming FY as well as carryforward money being deducted. Included in the budget for FY 2021-2022 are three Expansion Requests; one request is a new proposed position for the Health Department the position is an Environmental Health Specialist for Food & Lodging. The second request by the County is the purchase of four vehicles and subsequent lease for On-site Wastewater staff, it has been determined through a fleet analysis study that it is more cost effective to purchase vehicles instead of paying mileage on personal vehicles. The third request is to fund the Health Education contract position, the Health Department is responsible for educating and responding to community health needs and with the increased workload from COVID-19 outbreak, the position is a needed. The funds will The Aging overall budget decrease from FY 2021-2022 is $295,401 less than FY 2020- 2021 budget. COVID-19 funds have also been removed from that budget. The AmeriCorps Seniors Retired Seniors Volunteered Program (RSVP) currently manages 255 active volunteers serving at 24 different volunteer sites throughout Harnett County. The AmeriCorp Senior grant has funded the RSVP program the past 19 years, Harnett County was not funded for FY 2021-2022 but they did provide a one-time six (6) month extension of funds of $23,750, the budget was reduced by $15,000+ and a request was made in the FY 2021-2022 Expansion Request for the remainder from county funds. Mr. Rouse recommended the fee schedule remain the same. Mr. Rouse requested that we be allowed to purchase influenza vaccine using one vendor for adults. Henry Schein continues to be the Health Department's vendor for flu vaccine, the Health Department pre-books before March with Henry Schein and are guaranteed Motion made by Ms. Amy Allen, RN to adopt proposed budget FY 2021-2022 which includes the fee schedule as presented and seconded by Dr. Catherine Patient Satisfaction Surveys - Mary Jane Sauls presented the results of the 2020 Consumer/Communiy Satisfaction survey. The survey was administered December 7, 2020- December 21, 2020. The survey is completed each year to assess the quality, accessibility and effectiveness of our health services. Upon review of the information,  be allocated from other line items.  the influenza vaccine.  Evans, DDS. Motion Carried.  no recommendations were made at this time.    Page 3 Board of Health March 4, 2021  Harnett County Health Department Board Room  Health Director's Report and Program Reports - Mr. John Rouse  Accreditation - Mr. Rouse announced in an memorandum dated February 22, 2021, the North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation Board voted to waive accreditation scheduling requirements for an additional twelve (12) months (the first being May 9, 2020 through May 8, 2021), effective May 9, 2021. This extension applies to all accredited local health departments in the state. The waiver or modification will provide necessary relief to local health departments responding to the COVID-19 State of the County Health Report (SOTCHIR) - Mr. Rouse related during the same North Carolina Local Health Department Accreditation meeting, The Division of Public Health Board chose not to take action on modifying enforcement of the SOTCHR requirement as it understood that a one-page, electronic template for a SOTCHR report that will meet Activity 1.3 requirements will be distributed by their office and will not provide undue stress on Local Health Departments at this time. COVID-19 Updates - Mr. Rouse announced the most recent total of COVID-19 cases in Harnett County, with 9,764 confirmed cases, and 155 deaths. Average age is 40 years old. The confirmed cases by race include 1,565 Hispanic, 5,491 White, 2,321 Black and 387 other. The past two weeks of confirmed cases have decreased to under 300 cases per week, prior to that period the average was over 400-500 cases per week since the middle of November 2020. Harnett County has seen a recent decrease in COVID-19 testing, averaging 2,500-2,700 per week. Mr. Rouse discussed the county has three COVID-19 public testing sites that are held through a testing companies and the state. The locations are the Brightwater building in Lillington, the Dr. Vyas Community Center in Dunn, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) location in Lillington. The Harnett County Health Department is scheduling and distributing COVID-19 vaccines daily, Monday through Friday, currently an average of 15,000 people have been vaccinated in Harnett County. Harnett Health Hospitals have all three COVID-19 vaccines available and the Health Department has the Moderna vaccine. The Harnett County Health Department and Harnett Health have provided several local pharmacies and Campbell University vaccines to administer to the public. The Health Department has held two (2) drive thru COVID-19 vaccine events at Harnett Central High/Middle Schools. The first event 980 doses of vaccine were  pandemic.    Page 4 Board of Health March 4, 2021  Harnett County Health Department Board Room  administered and the second event 950 doses were administered. Now phase 1, 2 and 3 are eligible to receive the vaccine. The Health Department received 900 doses of equity vaccines, which is vaccine for low income age 65 and older. Campbell University administered the equity vaccine at a church located in the Erwin/Dunn area, Medicaid Transformation = Mr. Rouse reviewed Medicaid open enrollment starts March 15, 2021 through May 15, 2021. Medicaid recipients who do not enroll with an insurance group will have a provider and group chosen for them by a state panel. Medicaid Transformation start date is scheduled for July 1, 2021.  vaccinating first and second doses.  Clinical Reports = Ainsley Johnson  COVID-19 - The Health Department administers 1,300-1,900 COVID-19 vaccines weekly, this includes first and second doses. Both drive thru events have received positive patient feedback and patients have reported short wait times. We have also collaborated with community pharmacies to transfer vaccines throughout our county. We continue to receive weekly allocations of first and second doses of Moderna vaccine. The Health Department continues to investigate our positive COVID-19 cases using the prioritization guidance from Child Health - Child Health is continuing to provide well child physicals and immunizations. Child Health numbers have increased in the sick clinic from 72 to 89 visits and in the well clinic from 63 to 77 visits. Child Health continues to Employee Clinic = County Employees are continuing to utilize the clinic for acute care visits and immunizations. Employee clinic visits have continue to remain steady and provide county employees who qualify with COVID-19  North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.  see very few influenza cases in the clinic this season.  vaccination.  Adult Health - Family Planning and Sexually Transmitted Disease clinics are remaining stable and continuing to see clients on a regular schedule. Prenatal numbers have increased from our last report from 123 to 139 total visits. The Physician Assistants are training in the prenatal clinic to provide care when the    Page 5 Board of Health March 4, 2021  Harnett County Health Department Board Room  Primary Women's Health Nurse Practitioner is unavailable to see clients. Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) Obstetrics and Gynecology Nurse Consultant reviewed the departments prenatal clinic compared to state benchmarks during a virtual meeting on March 1, 2021. The Health Department exceled in all measured benchmarks, and we continue to meet monthly with CCNC. Communicable Disease efforts continue with investigations of STD, vector borne, waterborne, vaccine preventable, and foodborne diseases, in addition to COVID-19. Reportable Disease counts decreased to 46 this month, compared to last month at sixty-nine 69. Lab - The lab has begun processing specimens on the SOFIAr rapid antigen machine. The machine tests for flu and COVID-19 within 15 minutes, and we have tested over 50 specimens on this machine. All send out labs such as tests sent to LabCorp and the state lab) performed as a follow up after the SOFIA test Influenza Vaccine- The Health Department continues to offer drive up flu vaccines. We still have inventory of flu vaccine for all ages, and continue to offer flu vaccine to persons of all ages to protect them this season. The state communicable disease branch most recent monthly report was sent on March 4, 2021, and the finding was that the spread of flu was SPORADIC. The Influenza activity report states: Of the 206 specimens submitted to the State Laboratory of Public Health (SLPH) for viral testing this week none were positive for Influenza. Hospital-based Public Health Epidemiologists (PHEs) reported no positive influenza virus results out of 2,822 samples tested during week ending  have been consistent and accurate.  February 27, 2021.  Environmental Health - Oliver Tolksdorf announced on March 1, 2021 the first draft of the new Onsite Wastewater rules was released by the state. Now the draft will enter the comment phase and a public hearing is scheduled for April 7, 2021 to allow for public comment. The rules have been expanded greatly but the factor is mostly based on the new approved technologies since Aging & Case Management - Mary Jane Sauls reported the Division on Aging Medicare program continues to serve a large number of individuals turning 65 and new to Medicare. This month information regarding the Low-Income  the last rules rewrite.    Page 6 Board of Health March 4, 2021  Harnett County Health Department Board Room  Subsidy Program will be mailed to low-income apartments across Harnett County. Eligible beneficiaries who have limited income may qualify for this government program that helps pay for Medicare Part D prescription drug costs. Medicare beneficiaries receiving the low-income subsidy (LIS) get assistance in paying for their Part D monthly premium, annual deductible, coinsurance, and copayments. The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) Spring Newsletter will be sent in March to the 250RSVP volunteers. There will be information included about COVID-19 telephone scams and upcoming events. The Division on Aging will hold a drive thru event for Caregiver Support Group participants on Thursday March 25, 2021, at 11:00 am, bags filled with information regarding local resources and health  information will be provided.  Marketing/Community Outreach - Debra Harris-Hawkins announced the Health Education Division has several programs that will be launching in the next few months for the community. Traditionally these events would have included large gatherings however, with the current guidelines we will be implementing virtual gatherings, and or pick-up sites. "Step into Fitness" will be held starting March 22-April 18, 2021. Physical activity and exercise can have immediate and long-term health benefits. This program works to promote and increase physical activity, which can improve your health and reduce the risk of developing several diseases like type 2 diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. This is a free program and registration can be completed by calling or online. "Girl Talk" program was previously held as a group session on site, however due to the pandemic it will be presented as a virtual gathering this year. Our goal is help children and parents understand the physical changes that occur in the body during puberty. The session is scheduled for March 25, 2021 from 6:00-7:00pm. This is a free session, for girls ages 9-11 and their moms. Registration can be completed by phone and or online. "Oh Baby" moms-to-be program replaces our annual maternal health fair. This year we will be providing resource bags for expectant mothers that they can pick-up at our: front desk with information about our program and services. The goals are to increase the number of women who practice behaviors that foster healthy pregnancies. This event will be held during the week of  April 5-April 16, 2021.    Page 7 Board of Health March 4, 2021  Harnett County Health Department Board Room  Closed Session - There was no need for closed session. Being none Chairwoman Smith closed New Business. Chairwoman Smith adjourned the meeting.  New Business - Chairwoman Smith opened the floor for New Business.  Respectfully submitted, CVy may John Rouse, Jr. Health Director  Dr.  883