Coronavirus Info, Resources & Updates for Businesses

Sep 13, 2021 | Coronavirus

CORONAVIRUS INFO & EXECUTIVE ORDERS

Buncombe County and all 100 counties in North Carolina continue to see a significant growth in the number of positive COVID-19 cases.

  • NEW: Effective August 18 through September 30, 2021: The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners declared a Local State of Emergency requiring residents and visitors in any indoor public spaces to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others. Effective immediately, masks are required in indoor public spaces, including business establishments, offices and workplaces, public transportation facilities and vehicles, and any indoor place the public is invited and allowed to enter and gather.
    • The mandate applies to all people who are at least 5 years old. Face coverings are recommended for all people over the age of 2.
    • The mask requirement currently extends throughout unincorporated Buncombe County as well as the municipal limits of the City of Asheville, the Town of Montreat, the Town of Woodfin, the Town of Black Mountain, and the Town of Weaverville.
    • Worship, religious, and spiritual gatherings, funeral ceremonies, wedding ceremonies, and other activities constituting the exercise of First Amendment rights are exempt from the requirement of this order. All entities and individuals engaging in these exempted activities are strongly encouraged to follow the continuing recommendations to promote social distancing and reduce transmission by wearing and requiring face coverings. Wearing a proper face covering does not replace social distancing.
    • All operators and owners of indoor public spaces are strongly recommended to implement social distancing practices within spaces to further minimize the risk of spread in addition to the face covering requirement.
    • All citizens, residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to follow additional CDC and NCDHHS guidance.
    • This order is in effect until September 30, 2021 or unless otherwise repealed, replaced, or rescinded, and may be extended based on data trends.
    • Read the order here.
  • The CDC encourages at all individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a face covering in public indoor settings if you are in a county with substantial or high levels of transmission of the virus.
NEW GUIDANCE FOR BUSINESSES FROM THE NC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Guidance issued July 29, 2021 recommends that employers should:

  • Require employees to report vaccination status. Require employees who are not fully vaccinated to:
    • Wear a face covering indoors AND maintain physical distancing from others.
    • Participate in screening testing programs, especially in high risk setting such as congregate living settings.
  • If collecting vaccination status from employees is not possible, require all employees to wear face coverings indoors and participate in screening testing programs.
  • Encourage fully vaccinated employees wear a face covering indoors when within 6 feet of other people if they are in an area of high or substantial levels of transmission as defined by the CDC.
  • Post signage saying all employees and visitors should wear a face covering in areas of high and substantial transmission.
  • Remind all employees, visitors and patrons to self-monitor and get tested if they have symptoms of COVID-19.
NEW GUIDANCE & RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES FROM BUNCOMBE COUNTY HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES
COVID ALERTS FROM EXPLORE ASHEVILLE
COVID INFO FROM TOURISM PARTNERS
VACCINATION INFORMATION
RESOURCES FOR TOURISM & TRAVEL INDUSTRY
BUSINESS RESOURCES & RECOVERY
MASK INFORMATION & OTHER SAFETY RESOURCES FOR BUSINESS
RECOVERY & FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR EMPLOYEES
GENERAL INFORMATION