Harnett County Issues Statement Regarding Coronavirus

Citizens are encouraged to visit Harnett County webpage for reliable information

Harnett County – Harnett County in partnership with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and following the guidance of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring and responding the Coronavirus 2019 Disease (COVID-19).

COVID-19 is a disease that was identified in Wuhan, China, and is now being spread throughout the world. The disease is most often spread through the air by coughing or sneezing, through close personal contact (including touching and shaking hands) or through touching your nose, mouth or eyes before washing your hands.

Harnett County has established a task force, which includes representatives from the Health Department, Emergency Services Department, County Manager’s Office, Harnett Health, Harnett County Schools, and other local partners to create a plan to prepare for this disease. At this time, there have been no confirmed cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Harnett County.

We are encouraging citizens to take some precautions to prevent the spread of all infectious diseases, including COVID-19 and the Flu:

  • Wash hands frequently with soap and water, and for at least 20 seconds at a time.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are ill.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
  • Do not reuse tissue after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
  • Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

In addition, we ask that you prepare for COVID-19 by getting the latest information directly from reliable sources. The COVID-19 outbreak has been accompanied by a flood of misinformation from unreliable sources. Be thoughtful about what you read or hear about the virus and make sure you are separating rumor from fact before you act.  Please visit Harnett County’s COVID-19 webpage (http://www.harnett.org/publicinfo/coronavirus-covid19-updates.asp) for the latest information from the NC DHHS and the CDC. Harnett County will also be providing updates on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Nextdoor social media accounts.

As questions and concerns about coronavirus (COVID-19) increase across North Carolina, a statewide Coronavirus Helpline has been set up for the public. The phone number to the Coronavirus Helpline is 1-866-462-3821, which will be available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. The line, which was established by the NC Division of Public Health, is staffed by North Carolina Poison Control’s nurses and pharmacists who are backed by clinical and medical toxicologists and who have been trained in responding with up-to-date information to a host of questions about coronavirus.