All of us at the Town of Sims would like to wish our residents and business owners a very Merry Christmas and Holiday Season!
The Town Hall will be closed on Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25 for the holidays.
COVID 19: Executive Order 181
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2020
With Key Metrics Increasing Rapidly, North Carolina to Begin Modified Stay at Home Order to Slow COVID-19 Spread
Order will require people to stay at home from 10 pm to 5 am with certain businesses required to be closed during those hours
More than 80 percent of NC counties now in the red or orange categories
RALEIGH: Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen today announced that North Carolina will begin a Modified Stay at Home Order after a rapid increase in North Carolina’s key COVID-19 trends. The Order requires people to stay at home between 10 pm and 5 am and takes effect Friday, December 11 and will be in place until at least January 8, 2021.
“We already have strong safety protocols and capacity limitations in place – including a statewide mask requirement. With this additional action beginning Friday, we hope to get these numbers down,” Governor Cooper said. “Our new modified Stay At Home order aims to limit gatherings and get people home where they are safer, especially during the holidays. It’s also a reminder that we must be vigilant the rest of the day – wearing a face mask when we are with people we don’t live with, keeping a safe distance from others and washing our hands a lot.”
The Order requires restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, personal care businesses and more to close at 10 pm. Travel to and from work; to obtain food, medical care, fuel or social services; or to take care of a family member is exempted. Read more in the Frequently Asked Questions document.
In the past week, North Carolina’s case count has broken single-day records on three separate days, including crossing more than 6,000 cases per day on two of those days. Just a month ago, cases were under 3,000 per day. In recent days, the percent of tests returning positive has increased to more than 10%.
Governor Cooper was clear that further action would be taken to slow the spread of the virus if trends do not improve. This could require further limiting of restaurant dining, indoor entertainment or shopping and retail capacity restrictions, among other safety protocols.
Dr. Cohen also provided an update on North Carolina’s COVID-19 County Alert System map. The number of red counties (critical community spread) has more than doubled since November 23, up to 48 red counties from 20 red counties. There are now 34 orange counties (substantial community spread), as compared to 42 orange counties from the previous report. With today’s report, more than 80% of the state’s counties fall into the red or orange tier. Read the update to see where each county stands and how the system was designed.
“Your actions can keep people from getting sick, save lives, and make sure our hospitals can care for people whether it’s for a heart attack or a car accident or COVID-19. Protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community now,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D.
Dr. Cohen also provided an update on North Carolina’s data and trends.
Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days
North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is increasing.
Trajectory of Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days
North Carolina’s trajectory of cases is increasing.
Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days
North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive is increasing.
Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days
North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations is increasing.
In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread in testing, tracing and prevention.
Testing
Testing capacity is high, surpassing 50,000 tests per day for much of the past week.
Tracing Capability
The state is continuing to hire contact tracers to bolster the efforts of local health departments.
There have been more than 500,000 downloads of the exposure notification app, SlowCOVIDNC.
Personal Protective Equipment
North Carolina’s personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies are stable.
Read Executive Order 181.
Read a Frequently Asked Questions document about the Order.
Read the slides from today’s briefing.
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6th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting
Come join us for our 6th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Sims Community Park this Saturday, December 5th at 5:30 pm!! Please wear a mask.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Broadband Survey: Your Input is Crucial
The Town of Sims has broadband gaps that keep people in our community from being able to easily and efficiently access services like telehealth, remote learning and remote work. We need your help finding the areas of our community that need better high-speed broadband service. Visit a 5-minute survey at https://ncbroadband.gov/survey to help us find the gaps in our community.
Your participation in this survey will help determine our needs for better services, and may help drive down prices for broadband services in our area.
Thank you!
Happy Thanksgiving- Town Hall Office Hours
Hello Residents! We would like to wish you all a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! We are grateful for each of you living in our town.
Town Hall will be closed Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27 for the holiday. If you have an emergency, please call us at 237-4226 and leave a message. We will return your call as soon as possible.
Please remember trash services will be picked up on their regular schedule on Thursday and bills are due on the 28th! You may leave your payments in the drop boxes located to the left of the front door in the front of Town Hall or at the bottom right corner of the drive-through window at the rear of Town Hall.
Thank you and again, Happy Thanksgiving!
COVID 19: Executive Order 180
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 23, 2020
Contact: Ford Porter
Phone: 919-814-2100
Email: govpress@nc.gov
With Cases Rising Rapidly, North Carolina Tightens Existing Mask Requirements and Enforcement
Ten More Counties Designated as Red for Critical Community Spread
RALEIGH: Governor Roy Cooper today issued additional COVID-19 safety measures to tighten mask requirements and enforcement as cases continue to rise rapidly in North Carolina and across the country. Executive Order No. 180 goes into effect on Wednesday, November 25 and runs through Friday, December 11.
“I have a stark warning for North Carolinians today: We are in danger,” Governor Cooper said. “This is a pivotal moment in our fight against the coronavirus. Our actions now will determine the fate of many.”
In addition to extending Phase 3 capacity limits and safety requirements, the Order tightens the existing statewide mask requirement – making it clear that everyone needs to wear a mask whenever they are with someone who is not from the same household. The Order also adds the mask requirement to several additional settings including any public indoor space even when maintaining 6 feet of distance; gyms even when exercising; all schools public and private; and all public or private transportation when travelling with people outside of the household.
The Order also requires large retail businesses with more than 15,000 square feet to have an employee stationed near entrances ensuring mask wearing and implementing occupancy limits for patrons who enter.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, updated North Carolina’s COVID-19 County Alert System map due to the rapid rise in cases and hospitalization over the past week. Since introducing the system last week, ten more counties have moved into the red category indicating critical community spread. There are now 20 red counties and 42 orange counties. Read the update to see where each county stands and how the system was designed.
“The coming weeks will be a true test of our resolve to do what it takes to keep people from getting sick, to save lives, and to make sure that if you need hospital care whether it’s for a heart attack or a car accident or COVID-19, you can get it,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D.
Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan spoke at today’s press conference to discuss what the city of Greensboro is doing to step up enforcement of existing, strong statewide safety rules. State officials have encouraged local governments to take action to require compliance and help lower COVID-19 numbers.
Dr. Cohen also provided an update on North Carolina’s data and trends.
Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days
North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is increasing.
Trajectory of Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days
North Carolina’s trajectory of cases is increasing.
Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days
North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive is increasing slightly.
Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days
North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations is increasing.
In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread in testing, tracing and prevention.
Testing
Testing capacity is high.
Tracing Capability
The state is continuing to hire contact tracers to bolster the efforts of local health departments.
There have been more than 430,000 downloads of the exposure notification app, SlowCOVIDNC.
Personal Protective Equipment
North Carolina’s personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies are stable.
Read Executive Order 180.
Read a Frequently Asked Questions document about the Order.
Read the slides from today’s briefing.
Trash Services This Week
Hello Residents! A Plus Disposal will be emptying trash, yard waste and recycling on Thursday of this week, Thanksgiving Day. Please remember to put your bins by the road the night before by 8pm, as pick up times may vary on Thursdays.
Covid 19: Executive Order 176
On November 10, 2020, Governor Cooper issued Executive Order 176, extending Phase 3 effective Friday, November 13, 2020 at 5pm and ending at 5pm on Wednesday, December 4, 2020. This phase limits the number of people to 10 for inside gatherings. For more information, please read EO 176.
Town Hall: Change in Hours, Personnel, and Email
We are excited to announce beginning Monday, November 2, 2020, Town Hall will have new office hours to better serve you! We will be open Monday – Thursday, 9am – 5pm (Closed 1pm – 2pm for lunch) and Friday, 9am – 6pm (Closed 1pm – 2pm for lunch). While our main lobby is currently closed to the public for walk-ins, we are happy to assist you over the phone or at our drive-through window!
We are also happy to inform you Mrs. Lisa Harrell has joined our team at Town Hall as an Office Assistant. Lisa has lived in Sims since 2000, and is a wife, mother of two and grandmother of two. She looks forward to meeting and helping you all! Please stop by to introduce yourselves and say hello!
Also, our email address at Town Hall has changed. It is now info@townofsimsnc.com so please update your contact information for us.
Finally, each of our residents and business owners will soon receive their monthly water bills. They will be sent in an envelope along with a Customer Information Update Form. Please make sure each of you completes this form and returns it to us as soon as possible. We are having trouble contacting some of you with notifications because we do not have the most up-to-date information.
Thank you!
Alert: Coyotes in the Area
We want to alert our residents to recent reports of coyotes in our area and within town limits. Unfortunately, they have killed family pets and livestock. For more information on coyotes, click here.
To avoid issues with coyotes, here are some helpful hints:
Feed pets indoors or remove food when your pet is finished eating outside. Coyotes and other wildlife are attracted to pet food left outdoors.
Don’t be intimidated by a coyote. Maintain its wariness by throwing a small object, such as a tennis ball, at it, making a loud noise, or spraying it with a hose. Let it know it is unwelcome near your home.
Protect your pets by keeping them inside, leashed, or inside a fenced area. Always supervise small pets when they’re outside, especially around dusk or dawn.
Install coyote-proof fencing around your home to protect unsupervised pets and livestock.
Secure trash and food waste in secure containers with tight-fitting lids.
For more helpful hints and additional information on co-existing with coyotes, click here. If you do encounter a coyote, do not run from them as it could trigger their instinct to chase prey. Instead, throw rocks or yell at them to intimidate them. We were also told to keep a soda can with pennies inside it to shake at the coyote, as the noise should scare them off.
If you are having trouble with coyote in your yard, contact NC Wildlife at 866-318-2401 or 919-707-4011. Please remain alert and stay safe!