COVID-19 Updates

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) INFORMATION FOR GREENVILLE-PITT COUNTY

The Greenville-Pitt County Convention & Visitors Bureau is monitoring the effects in our area of events, meetings, sports tournaments, and family reunions being canceled and/or postponed due to the response to COVID-19. While we understand and agree with the policy of social distancing, especially among populations considered most at risk, these cancelations and business closings will continue to have an impact on travel to Greenville-Pitt County and our local economy. We are closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic as it relates to North Carolina and Greenville-Pitt County. Our top priority is the safety, health, and well-being of our community, its residents, and visitors. This continues to be an evolving situation that changes often. We are providing you resources below for your business and employees.

Our team is in regular contact with the State Tourism Office (Visit NC) and our city and county government and agencies to stay informed on the latest updates as it relates to travel.

WE WILL PLACE ANY MAJOR UPDATES AND RESOURCES HERE ON THIS PAGE.

PLEASE ALSO CHECK IN LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR MORE INFORMATION AND UPDATES AS THIS SITUATION EVOLVES.

**UPDATED WEDNESDAY, MAY 20TH AT 6PM**

GREENVILLE-PITT COUNTY TRAVEL INFORMATION

GOVERNOR ISSUES STATEWIDE ’SAFER AT HOME’ PHASE 2 ORDER:

5/20/20: Governor Roy Cooper issued an Executive Order for a statewide Safer at Home recommendation beginning FRIDAY, MAY 22 AT 5PM AND LASTING AN ANTICIPATED 5 WEEKS. The Executive Order reinforces that while people will continue to be “Safer at Home” during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially more at risk populations, and precautions like teleworking are still encouraged, the state of North Carolina is in a public health position to cautiously enter Phase 2 of reopening appropriate safety and social distancing measures put in place, including:

GATHERING LIMITS:

10 indoors and 25 outdoors- (meeting & event venues, amphitheaters, sporting venues and arenas, groups at beaches, groups at parks

MAY OPEN WITH REQUIREMENTS:

Restaurants (50% capacity, and other requirements)
Salons & Personal Care (50% capacity, and other requirements)
Pools (50% capacity, and other requirements)

REMAIN CLOSED:

Bars/Nightclubs
Museums
Playgrounds
Gyms & Fitness Studios (yoga, cycling, martial arts, etc.)
Indoor Entertainment Venues (movies, bowling, bingo, etc.)

PRACTICING THE 3 W’S IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF NOT ONLY YOURSELF, BUT OUT OF RESPECT AND CONCERN FOR OTHERS AS WELL:

W- Wear a face mask when in public.
W- Wait 6ft of physical distance from others in public settings.
W- Wash your hands often.

OUR VISIT GREENVILLE, NC VISITORS CENTER & OFFICES CONTINUES TO CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE WHILE WE MAKE PLANS TO REOPEN. OUR STAFF CONTINUES TO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES FROM HOME TO PROMOTE GREENVILLE-PITT COUNTY DESTINATION AND PLAN FOR RECOVERY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO OUR STAFF BY EMAIL OR OTHER METHODS.

CURRENT SOCIAL DISTANCING BEST PRACTICES

Certain populations however are at “high risk” of severe illness from COVID-19, which include adults over 65 and people of all ages with severe underlying health conditions like heart disease, lung disease, asthma, diabetes or a weakened immune system. Those populations are being asked by federal, state and local officials to avoid unnecessary contact with people as much as possible.

CURRENT RECOMMENDED BEST PRACTICES INCLUDES:

Staying home unless you need to go out for work or activities deemed essential
Do not travel if you are sick.
Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
Avoid close contact with people who are ill.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw it away. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
Clean commonly used surfaces and objects.
Say no to the handshake – choose fist bumps or non-contact greetings.
Don’t share food and beverages with others.
Practice social distancing – maintain distances of at least 6 feet from others when possible.
The CDC recommends people wear cloth masks when leaving their home to attend to essential work and errands to avoid transmission and spread of the virus.

GUIDELINES FOR EVENTS & GATHERINGS:

As of March 16, Governor Roy Cooper and state health officials declared that North Carolina should follow the CDC, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, RECOMMENDING THAT FOR THE NEXT 8 WEEKS, ORGANIZERS (WHETHER GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS) CANCEL OR POSTPONE IN-PERSON EVENTS THAT CONSIST OF 10 PEOPLE OR MORE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. THESE EVENTS INCLUDE LARGE GATHERINGS WHERE PEOPLE ARE IN CLOSE CONTACT (LESS THAN 6 FEET), FOR EXAMPLE CONCERTS, CONFERENCES, SPORTING EVENTS, FAITH-BASED EVENTS AND OTHER LARGE GATHERINGS.”

If you have any Greenville-Pitt County event or meetings cancelations or postponements, please email us at info@visitgreenvillenc.comso we can update our Visit Greenville, NC Event Calendar or keep track of the travel and tourism impact accordingly.

GREENVILLE & PITT COUNTY INFORMATION:

PITT COUNTY COVID-19 MEDIA SESSION

MEDIA INTERVIEWS TO BE LIVE STREAMED EVERY TUESDAY & THURSDAY AT 11:30 AM
Pitt County will host these media sessions, to answer questions from the media and public
To view these sessions LIVE on the Public Health Facebook page, CLICK HERE
To view previous sessions, CLICK HERE

PITT COUNTY

PITT COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: pittcountync.gov/229/Public-Health
PITT COUNTY GOVERNMENT: pittcountync.gov
PITT COUNTY COVID-19 INFORMATION HOTLINE: call 252-902-2300 or 1-866-462-3821.

GREENVILLE

GREENVILLE-PITT COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU: visitgreenvillenc.com
CITY OF GREENVILLE, NC GOVERNMENT: greenvillenc.gov/government/city-manager-s-office/public-information-office/severe-weather-alerts/-fsiteid-1
VIDANT MEDICAL CENTER: vidanthealth.com/COVID-19-Updates/Overview
GREENVILLE-PITT COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:https://www.greenvillenc.org/membership-benefits/covid-19-resource-page/
GREENVILLE UTILITIES COMMISSION: https://www.guc.com/about-us/covid-19-response

GREENVILLE & PITT COUNTY EDUCATION INFORMATION:

EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY classes will be conducted via alternative methods beginning March 23 and will continue until further notice. All extracurricular activities, such as athletic events and club meetings, are postponed until further notice.

PITT COMMUNITY COLLEGE

PITT COMMUNITY COLLEGE classes will be conducted via alternative methods beginning Monday, March 23 until further notice. All extracurricular activities, such as athletic events and club meetings, are postponed until further notice.

PITT COUNTY SCHOOLS

PITT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS will be following Governor Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 117 to close all Pitt County Schools beginning Monday, March 16 until further notice. Information about students who are in need of meals is available on PCPS’s website.

ACCOMMODATIONS, RESTAURANTS & BUSINESS INFORMATION:

The North Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association, Visit North Carolina, the NC Department of Health & Human Services, and NC State University Extension have created and launched an innovative public health initiative for safely reopening restaurants and other businesses while addressing consumers’ need for trustworthy standards.

Count on Me NC centers on an evidence-based training program that provides specific guidance to restaurants, hotels, attractions and other businesses on best practices for North Carolina’s phased reopening after Governor Cooper’s COVID-19 stay-at-home order.

As North Carolina’s restaurants, hotels, attractions, and businesses prepare to reopen, Count on Me NC is a mutual pledge and public health initiative that empowers guests and businesses to help keep everyone safe and protected.

Currently 3 out of 5 training modules are live, with the last 2 modules scheduled to be available by Wednesday, May 27th. The three available training modules are:

Restaurant: Owners & Operators (Available now)
Restaurant: Front of House Staff (Available now)
Restaurant: Back of House Staff (Available now)
All Businesses: Cleaning & Disinfecting Surfaces for COVID-19 Management (Available next week)
General Best Practices for COVID-19 Management (Available next week)

A companion public relations component will encourage consumers to join the effort to keep everyone safe with a Guest Pledge. The campaign will also direct consumers to look for certificates and Count on Me NC logos for assurance that a business has completed the voluntary, no-cost training.

This program is free to both members and non-members, and we highly encourage our local lodging, restaurant, and attraction partners and staff, as well as individuals who will patronize these businesses, to participate in the online health and safety tutorial to receive Count on Me NC certification for their business and to utilize and display the Count on Me NC marketing materials tool-kit provided at your place of business and on social media to help reassure customers that your business is invested in reopening safely with both your staff and customers health as a top priority and is a part of the #CountOnMeNC movement! Please see the Count on Me NC website to see a map of current businesses participating in Greenville, Pitt County, and NC: countonmenc.org

The CDC offers specific instructions for cleaning and disinfecting on their website at this link. Best practices are to protect your employees and customers by maintaining stringent cleaning practices.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

CDC offers specific guidance here.
Air B&B advice for hosts link is here.
Ensure you clean items including (but not limited to): door handles, telephones, toilets, light switches, remote controls, blowdryers, HVAC controls, faucet handles, and other surfaces frequently.
The NC Restaurant & Lodging Association has created an online Coronavirus Resource Center for Hospitality Businesses that contains webinars with Practical Tutorials for Employers plus Restaurant- and Lodging-Specific Resources.

RESTAURANTS:

A link to ServSafe’s Coronavirus information is located here.
Information on Coronavirus is also available on the National Restaurant Association’s website.
The NC Restaurant & Lodging Association has created an online Coronavirus Resource Center for Hospitality Businesses that contains webinars with Practical Tutorials for Employers plus Restaurant- and Lodging-Specific Resources.

POSTERS & HANDOUTS:

The CDC has some great posters and handouts you can download here.

CONTINUE TO SUPPORT GREENVILLE-PITT COUNTY SMALL & LOCAL BUSINESSES:

In these days of rapidly changing circumstances as we all make adjustments to our daily lives in response to the coronavirus, those in our tourism and hospitality industry feel this impact directly. Our small and local business owners, restaurateurs, hotel staff, and service employees, rely on the business of both visitors and locals. Greenville-Pitt County is the HEART OF PIRATE NATION, and our entire community and crew must be “all hands on deck” figuratively, to help support each other as we navigate through these uncertain times.

HERE ARE SOME WAYS YOU CAN HELP:
(THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS IN THE BULL CITY AT DISCOVER DURHAM!)