Funding to help schools deal with COVID-19
Sep. 17—GUILFORD COUNTY — The Guilford County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to accept nearly $8 million in federal and state money to be used for COVID-19 testing and related costs for Guilford County Schools' students and staff.
The money will be provided through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Women's & Children's Health branch of the N.C. Department of Public Health and Human Services to help schools remain open during the ongoing pandemic.
Guilford County Health Director Dr. Iulia Vann said the funding is one of multiple contracts the county is receiving to support K-12 COVID-19 testing and contact tracing in the public school system and also to support other school health activities in the district.
The county board also voted unanimously to approve an increase in $115,000 in state and federal money to add one nursing services supervisor as a school health liaison coordinator. Another increase of nearly $40,000 will be used toward creating a community health equity coordinator position.
"Health equity work in the COVID-19 space has been important on the local and state level," Vann said.
The funding is coming at a time when the health department seeks to hire school health nurses, contract tracers and licensed or unlicensed personnel to coordinate clerical work and move in a concise, organized fashion, Vann said.
The board also voted unanimously to approve amendments to its ambulance franchise code to allow other nonfranchised emergency services to help the overwhelmed ambulance service during a major catastrophe or emergency.
Guilford County Emergency Services Director Jim Albright said the emergency provision was not anticipated when the ordinance was last updated more than 10 years ago.
"We certainly never envisioned a pandemic that would last for months or even years," Albright said. "What we've seen is the increased demand specifically related to the pandemic has exceeded the resources of both Guilford County EMS and of Piedmont Triad Ambulance and Rescue. This is an emergency provision that would allow a nonfranchised provider to operate on a very time-limited basis. It's basically a safety net to provide additional services to our citizens."
Gart Evans, chairman of the PTAR board of directors, was the only resident who spoke in favor of the amendment during a public hearing. He noted PTAR is a nonprofit ambulance company franchised by the county to provide both emergency and nonemergency transportation 24/7. Chartered in August 1971 and headquartered in High Point, PTAR responds as the primary emergency backup to Guilford County EMS and serves the elderly, the ill and the infirm, Evans said.
PTAR receives no county tax funding but is fee-based and no fee is charged or collected if it does not transport, Evans said.
"In 2020, PTAR transported 20,000 Guilford County calls with about 3,800 calls canceled, and 1,500 of those were known COVID cases," Evans said, adding that the past two years have been "extremely challenging in attempting to deliver medical transportation" to the public due to the pandemic. Evans said PTAR has 15 to 18 units in service primarily in Guilford County, but it also answers calls in Davidson and Randolph counties.
During its work session Thursday afternoon, the board reviewed the online public portal, which is already open on the county website to receive public input on redistricting.
When community members submit redistricting proposals, they will receive an email noting it has been received. Links allow board members to review comments and proposals.
cingram@hpenews.com — 336-888-3534 — @HPEcinde
