Beginning Friday, March 27th at 8:00 am, the Town of Norwood will be under a State of Emergency.
State of Emergency
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
From the Administrator’s Desk
Hello Fellow Norwood Citizens,
As you know, the coronavirus has been declared a pandemic by the Centers for Disease Control. President Trump has declared a National Disaster, and Governor Cooper has declared a State of Emergency for North Carolina. COVID-19 poses a significant health risk – especially if you are older than 60 years old, have existing respiratory problems, or auto-immune deficiency issues. This is a national health crisis.
As your Town Administrator, I am doing everything possible to minimize the risk to the health and welfare of our town. After careful consideration of all involved, thorough research, along with guidance from our national and state government experts, Norwood Government has implemented reasonable precautions that will protect the people of Norwood.
Beginning Thursday March 18, 2020 at 9:00 am Town Hall will be closed to walk-in traffic. You will able to pay your Norwood utility bill by utilizing our drive-through window, pay by mail, our drop box, or pay online/by phone.
Utilization of the Town’s Community Building, picnic shelters, and playground equipment will be suspended until further notice.
Norwood has had a curfew in our ordinances for years. This applies within Norwood Town Limits. It applies to persons under sixteen (16) years of age not accompanied by a legal custodian in or remaining in a public place between the hours of twelve midnight Friday and 5:00 on Saturday or between Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 pm and 5:00 am (Ord. 83, passed 2-5-1996).
My goal was and is to achieve the optimum balance between individual freedoms and the greater good. While these restrictions may constitute an inconvenience for some, I feel they are necessary, reasonable, and in the best interest of all.
I ask for your support during this trying time. I believe we will emerge more cohesive and prepared as we continue our journey, together.
I am honored to be your Town Administrator,
Scott Howard, MBA
What is Coronavirus?
From the NC Department of Health and Human Services:
What are coronaviruses?
Coronaviruses are a large group of viruses that can cause illness in animals and humans. Some coronaviruses commonly circulate in the United States and usually cause upper respiratory symptoms such as cough or runny nose, although some can cause more serious illness. The 2019 novel (new) coronavirus causes the illness coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
What is COVID-19?
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease that was identified in Wuhan, China, and is now being spread throughout the world. People are encouraged to take common sense precautions to prevent the spread of all infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water 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.
How does COVID-19 spread?
Coronaviruses like COVID-19 are 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. Learn more from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about how COVID-19 spreads and how to protect yourself and your community from getting and spreading respiratory illnesses.
Exposure and symptoms
Symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough and shortness of breath. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure.
If you think you may have been exposed to COVID-19 and develop symptoms, you may need to seek medical attention. Call your local health department for further guidance. Before going to a health care provider, clinic, hospital or emergency room, call ahead to describe your symptoms and how you may have been exposed to the virus. In the event of an emergency call 9-1-1.
The 2020 Census
The 2020 Census is coming up!
Why Should You Complete the United States Census 2020 when you receive it in the mail soon?
- It helps you! Your area receives more funding to create jobs, build schools, roads, hospitals, and more
- It determines how much government representation you receive. For example, how many seats our state gets in the United States Congress
- It is easy to complete
- It is confidential
- It is your duty as an American
For more information, visit https://census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2018/2020-census.html
Norwood Christmas Parade
Join us Wednesday, December 4th at 5:00 pm for the annual Christmas Parade! Then come to the Town Hall following the parade for the tree-lighting ceremony, Santa Claus, and cookies and hot chocolate!
