As of 8:30 a.m., there were 120,320 cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) with 998 deaths due to COVID-19 reported among Mecklenburg County residents.
Click here for the latest data report. To learn about vaccination sites please click here.
Mecklenburg County’s Public Hearing on Redistricting Scheduled for August 4
The Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners will convene a public hearing on redistricting on Wednesday, August 4, 2021 in the Meeting Chamber of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, 600 East Fourth Street, Lobby Level, beginning at 6:30 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the item is reached on the agenda, on the proposed criteria for revisions to the Mecklenburg County Commission Electoral Districts.
The Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners is subject to the one person, one vote mandate and are therefore required to review district populations after every census to determine if the district populations remain relatively equal. The County cannot redistrict until the Census Bureau reports on its block data. Typically, the data is received in March following the year of the Census; however, due to COVID-19 it is anticipated that the data will not be released until August 2021. Citizens will have an opportunity to offer comments on the proposed criteria at the public hearing.
The proposed criteria are as follows:
- Equal population, as required by state and federal law.
- Contiguity, as required by state law.
- Compactness.
- Recognizing communities of interest, to be defined by the Board following public input.
- Keeping municipalities whole, to the extent possible.
- Keeping precincts whole.
- Avoiding pairing incumbents.
- No political considerations.
- Preserving the core of existing districts.
- Anti-core preservation (i.e., ignore current districts and begins from a clean slate)
Requirements to Speak to the Board: Speakers requesting to address the Board of County Commissioners must register to speak by 3:00 p.m. EST ONLINE. After 3:00 p.m., you must register in person at the meeting location. Remote speakers must provide an email when registering to speak, in order to receive the WebEx link to enter the meeting as a participant. Speakers will receive up to three (3) minutes to speak. Reservations for the speaker's lists can be made online at https://mecknc.seamlessdocs.com/f/clerk or by calling the Office of the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners, at (980) 314-2914. Anyone needing special accommodations when attending this meeting and/or if this information is needed in an alternative format because of a disability should contact the Clerk to the Board at (980) 314-2914 at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Please visit Watch.mecknc.gov to watch the meeting remotely.
County Manager Diorio Announces New Requirements for County Employees Returning to In-person Work
On August 1, Mecklenburg County employees officially entered stage 3 of the County’s Welcome Back Mecklenburg plan. Despite significant prevention efforts, COVID-19 continues to spread in the community, primarily among unvaccinated individuals. Mecklenburg County was identified as having a high rate of transmission with a positivity rate of 11% as of July 28.
The Delta variant of COVID-19 spreads significantly faster compared to earlier strains and has become the predominant variant in our area. While some vaccinated individuals can get the Delta variant in a "breakthrough infection," vaccinated individuals represent a very small amount of transmission occurring across the country. The most effective tool to combat the COVID-19 pandemic is to get the vaccine. The CDC and the Governor of North Carolina have each issued updated guidance and recommendations around face coverings and vaccines to better protect the public considering recent studies.
Mecklenburg County remains committed to continually evaluate the latest public health data to ensure that County employees are safe and remain flexible as a workforce in the fight against the pandemic and its impact on the community.
Below are some of the new measures that have been added to the County’s Stage 3 return on August 1:
Face Coverings: Due to the County’s high rates of COVID-19 transmission, all County employees will be required to wear face coverings indoors in all County buildings regardless of vaccination status beginning August 1. All non-vaccinated employees must also wear face coverings outdoors on County property if unable to socially distance. Face coverings are not required when eating, drinking, or by yourself in an office or cubicle
Vaccination Verification and COVID-19 Testing Program: Consistent with Governor’s latest Executive Order #224, the County will initiate a process to verify the vaccination status of County employees by September 1. This decision does NOT require all County employees to receive the vaccine. Knowing the vaccination status of our employees is an important tool to help us understand and manage our internal response to the pandemic. Those who are unvaccinated will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test result to Human Resources on a weekly basis beginning September 7. Once this program is implemented, fully vaccinated employees will no longer be required to wear a face covering in County facilities.
County Manager Diorio and her team will continue to monitor the latest public health data and will re-evaluate the decision to require mandatory in-person work beginning in September if necessary. Any change in decision regarding our workforce plans for October will be communicated to employees in advance.
County’s MeckHope Initiative to Provide Mental Health Support for County Residents
As the pandemic continues to shift, many residents are still feeling its impact in every part of their lives. Since the pandemic began, nearly four out of 10 adults in the United States have reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, along with difficulty sleeping and eating as well as increased alcohol consumption. To help County residents cope with stress in a healthy way, MeckHope offers free mental health counseling, family support services and referrals for substance use treatment.
Launched in September 2020, the MeckHope initiative is managed by the County’s Department of Social Services’ Clinical and Contractual Services Division. MeckHope includes group psychoeducational services for school aged children, non-crisis peer support, housing instability and homelessness services, and substance use and prevention services. These services are available for seniors, adults, youth and families.
Residents can contact the MeckHope support line 24/7 at 833-390-7728 or visit www.meckhope.com. The program will end Dec. 31, 2021.
Click here to view a full list of news releases.
As the pandemic continues to have an impact on the community, click here to view a list of COVID-19 symptoms.
COVID-19 Testing and Medical Advice:
Residents who believe they may have been exposed to the virus can contact the County’s Public Health Hotline at 980-314-9400 to speak with a medical professional or for guidance on testing. Testing locations can be found here.
What to Do If You’re Feeling Sick:
Click here for more information on what to do if you think you may have been exposed to the virus.
Frequently Asked Questions - Residents:
Click here to view a list of the most frequently asked questions related to COVID-19.
Resources for County Employees:
Employee Rights Under Families First Coronavirus Act
On April 1, 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed to help provide additional paid leave for government employees affected by COVID-19.
Click here to learn more about the act.
residents.