Tag Archives: Coronavirus

Gov. Cooper Announces Social Distancing and Mask-Wearing Requirements Immediately Lifted

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orange graphic COVID 19

N.C. Governor Roy Cooper announced today, May 14, that he was lifting immediately many of the state’s COVID-19 social-distancing and mask-wearing requirements. In most settings, indoors and outdoors, the state will no longer require people to wear a mask or be socially distant. 

This means there are no pandemic capacity limits for indoor and outdoor spaces. The Governor said fully vaccinated persons no longer need to wear masks in most indoor settings. However, state health officials still recommend that unvaccinated people in North Carolina continue to wear masks.

Masks still will be required in some public spaces such as public transportation, healthcare facilities, and correctional facilities. Masks also are still required in childcare settings such as schools, daycare facilities, and summer camps because children younger than 12 still are not eligible for vaccination.

Businesses, retail establishments, and other facilities in the state are still allowed to require social distancing and masks.

Any changes to Central Piedmont’s current social-distancing and mask-wearing requirements will be announced in the coming days.

The Governor and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services strongly recommend that unvaccinated persons eligible for vaccination in the state be vaccinated as soon as possible. All persons in North Carolina age 12 and older can be vaccinated. 

Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine by accessing the following resources: StarMed Health, Walgreens, CVS, Novant Health, and Atrium Health.

Coronavirus Information on cpcc.edu

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Since mid-March, there has been a“Coronavirus Alerts” bar across each page of the Central Piedmont website. This alert bar will go away as of Wednesday, Oct. 7, and will appear only when there is urgent information to communicate. 

You can still find the Coronavirus Updates link in the main navigation on every page of cpcc.edu.

The coronavirus updates area provides comprehensive coronavirus information and specific information for students, including information about student emergency fund grants and the Central Piedmont Cares form you can submit if you need assistance from a Central Piedmont staff member during these challenging times. 

The Returning to Campus page provides access to the Health Acknowledgement form you should complete by Monday each week you plan to be on campus, the Return to Campus Guide for students, and helpful videos. The site also features a COVID-19 chatbot that can help you with questions specifically related to coronavirus. As a reminder, you can get your student ID card online or on campus. Visit the Student IDs page for complete details. 

If there is coronavirus-related information you need that you cannot find on these pages, please send an email to helpdesk@cpcc.edu. 

Student Guidelines for Returning to Campus

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As Central Piedmont slowly returns to campus, keeping students as healthy and safe as possible remains our top priority. By working together, we can resume on-campus classes and student services while keeping everyone safe. All students are expected to comply with college guidelines and safety best practices. Please review the video guide below on how students can safely return to campus.

 

 

What is the difference between “Stay at Home” and “social distancing”?

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Social distancing refers to collective actions taken by Public Health officials to stop or slow down the spread of a highly contagious disease. Since there is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.This is why social distancing, although sometimes inconvenient, is vitally important. When done properly, it will limit the spread of infection. Stay at home is a stricter form of social distancing.

Stay at home means:

  • Stay home (stay unexposed and do not expose others)
    Only go out for essential services
    Stay 6 feet or more away from others
    Don’t gather in groups

YOU CAN

  • Go to the grocery, convenience or warehouse store
  • Go to the pharmacy to pick up medications and other healthcare necessities
  • Visiting a health care professional for medical services that cannot be provided virtually (call first)
  • Go to a restaurant for take-out, delivery or drive-thru
  • Care for or support a friend or family member
  • Take a walk, ride your bike, hike, jog and be in nature for exercise – just keep at least six feet between you and others
  • Walk your pets and take them to veterinarian if necessary
  • Help someone to get necessary supplies
  • Receive deliveries from any business which delivers

YOU SHOULD NOT

  • Go to work unless you are providing essential services as defined by the recent Stay-at-Home Order
  • Visit friends and family if there is no urgent need
  • Maintain less than 6 feet of distance from others when you go out
  • Visit loved ones in the hospital, nursing home, skilled nursing facility or other residential care facility, except for limited exceptions
  • Travel except for essential travel and activities

For the full Proclamation, go to MeckNC.gov/COVID-19. For further questions, call the Mecklenburg County Stay at Home help line at (704) 353-1926. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Charlotte Area Transit System: Free Fare and Modified Schedule

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By operating modified service, the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is able to continue providing the community access to essential daily needs, front-line jobs and medical services. Starting on Wednesday, March 25, CATS will make modifications to transit service to accommodate the current demand.

All service will be FREE during this time.  These changes are effective until further notice.

LYNX Blue Line:

  • The LYNX Blue Line will operate on a Sunday schedule.

Local Bus:

  • Local bus service will operate as follows:
    • Monday – Saturday buses will run a Saturday schedule
    • On Sunday buses will run a Sunday schedule

In order to minimize interaction between operators and the public, bus passengers will be requested to board and exit the bus from the rear door and to not sit directly behind the bus driver.

Visit the CATS official website for the latest updates regarding public transportation scheduling.

Advisory: Mecklenburg Co. Issues Stay-At-Home Order (effective 3/26 at 8 a.m.)

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Please be aware that Mecklenburg County issued a stay-at-home order this afternoon. It goes into effect this Thursday (March 26) at 8 a.m., and lasts through April 16. You can read the full statement on the Mecklenburg County Government website for more details.

According to the “Essential Businesses & Operations” section of the county’s proclamation, educational institutions may remain open “for purposes of facilitating distance learning, performing critical research related to COVID-19, or performing essential functions, provided that social distancing of six-feet per person is maintained to the greatest extent possible,” so our most essential workers can continue to come to campuses as needed.

Students and all other employees should follow the county order, stay at home, and not come to campus. However, our teams are still here to support you: We continue to provide as many services as possible remotely, via phone and email. See the college website for a complete directory of departments, or call our Information Center during business hours at 704.330.2722. Please reach out to us if we can help in any way.

Advisory: In-person classes suspended; remote student services available

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The college has suspended in-person classes in an effort to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. We’re partnering with local and state leaders on this comprehensive effort that’s requiring immediate action in every community. We’re doing all we can to keep our students, faculty, staff, and community as safe as possible. Please understand that the situation remains fluid, and we really appreciate your patience and flexibility.

Important Reminders

As a reminder, spring break for students has been extended one week, until March 23. The college is open but students should not report to campus.

Please remember: The short sessions of classes that were originally scheduled to begin March 16 have been moved to start next week on Monday, March 23. Registration for these 4-week and 8-week short sessions has been extended to March 22. Eligible students can use financial aid to buy books and supplies online for the second short session courses at Central Piedmont’s Barnes & Noble College bookstores. Since these are short session courses, it’s especially important to log in as soon as your classes start and begin work.

On March 23, the majority of our courses will resume online. Students enrolled in these classes should start receiving communication from instructors with details about how we will work to help you achieve your academic goals the best we can during this unprecedented situation. Check your college email often for communication from your instructors and the college concerning your classes next week.

Online Resources

The college has created a comprehensive Web page with resources to help serve students’ educational needs and provide tools for working and collaborating online.

Visit learnremotely.cpcc.edu to discover what you need to know if you’re taking online courses or if your courses are moved online.

During the coronavirus situation, Charter Communications is temporarily offering free access to Spectrum Internet. Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students, faculty, and staff who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription at any service level up to 100 Mbps. Installation fees will be waived for new student households. To enroll call 1.844.488.8395.

Campus Services and Access

 Student-facing offices will remain operational remotely to support you during this time. All student services are available online or by phone, and dedicated staff and faculty will respond to emails, voicemails and online inquiries as soon as possible. Please be patient as we all navigate this transition together.

  • The Single Stop Office is available online or by phone to help connect students to a variety of basic needs support. Please email singlestop@cpcc.edu or call 704.330.6435 for more information.

 

  • The Academic Learning Center will continue to provide free online tutoring services to curriculum-level students. Student can schedule appointments online, call 704.330.6474 or email alc@cpcc.edu for more information.

 

  • Counseling Services will continue to address the needs for Pre-Health Program advisement, Probation and Suspension students, and personal counseling through phone and WebEx appointments. Please email counseling@cpcc.edu to request further information. Students experiencing a mental health crisis should call 911.

 

  • Students who need enrollment help or have general questions can contact First Year Experience. Please email fye@cpcc.edu or call 704.330.6100.

 

  • The Library is open virtually and available to provide online, email, text or chat support to students. Visit the Library’s website to learn more about availability and services.

 

  • Both the college’s Information Center (704.330.2722) and Information Technology Services Help Desk (704.330.5000 / helpdesk@cpcc.edu) are open by phone and email during weekdays. Please submit questions online here. Students experiencing issues accessing technology can call the ITS Help Desk.

 

Federal Work Study Employees

Federal Work-Study (FWS) employees will continue to be paid monthly during the emergency period if they are unable to work due to college restrictions. The Financial Aid office will determine the total monthly Federal Work Study pay amount on an individual basis. Prior monthly Federal Work Study hours earned during the 2019-20 academic period will be considered.

 Graduation Ceremonies

We know that graduation ceremonies are on the minds of our students who are completing programs this semester. We are working to determine the best course of action and will update you as soon as we can.

On-Campus Events

By recommendation of Gov. Cooper, college-related events and large gatherings will be cancelled or postponed through April 30. Several departments are exploring remote learning methods and virtual options for programs. Students participating in college affiliated programs, groups, and clubs will be contacted directly with updates on virtual alternatives as they become available.

It is extremely important to stay connected and informed during this time. Visit the college’s COVID-19 Web page to review all announcements and instructions.

Again, please ensure you monitor your college email often as we will update conditions as soon as the information becomes available. We strongly recommend downloading the Central Piedmont Mobile app for your phone from the App store or the Google Play app store. This is a convenient way to access news, Blackboard, MyCollege, and your college email account. Finally, please connect with Central Piedmont social media. This is a fast, easy way to stay up-to-date.

This is new territory for the college, but we remain flexible in discovering ways to help our students complete the semester and to keep the college operating. We appreciate the patience of our students and their families as well as Central Piedmont faculty and staff as we work to preserve the health, safety, and academic needs of our students.

Latest Update from the College About Coronavirus

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The coronavirus brings a worldwide concern to our community, and we understand it can be very scary and confusing. Central Piedmont continues to remain in contact with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the Mecklenburg County Health Department, for updates and direction.

The governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, declared a state of emergency Tuesday (3/10/20), as leaders and public health officials continue to deal with the coronavirus. As of this writing, the Charlotte Observer reports North Carolina now has seven people who have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, health officials said. All of the patients are in isolation while officials identify close contacts.”

Now that cases have been confirmed in North and South Carolina, it’s time to put aside panic and focus on preparation. We can all stop stigma and the spread of misinformation related to COVID-19 by knowing the facts and sharing them with others.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provided resources on mental health and coping during COVID-19 and also issued information about helping end coronavirus-related stigma and discrimination that is occurring toward groups of people including:

  • Persons of Asian descent
  • People who have traveled abroad or to states with coronavirus outbreaks
  • Emergency responders or healthcare professionals

In the meantime, the college’s contracted company for cleaning and janitorial services is taking extra care to clean and disinfect the usual virus and germ “transmission points,” such as doorknobs, light switches, water fountains, phones, countertops, etc.

To reduce your chances of contracting any kind of illness, the CDC recommends the following.

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick (social distancing).
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

We pledge to give you as much updated information as we can. This is an update to let you know we are thinking of every option to keep you safe and healthy. Visit the college’s Emergency Management website for updates from Central Piedmont.