NC Commissioner Steve Troxler: Coronavirus Update

Posted on Posted in Daily Ag Summary, Featured Stories, NC Ag Commissioner Steve Troxler, Top Ag Headlines

NCDA&CS has been closely watching developments with the Coronavirus and has adjusted some of its operational procedures in preparations. You can keep up with what is open, closed, cancelled or rescheduled through our website at www.ncagr.gov. We will update it with information as this progresses.

  • CoVid-19 has dominated headlines everywhere of late. Some of the steps being taken to slow the spread of this virus are truly unprecedented, but necessary.
  • This weekend Gov. Roy Cooper closed schools statewide and directed the cancellation of any events of 100 people or more.
  • These have widespread implications for many people and has also impacted some of our operations at the department.
  • This is an incredibly fluid situation, changing daily, sometimes even hourly.
  • We will get through this, but I know there are going to be some inconvenience to our daily lives and schedules. And, that is ok.
  • At the department, we have already seen some pesticide and structural pest classes and exams cancelled, events at our State Fairgrounds cancelled, and we have restricted access to some of our buildings in keeping with the latest public health recommendations and guidance.
  • We have put a link on our department homepage at ncagr.gov to update residents on what is open, what is closed, what has been postponed or rescheduled.
  • We will be updating this daily as needed. I would recommend that you check back on our page often to stay up on what is going on with the department.
  • In terms of our facilities, please be aware that access has been restricted to our soil testing lab, Plant Industry offices, the Weights and Measures Lab, Motor Fuels Lab and Structural Pest and Pest Control buildings.
  • At this time, packages, samples and items for testing and calibrations can still be dropped off at these locations. You can find out more information online at www.ncga.gov.
  • We intend to continue to provide our services as best as we can, but anticipate some services may take a little longer. We may get to a point to where we have to scale back to critical services involving food safety and consumer protection.
  • I hope it doesn’t come to that, but I would ask that people continue to be flexible and patient as we work through dealing with this virus.