Upcoming events and things to do in Asheville, NC. Below is a list of events for festivals, concerts, art exhibitions, group meetups and more.

Interested in adding an event to our calendar? Please click the green “Post Your Event” button below.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020
VOTE for The Literacy Council of Buncombe County
May 27 all-day
Online
Readers Are Leaders

Vote for us every day until May 29!

We are excited to announce that we have been selected as a finalist in the Kudzu Brands Brand New Start 10k Brand Giveaway! This means we are eligible to win a complete brand development to help our organization pivot, adjust, and succeed, but we need YOUR VOTE to win. To vote for us, simply go to www.kudzubrands.com/brand-new-start-giveaway-voting and select our business as your choice for the most deserving of this amazing opportunity. Also, you can vote for us EVERY DAY. The deadline for votes is May 29, so please VOTE and SHARE!
Asheville Salt Cave FREE ONLINE : Live Mediation Webinar with Bernie Kozlowski
May 27 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
webinar

Learn how to reverse the very real and devastating impact of stress through the SIMPLE practice of instinctive meditation that will profoundly shift your life.

Instinctive meditation means it’s natural and our bodies are wired to do it easily and efficiently. All we need to do is to set up the right conditions and our bodies will eagerly cooperate. Learn the skill set needed to meditate on your own even if you have a racing mind and little spare time.

Dropping into deep relaxation on a regular basis helps you to be calm in the face of overwhelm and urgency, can improve your health, and help you be more responsive and less reactive to challenges.

This will be a live webinar on Zoom. You can attend from anywhere that is comfortable to you. Once you register, you will get instructions on how to log in to the event. You will have the option of having your video on or off. You can also call in using a phone number. Link to zoom class:
https://mailchi.mp/9e1057b0227e/meditation-asheville-salt-cave

We’ll start with the basic principles of this approach. Then you will learn and practice some basic skills. This will be followed by a longer guided meditation where you can incorporate the basic skills. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions during the class.

A weekly Zoom drop-in class in instinctive meditation will run on Wednesdays from 10:00-11:00 am EST starting April 29 and running for 12 weeks.
Drop in as you can. Each class will cover a different technique.

Beacham’s Curve Aid Supply and Food Drive
May 27 @ 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Ambrose West

Every Wednesday from 12-6pm, Carolina Hemp Company and Ambrose West, alongside their neighbors on West Asheville’s Beachm’s Curve, will host a community aid drive to gather and donate supplies and food to support local emergency relief efforts. Recipients include Homeward Bound, Western Carolina Rescue Ministries, 12 Bones, the YMCA, and more! As Asheville’s Hometown Hemp Company, Carolina Hemp Company values their local community, and believes in supporting each other when in need. In times such as these, we are reminded of the unfortunate imbalance in society’s ability to afford and have access to basic necessities. The Carolina Hemp Company mission is and always has been Bringing Balance Through Hemp and they now have the opportunity to practice this through service to the Asheville community. While being encouraged to separate, it is important we still band together to pool resources, communicate, and take care of each other. Carolina Hemp Company will be collecting non-perishable food items, cooking essentials, health and wellness products, cleaning and sanitation supplies, and general toiletries, and camping gear to load into the Hemp Xpress Trolley and distribute to local organizations who are dedicated to providing shelter, food and health services to those who need it most. Updates and detailed information will be posted to the Beacham’s Curve Aid Supply and Food Drive event page on the Carolina Hemp Company facebook page.

 

The staff is committed to practicing conscious handling and delivery of all supplies through hand washing, wiping down items, and limited contact between donors, themselves, and the receiving organizations’ representatives

 

Weekly Wednesday Group Meditations Online
May 27 @ 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm
online

Image may contain: one or more people and sky, possible text that says 'Weekly Live Group Meditations: Wednesdays at 6pm prama Institute & Wellness Center'

We hope you are keeping calm and well during these challenging times.

To help keep us calm and in touch, the Prama staff is inviting you to a free live group meditation every Wednesday at 6pm.  The session will last about 30 minutes, including a guided meditation and a short talk on aspects of meditation practice.

We hope you will find these meditations helpful and something that you can continue to practice throughout the week.

The event is free though any contribution is appreciated.

If you are planning to attend just one week or multiple weeks, please sign up and we will email you the Zoom Link!

Thursday, May 28, 2020
Buncombe County COVID-19 Testing Information
May 28 all-day
online

COVID-19 Testing

NOTE: Please see attached documents for Community- Based Testing Dates and Locations. 

General COVID-19 Testing Information: 

COVID-19 testing is available for people who think that they may have COVID-19. The Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self Checker can help you assess whether or not you need to be tested for COVID-19.

If your primary care provider does not offer COVID-19 testing, they can refer you to an option that works for you. Please go online or call ahead to schedule a visit and to confirm the location of the testing site.

Paying for COVID-19 Testing:

If you have private insurance, payment should be covered by your insurance company. If you are uninsured, please ask about the CARES Act which may cover the cost of the medical provider assessment and testing for COVID-19. Some providers offer charity care assistance or sliding scale options for payment. Check with your provider about these details.

COVID-19 Testing Providers

MAHEC Family Health Center 

Please call the MAHEC Family Health Center for a telemedicine visit before you arrive.

MAHEC Family Health Center

Call (828) 257-4730

Sliding Scale may apply.

Mercy Urgent Care

Visit www.mercyurgentcare.org to schedule a telemedicine appointment or a safe visit at one of our eight WNC locations.

Range Urgent Care

Please go online or call before you arrive.

Symptoms of COVID-19

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

Symptoms Include: 

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Chills
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness.

This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
When to Seek Medical Attention

If you have any of these emergency warning signs* for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion or inability to arouse
  • Bluish lips or face

Call 911 if you have a medical emergency: Notify the operator that you have, or think you might have, COVID-19. If possible, put on a cloth face covering before medical help arrives.

Testing is available to everyone regardless of their race, income, gender, ethnicity, citizenship status, or religion. COVID-19 testing will not impact your ability to receive future public assistance benefits or public charge status.

 

Community Based Testing Sites:
Community based testing sites are now in rotation throughout the community. Please see attached documents for more information.

free Virtual counseling + healing sessions for Western North Carolina medical personnel
May 28 all-day
Online

Care for Corona is a grassroots support system comprised of psychotherapists and healing practitioners who offer short term free virtual counseling and healing sessions for Western North Carolina medical personnel and psychotherapists who are on the front lines of the Corona Virus Pandemic.

Updated Covid-19 Buncombe County Testing Sites
May 28 all-day
Buncombe County

COVID-19 testing is available for people who think that they may have COVID-19. The Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self Checker can help you assess whether or not you need to be tested for COVID-19.

If your primary care provider does not offer COVID-19 testing, they can refer you to an option that works for you. Please go online or call ahead to schedule a visit and to confirm the location of the testing site.

Testing guidance for COVID-19 has expanded to encourage the following individuals to get tested for COVID-19 at one of the locations listed below or at a community testing site.

The new guidance recommends that clinicians test any patient in whom COVID-19 is suspected.

  • Anyone with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19
  • Close contacts of known positive cases, regardless of symptoms
  • Persons who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings (e.g., long-term care facility, homeless shelter, correctional facility, migrant farmworker camp)
  • Persons who are at high risk of severe illness (e.g., people over 65 years of age, people of any age with underlying health conditions)
  • Persons who come from historically marginalized populations
  • Health care workers or first responders (e.g. EMS, law enforcement, fire department, military)
  • Front-line and essential workers (grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, etc.) in settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain

Paying for COVID-19 Testing:

If you have private insurance, payment should be covered by your insurance company. If you are uninsured, please ask about the CARES Act which may cover the cost of the medical provider assessment and testing for COVID-19. Some providers offer charity care assistance or sliding scale options for payment. Check with your provider about these details.

COVID-19 Testing Providers

MAHEC Family Health Center 

  • Please call the MAHEC Family Health Center for a telemedicine visit before you arrive.
  • MAHEC Family Health Center
  • Call (828) 257-4730
  • Sliding Scale may apply.

Mercy Urgent Care

  • Visit www.mercyurgentcare.org to schedule a telemedicine appointment or a safe visit at one of our eight WNC locations.

Mission My Care Now

  • Mission Health’s Virtual Clinic at www.missionhealth.org/virtualclinic can direct you to COVID-19 testing
  • Most insurance plans will reimburse the costs
  • $25 virtual visit fee
  • Additional lab fee (if tested)

Range Urgent Care

VOTE for The Literacy Council of Buncombe County
May 28 all-day
Online
Readers Are Leaders

Vote for us every day until May 29!

We are excited to announce that we have been selected as a finalist in the Kudzu Brands Brand New Start 10k Brand Giveaway! This means we are eligible to win a complete brand development to help our organization pivot, adjust, and succeed, but we need YOUR VOTE to win. To vote for us, simply go to www.kudzubrands.com/brand-new-start-giveaway-voting and select our business as your choice for the most deserving of this amazing opportunity. Also, you can vote for us EVERY DAY. The deadline for votes is May 29, so please VOTE and SHARE!
Virtual Tai Chi Class with Dr. Adam Potts
May 28 @ 10:00 am – 10:45 am
online

Image may contain: 1 person, standing, possible text that says 'Free Virtual Tai Chi Class with Dr. .Adam Every Thursday at 10 AM Potts'

Enjoy learning Tai Chi from your own home with Dr. Adam Potts. Adam has been teaching the Tai Chi class for Veterans at Pack Memorial Library. Now that the library is closed, Adam will be hosting free online classes for everyone to access.
Adam is a former US Marine who served 2 tours in Iraq. He is now a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a Tai Chi Instructor.

– Build Strength, Balance, and Coordination
– Relieve Stress, Anxiety, and Depression for Well Being
– Connect with eachother enjoying a fitness class with others virtually
-Ability to connect with Adam and ask any questions you may have regarding the class

Class will be held through the ZOOM platform, when you register, you will receive a link in your email to access the class. You must register for the class to get the password and link. Class will be every Thursday and each class will require a new registration. Visit our online events calendar at buncombecounty.org/library and select the Thursday dates you’d like to attend, click sign up, and check your email for an automatic message with the Zoom information.

Tai Chi is appropriate for children, but we insist that an adult participate with the child. Class is fit for the entire family!
This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Armchair Adventure Book Club: Untamed
May 28 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Blue Ridge Hiking Co. via Zoom
Friday, May 29, 2020
Buncombe County COVID-19 Testing Information
May 29 all-day
online

COVID-19 Testing

NOTE: Please see attached documents for Community- Based Testing Dates and Locations. 

General COVID-19 Testing Information: 

COVID-19 testing is available for people who think that they may have COVID-19. The Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self Checker can help you assess whether or not you need to be tested for COVID-19.

If your primary care provider does not offer COVID-19 testing, they can refer you to an option that works for you. Please go online or call ahead to schedule a visit and to confirm the location of the testing site.

Paying for COVID-19 Testing:

If you have private insurance, payment should be covered by your insurance company. If you are uninsured, please ask about the CARES Act which may cover the cost of the medical provider assessment and testing for COVID-19. Some providers offer charity care assistance or sliding scale options for payment. Check with your provider about these details.

COVID-19 Testing Providers

MAHEC Family Health Center 

Please call the MAHEC Family Health Center for a telemedicine visit before you arrive.

MAHEC Family Health Center

Call (828) 257-4730

Sliding Scale may apply.

Mercy Urgent Care

Visit www.mercyurgentcare.org to schedule a telemedicine appointment or a safe visit at one of our eight WNC locations.

Range Urgent Care

Please go online or call before you arrive.

Symptoms of COVID-19

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

Symptoms Include: 

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Chills
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness.

This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
When to Seek Medical Attention

If you have any of these emergency warning signs* for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion or inability to arouse
  • Bluish lips or face

Call 911 if you have a medical emergency: Notify the operator that you have, or think you might have, COVID-19. If possible, put on a cloth face covering before medical help arrives.

Testing is available to everyone regardless of their race, income, gender, ethnicity, citizenship status, or religion. COVID-19 testing will not impact your ability to receive future public assistance benefits or public charge status.

 

Community Based Testing Sites:
Community based testing sites are now in rotation throughout the community. Please see attached documents for more information.

Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker: Connect to Testing, Contribute to Data Collection
May 29 all-day
online

Contribute to Data Collection

Please see the below PDFs for Russian and Spanish translations.

Help do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 with Buncombe County’s new COVID-19 Self-Checker. This automated system provides two valuable community assets: Clear guidance for anyone feeling symptomatic and data that will help Buncombe County determine when it’s safe to begin the first phases of reopening. “If you’re experiencing COVID like symptoms, or are concerned about a possible exposure, Self-Checker is the most convenient way for you to get guidance on what your next steps need to be and can connect you to individual level follow-up from healthcare professionals,” explains Public Health Emergency Preparedness Director Fletcher Tove. “The information we compile with this tool will also assist Public Health in anticipating surges on our healthcare systems and help coordinate our testing and contact tracing efforts as we work to reopen our community.”

Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker is a quick, confidential, easy-to-use assessment tool you can use online or by phone to help determine if you have COVID-19 and how you can proceed to get medical care. This helps public health experts better understand how the virus is spreading in Buncombe County and allows medical experts and local leaders make the best possible, data-driven decisions to protect everyone.

How Self-Checker* works:

  • Head to buncombecounty.org/covid-19, and click on the Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker banner.
  • Share information about your health, any symptoms you are having, and your health history.
  • If your results indicate you need testing, we will connect you with testing and other support to keep you as safe as possible. If you are symptomatic, we will continue to follow up with you every day for 7-10 days after completing the Self-Checker.
  • You can also use Self-Checker by calling the Ready Team at (828) 419-0095, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

“The goal of the Self-Checker is to connect those in need to COVID-19 testing, offer additional support, follow up to ensure people are healthy and safe, and gather information about the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” notes Buncombe County Public Health Director Dr. Jennifer Mullendore. Public Health urges anyone with questions about whether they have COVID-19 to use Self-Checker. “This also allows us to conserve healthcare resources, protective equipment, and supplies while keeping people at home and away from others if they potentially have COVID-19,” says Dr. Mullendore.

The information collected from Self-Checker will give public health officials daily and weekly reports that will be key to customizing how we respond locally. It will also provide crucial data to government officials as they continue to inform the public about the next steps for reopening Buncombe County.

The Self-Checker is a partnership between Buncombe County and North Carolina State University. Additionally, partners in our community have helped to develop and test the Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker and their efforts ensure language accessibility and ease of use. The Self-Checker is available online in Spanish and Russian and can be taken over the phone in multiple languages via 211.

 

CDC Reopening Guidance: Cleaning + Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, + Homes
May 29 all-day
online
The CDC has published guidance intended to assist businesses in preparing to reopen while enacting procedures that will continue to maintain social distancing and cleaning to limit the exposure to Coronavirus.
This guidance is part of the broader government plan to reopen businesses and offers guidance on cleanliness practices for public spaces. This guidance provides a general framework for cleaning and disinfection practices. The framework is based on doing the following:
  1. Normal routine cleaning with soap and water will decrease how much of the virus is on surfaces and objects, which reduces the risk of exposure.
  2. Disinfection using EPA-approved disinfectants against COVID-19 external icon can also help reduce the risk. Frequent disinfection of surfaces and objects touched by multiple people is important.
  3. When EPA-approved disinfectants external icon are not available, alternative disinfectants can be used (for example, 1/3 cup of bleach added to 1 gallon of water, or 70% alcohol solutions). Do not mix bleach or other cleaning and disinfection products together. This can cause fumes that may be very dangerous to breathe in. Keep all disinfectants out of the reach of children.
free Virtual counseling + healing sessions for Western North Carolina medical personnel
May 29 all-day
Online

Care for Corona is a grassroots support system comprised of psychotherapists and healing practitioners who offer short term free virtual counseling and healing sessions for Western North Carolina medical personnel and psychotherapists who are on the front lines of the Corona Virus Pandemic.

Updated Covid-19 Buncombe County Testing Sites
May 29 all-day
Buncombe County

COVID-19 testing is available for people who think that they may have COVID-19. The Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self Checker can help you assess whether or not you need to be tested for COVID-19.

If your primary care provider does not offer COVID-19 testing, they can refer you to an option that works for you. Please go online or call ahead to schedule a visit and to confirm the location of the testing site.

Testing guidance for COVID-19 has expanded to encourage the following individuals to get tested for COVID-19 at one of the locations listed below or at a community testing site.

The new guidance recommends that clinicians test any patient in whom COVID-19 is suspected.

  • Anyone with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19
  • Close contacts of known positive cases, regardless of symptoms
  • Persons who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings (e.g., long-term care facility, homeless shelter, correctional facility, migrant farmworker camp)
  • Persons who are at high risk of severe illness (e.g., people over 65 years of age, people of any age with underlying health conditions)
  • Persons who come from historically marginalized populations
  • Health care workers or first responders (e.g. EMS, law enforcement, fire department, military)
  • Front-line and essential workers (grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, etc.) in settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain

Paying for COVID-19 Testing:

If you have private insurance, payment should be covered by your insurance company. If you are uninsured, please ask about the CARES Act which may cover the cost of the medical provider assessment and testing for COVID-19. Some providers offer charity care assistance or sliding scale options for payment. Check with your provider about these details.

COVID-19 Testing Providers

MAHEC Family Health Center 

  • Please call the MAHEC Family Health Center for a telemedicine visit before you arrive.
  • MAHEC Family Health Center
  • Call (828) 257-4730
  • Sliding Scale may apply.

Mercy Urgent Care

  • Visit www.mercyurgentcare.org to schedule a telemedicine appointment or a safe visit at one of our eight WNC locations.

Mission My Care Now

  • Mission Health’s Virtual Clinic at www.missionhealth.org/virtualclinic can direct you to COVID-19 testing
  • Most insurance plans will reimburse the costs
  • $25 virtual visit fee
  • Additional lab fee (if tested)

Range Urgent Care

VOTE for The Literacy Council of Buncombe County
May 29 all-day
Online
Readers Are Leaders

Vote for us every day until May 29!

We are excited to announce that we have been selected as a finalist in the Kudzu Brands Brand New Start 10k Brand Giveaway! This means we are eligible to win a complete brand development to help our organization pivot, adjust, and succeed, but we need YOUR VOTE to win. To vote for us, simply go to www.kudzubrands.com/brand-new-start-giveaway-voting and select our business as your choice for the most deserving of this amazing opportunity. Also, you can vote for us EVERY DAY. The deadline for votes is May 29, so please VOTE and SHARE!
White House Launches Opening America Website
May 29 all-day
website
The White House has unveiled Guidelines for Opening Up America Again, a three-phased approach based on the advice of public health experts. Employers are encouraged to adhere to the following at all phases:
  • Develop and implement appropriate policies, in accordance with Federal, State, and local regulations and guidance, and informed by industry best practices, regarding:
  • Social distancing and protective equipment
  • Temperature checks
  • Sanitation
  • Use and disinfection of common and high-traffic areas
  • Business travel
  • Monitor workforce for indicative symptoms. Do not allow symptomatic people to physically return to work until cleared by a medical provider.
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures for workforce contact tracing following employee COVID+ test.
The full guidelines can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/openingamerica.
Saturday, May 30, 2020
Buncombe County COVID-19 Testing Information
May 30 all-day
online

COVID-19 Testing

NOTE: Please see attached documents for Community- Based Testing Dates and Locations. 

General COVID-19 Testing Information: 

COVID-19 testing is available for people who think that they may have COVID-19. The Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self Checker can help you assess whether or not you need to be tested for COVID-19.

If your primary care provider does not offer COVID-19 testing, they can refer you to an option that works for you. Please go online or call ahead to schedule a visit and to confirm the location of the testing site.

Paying for COVID-19 Testing:

If you have private insurance, payment should be covered by your insurance company. If you are uninsured, please ask about the CARES Act which may cover the cost of the medical provider assessment and testing for COVID-19. Some providers offer charity care assistance or sliding scale options for payment. Check with your provider about these details.

COVID-19 Testing Providers

MAHEC Family Health Center 

Please call the MAHEC Family Health Center for a telemedicine visit before you arrive.

MAHEC Family Health Center

Call (828) 257-4730

Sliding Scale may apply.

Mercy Urgent Care

Visit www.mercyurgentcare.org to schedule a telemedicine appointment or a safe visit at one of our eight WNC locations.

Range Urgent Care

Please go online or call before you arrive.

Symptoms of COVID-19

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

Symptoms Include: 

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Chills
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness.

This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
When to Seek Medical Attention

If you have any of these emergency warning signs* for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion or inability to arouse
  • Bluish lips or face

Call 911 if you have a medical emergency: Notify the operator that you have, or think you might have, COVID-19. If possible, put on a cloth face covering before medical help arrives.

Testing is available to everyone regardless of their race, income, gender, ethnicity, citizenship status, or religion. COVID-19 testing will not impact your ability to receive future public assistance benefits or public charge status.

 

Community Based Testing Sites:
Community based testing sites are now in rotation throughout the community. Please see attached documents for more information.

Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker: Connect to Testing, Contribute to Data Collection
May 30 all-day
online

Contribute to Data Collection

Please see the below PDFs for Russian and Spanish translations.

Help do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 with Buncombe County’s new COVID-19 Self-Checker. This automated system provides two valuable community assets: Clear guidance for anyone feeling symptomatic and data that will help Buncombe County determine when it’s safe to begin the first phases of reopening. “If you’re experiencing COVID like symptoms, or are concerned about a possible exposure, Self-Checker is the most convenient way for you to get guidance on what your next steps need to be and can connect you to individual level follow-up from healthcare professionals,” explains Public Health Emergency Preparedness Director Fletcher Tove. “The information we compile with this tool will also assist Public Health in anticipating surges on our healthcare systems and help coordinate our testing and contact tracing efforts as we work to reopen our community.”

Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker is a quick, confidential, easy-to-use assessment tool you can use online or by phone to help determine if you have COVID-19 and how you can proceed to get medical care. This helps public health experts better understand how the virus is spreading in Buncombe County and allows medical experts and local leaders make the best possible, data-driven decisions to protect everyone.

How Self-Checker* works:

  • Head to buncombecounty.org/covid-19, and click on the Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker banner.
  • Share information about your health, any symptoms you are having, and your health history.
  • If your results indicate you need testing, we will connect you with testing and other support to keep you as safe as possible. If you are symptomatic, we will continue to follow up with you every day for 7-10 days after completing the Self-Checker.
  • You can also use Self-Checker by calling the Ready Team at (828) 419-0095, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

“The goal of the Self-Checker is to connect those in need to COVID-19 testing, offer additional support, follow up to ensure people are healthy and safe, and gather information about the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” notes Buncombe County Public Health Director Dr. Jennifer Mullendore. Public Health urges anyone with questions about whether they have COVID-19 to use Self-Checker. “This also allows us to conserve healthcare resources, protective equipment, and supplies while keeping people at home and away from others if they potentially have COVID-19,” says Dr. Mullendore.

The information collected from Self-Checker will give public health officials daily and weekly reports that will be key to customizing how we respond locally. It will also provide crucial data to government officials as they continue to inform the public about the next steps for reopening Buncombe County.

The Self-Checker is a partnership between Buncombe County and North Carolina State University. Additionally, partners in our community have helped to develop and test the Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker and their efforts ensure language accessibility and ease of use. The Self-Checker is available online in Spanish and Russian and can be taken over the phone in multiple languages via 211.

 

CDC Reopening Guidance: Cleaning + Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, + Homes
May 30 all-day
online
The CDC has published guidance intended to assist businesses in preparing to reopen while enacting procedures that will continue to maintain social distancing and cleaning to limit the exposure to Coronavirus.
This guidance is part of the broader government plan to reopen businesses and offers guidance on cleanliness practices for public spaces. This guidance provides a general framework for cleaning and disinfection practices. The framework is based on doing the following:
  1. Normal routine cleaning with soap and water will decrease how much of the virus is on surfaces and objects, which reduces the risk of exposure.
  2. Disinfection using EPA-approved disinfectants against COVID-19 external icon can also help reduce the risk. Frequent disinfection of surfaces and objects touched by multiple people is important.
  3. When EPA-approved disinfectants external icon are not available, alternative disinfectants can be used (for example, 1/3 cup of bleach added to 1 gallon of water, or 70% alcohol solutions). Do not mix bleach or other cleaning and disinfection products together. This can cause fumes that may be very dangerous to breathe in. Keep all disinfectants out of the reach of children.
free Virtual counseling + healing sessions for Western North Carolina medical personnel
May 30 all-day
Online

Care for Corona is a grassroots support system comprised of psychotherapists and healing practitioners who offer short term free virtual counseling and healing sessions for Western North Carolina medical personnel and psychotherapists who are on the front lines of the Corona Virus Pandemic.

Summer Reading Program 2020: Imagine Your Story
May 30 all-day
Online

Libraries are currently closed to the public but your local librarians are working hard to provide resources and programs to keep you entertained from home.

Check out the BCPL Summer Reading Program website for virtual programs, activities you can do from home, links to get you started with e-books, e-audiobooks, and more. Be sure to keep checking back throughout the summer. We are coming up with new ideas every day!

We would love to see what you are up to this summer. Tell us about the books you’ve been reading or share pictures of the projects and activities you are doing from home! Tag Buncombe libraries on Facebook or Instagram using our hashtag #yourstorymatters. You can also email photos and stories to [email protected]. We miss you and look forward to seeing your faces and hearing your stories when we reopen. In the meantime, be safe, be kind, and keep reading!

Updated Covid-19 Buncombe County Testing Sites
May 30 all-day
Buncombe County

COVID-19 testing is available for people who think that they may have COVID-19. The Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self Checker can help you assess whether or not you need to be tested for COVID-19.

If your primary care provider does not offer COVID-19 testing, they can refer you to an option that works for you. Please go online or call ahead to schedule a visit and to confirm the location of the testing site.

Testing guidance for COVID-19 has expanded to encourage the following individuals to get tested for COVID-19 at one of the locations listed below or at a community testing site.

The new guidance recommends that clinicians test any patient in whom COVID-19 is suspected.

  • Anyone with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19
  • Close contacts of known positive cases, regardless of symptoms
  • Persons who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings (e.g., long-term care facility, homeless shelter, correctional facility, migrant farmworker camp)
  • Persons who are at high risk of severe illness (e.g., people over 65 years of age, people of any age with underlying health conditions)
  • Persons who come from historically marginalized populations
  • Health care workers or first responders (e.g. EMS, law enforcement, fire department, military)
  • Front-line and essential workers (grocery store clerks, gas station attendants, etc.) in settings where social distancing is difficult to maintain

Paying for COVID-19 Testing:

If you have private insurance, payment should be covered by your insurance company. If you are uninsured, please ask about the CARES Act which may cover the cost of the medical provider assessment and testing for COVID-19. Some providers offer charity care assistance or sliding scale options for payment. Check with your provider about these details.

COVID-19 Testing Providers

MAHEC Family Health Center 

  • Please call the MAHEC Family Health Center for a telemedicine visit before you arrive.
  • MAHEC Family Health Center
  • Call (828) 257-4730
  • Sliding Scale may apply.

Mercy Urgent Care

  • Visit www.mercyurgentcare.org to schedule a telemedicine appointment or a safe visit at one of our eight WNC locations.

Mission My Care Now

  • Mission Health’s Virtual Clinic at www.missionhealth.org/virtualclinic can direct you to COVID-19 testing
  • Most insurance plans will reimburse the costs
  • $25 virtual visit fee
  • Additional lab fee (if tested)

Range Urgent Care

White House Launches Opening America Website
May 30 all-day
website
The White House has unveiled Guidelines for Opening Up America Again, a three-phased approach based on the advice of public health experts. Employers are encouraged to adhere to the following at all phases:
  • Develop and implement appropriate policies, in accordance with Federal, State, and local regulations and guidance, and informed by industry best practices, regarding:
  • Social distancing and protective equipment
  • Temperature checks
  • Sanitation
  • Use and disinfection of common and high-traffic areas
  • Business travel
  • Monitor workforce for indicative symptoms. Do not allow symptomatic people to physically return to work until cleared by a medical provider.
  • Develop and implement policies and procedures for workforce contact tracing following employee COVID+ test.
The full guidelines can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/openingamerica.
White Zombie 5k
May 30 all-day
Catawba Brewing

Run or walk from Catawba’s downtown Asheville South Slope tasting room & dodge zombies along the way in several Outbreak Zones.

Racers who dress in costume are encouraged to come as zombies or other Catawba characters (i.e. Farmer Ted, Evening Joe, HOPness Monster, etc) to join in the festivities!

A beer token is included with registration for those zombies/racers who are 21 years and older! All runners will receive a custom ZOMBIE race bib.

Free Mixed Level Pilates Mat Class Online
May 30 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Online

Join Alexis from Cisco Pilates Asheville for free online Pilates mat classes! The class is beginner friendly.

To sign up for the class, visit https://ciscopilates.as.me/free-pilates-mat-class

Pilates is for every BODY…no matter your age, gender, or physical ability, give it a try in the comfort of your own home.

These classes are offered to the public free of charge thanks to the support of the Friends of the Library.

Curbside Hold Pick Up Now Available at the Library
May 30 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Buncombe County Libraries

Curbside hold pickup is now available at the library. You can pick up your holds on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 1-5 p.m. at the North Asheville Library, West Asheville Library, South Buncombe/Skyland Library, and the Black Mountain Library. Park in the library parking lot, have your library card handy, and call the phone number on the sign posted at your parking space. A librarian will bring your books out to the hold table and leave them for you to pick up. Your books will be checked out to you and ready to go.

You can place holds online using the library catalog link on the library webpage. You can also call (828) 250-4700 or email [email protected] for assistance placing or transferring holds.

Bookdrops are open

All library book drops are open. You may return your materials to any library book drop.  No fines will be charged while the library is closed.

If you need a library card, email [email protected].

We look forward to seeing you at the library!

While library programs are on hold, our Children’s Librarians are hosting online storytimes for kids of all ages on all library Facebook pages and YouTube. We also have a collection of stories you can listen to anytime on our StoryLine. Just call (828) 250-KIDS (5437) and hear a story read by your favorite librarian.

Since you can’t come to us while the libraries are closed, we are bringing some of our programs to you using Facebook live and ZOOM broadcasts.

Buncombe County Public Libraries have free wifi hotspots available outside any library building. To use the wifi, look for the LibraryGuest network and use the password readmore.

While the libraries are closed, you can call Ask-A-Librarian at 828-250-4700 with any questions you may have about library materials, digital services, or reference assistance. Librarians will be staffing the phones Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. to connect you with all the resources we have available.

Sunday, May 31, 2020
Buncombe County COVID-19 Testing Information
May 31 all-day
online

COVID-19 Testing

NOTE: Please see attached documents for Community- Based Testing Dates and Locations. 

General COVID-19 Testing Information: 

COVID-19 testing is available for people who think that they may have COVID-19. The Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self Checker can help you assess whether or not you need to be tested for COVID-19.

If your primary care provider does not offer COVID-19 testing, they can refer you to an option that works for you. Please go online or call ahead to schedule a visit and to confirm the location of the testing site.

Paying for COVID-19 Testing:

If you have private insurance, payment should be covered by your insurance company. If you are uninsured, please ask about the CARES Act which may cover the cost of the medical provider assessment and testing for COVID-19. Some providers offer charity care assistance or sliding scale options for payment. Check with your provider about these details.

COVID-19 Testing Providers

MAHEC Family Health Center 

Please call the MAHEC Family Health Center for a telemedicine visit before you arrive.

MAHEC Family Health Center

Call (828) 257-4730

Sliding Scale may apply.

Mercy Urgent Care

Visit www.mercyurgentcare.org to schedule a telemedicine appointment or a safe visit at one of our eight WNC locations.

Range Urgent Care

Please go online or call before you arrive.

Symptoms of COVID-19

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

Symptoms Include: 

  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Chills
  • Repeated shaking with chills
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell

Children have similar symptoms to adults and generally have mild illness.

This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
When to Seek Medical Attention

If you have any of these emergency warning signs* for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion or inability to arouse
  • Bluish lips or face

Call 911 if you have a medical emergency: Notify the operator that you have, or think you might have, COVID-19. If possible, put on a cloth face covering before medical help arrives.

Testing is available to everyone regardless of their race, income, gender, ethnicity, citizenship status, or religion. COVID-19 testing will not impact your ability to receive future public assistance benefits or public charge status.

 

Community Based Testing Sites:
Community based testing sites are now in rotation throughout the community. Please see attached documents for more information.

Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker: Connect to Testing, Contribute to Data Collection
May 31 all-day
online

Contribute to Data Collection

Please see the below PDFs for Russian and Spanish translations.

Help do your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 with Buncombe County’s new COVID-19 Self-Checker. This automated system provides two valuable community assets: Clear guidance for anyone feeling symptomatic and data that will help Buncombe County determine when it’s safe to begin the first phases of reopening. “If you’re experiencing COVID like symptoms, or are concerned about a possible exposure, Self-Checker is the most convenient way for you to get guidance on what your next steps need to be and can connect you to individual level follow-up from healthcare professionals,” explains Public Health Emergency Preparedness Director Fletcher Tove. “The information we compile with this tool will also assist Public Health in anticipating surges on our healthcare systems and help coordinate our testing and contact tracing efforts as we work to reopen our community.”

Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker is a quick, confidential, easy-to-use assessment tool you can use online or by phone to help determine if you have COVID-19 and how you can proceed to get medical care. This helps public health experts better understand how the virus is spreading in Buncombe County and allows medical experts and local leaders make the best possible, data-driven decisions to protect everyone.

How Self-Checker* works:

  • Head to buncombecounty.org/covid-19, and click on the Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker banner.
  • Share information about your health, any symptoms you are having, and your health history.
  • If your results indicate you need testing, we will connect you with testing and other support to keep you as safe as possible. If you are symptomatic, we will continue to follow up with you every day for 7-10 days after completing the Self-Checker.
  • You can also use Self-Checker by calling the Ready Team at (828) 419-0095, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

“The goal of the Self-Checker is to connect those in need to COVID-19 testing, offer additional support, follow up to ensure people are healthy and safe, and gather information about the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” notes Buncombe County Public Health Director Dr. Jennifer Mullendore. Public Health urges anyone with questions about whether they have COVID-19 to use Self-Checker. “This also allows us to conserve healthcare resources, protective equipment, and supplies while keeping people at home and away from others if they potentially have COVID-19,” says Dr. Mullendore.

The information collected from Self-Checker will give public health officials daily and weekly reports that will be key to customizing how we respond locally. It will also provide crucial data to government officials as they continue to inform the public about the next steps for reopening Buncombe County.

The Self-Checker is a partnership between Buncombe County and North Carolina State University. Additionally, partners in our community have helped to develop and test the Buncombe Ready COVID-19 Self-Checker and their efforts ensure language accessibility and ease of use. The Self-Checker is available online in Spanish and Russian and can be taken over the phone in multiple languages via 211.

 

CDC Reopening Guidance: Cleaning + Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, + Homes
May 31 all-day
online
The CDC has published guidance intended to assist businesses in preparing to reopen while enacting procedures that will continue to maintain social distancing and cleaning to limit the exposure to Coronavirus.
This guidance is part of the broader government plan to reopen businesses and offers guidance on cleanliness practices for public spaces. This guidance provides a general framework for cleaning and disinfection practices. The framework is based on doing the following:
  1. Normal routine cleaning with soap and water will decrease how much of the virus is on surfaces and objects, which reduces the risk of exposure.
  2. Disinfection using EPA-approved disinfectants against COVID-19 external icon can also help reduce the risk. Frequent disinfection of surfaces and objects touched by multiple people is important.
  3. When EPA-approved disinfectants external icon are not available, alternative disinfectants can be used (for example, 1/3 cup of bleach added to 1 gallon of water, or 70% alcohol solutions). Do not mix bleach or other cleaning and disinfection products together. This can cause fumes that may be very dangerous to breathe in. Keep all disinfectants out of the reach of children.