Watauga scenes during COVID-19 pandemic

Teddy bears can be found in the window of the Jones House on King Street. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a teddy bear scavenger hunt has formed across the nation. Community members are placing bears in windows, yards and businesses to brighten moods in isolation, and Watauga County is now taking part in the hunt.
- Photo by Kayla Lasure

Several grocery stores and retail chains have installed new shields such as this one photographed at the Food Lion of Blowing Rock on March 30. These shields have been installed as a measure to help protect employees and customers during the checkout process and help mark off six feet of distance in compliance with social distancing.
- Photo by Thomas Sherrill

Ben Carson (Lead Pastor at FaithBridge United Methodist Church), Catherine King (St. Luke’s Episcopal Church), Tiffany Christian (Outreach Coordinator for The Rock) and Kathy Beach (Pastor at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church) listen to Denise Presnell (right) discuss ideas at a March 16 meeting.
- Photo submitted

ARHS public safety staff work with Watauga County Emergency Management staff to inventory and clean emergency equipment and supplies, including a yurt-style tent. Rob Hudspeth, ARHS senior vice president for advancement, noted that the tent would be too small for uses such as patient intake or triage, but could be utilized for other uses.
- Photo courtesy Appalachian Regional Healthcare System Facebook page

AppHealthCare has worked with emergency management officials to set up a tent at its Watauga County office in case it needs to increase testing and sanitizing of supplies, spokesperson Melissa Bracey said Sunday, March 15.