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What You Can Do When A Local Business Violates COVID-19 Safety Orders

PAUL GARBER/WFDD

Forsyth County's top public health official says citizens have options when it comes to reporting COVID-19 safety violations they witness in public. 

Joshua Swift, the county's public health director, says if you notice a business isn't enforcing the rules, your first step should be informing the management. 

If it doesn't seem like you're getting traction, you can call the health department's COVID-19 helpline, at 336-582-0800. Swift says the county will take it from there. 

“We developed internally a system at the health department where we would take our complaints and send a letter from the health director, along with an email to each of these establishments, copy the appropriate law enforcement agency and the Department of Health and Human Services, trying to educate them," said Swift. 

The county will reach out directly to law enforcement if the violations are egregious, or if they don't see any improvement after sending the business multiple notices. 

Swift says citizens can also report violations to police by calling their department's non-emergency line. 

For the most up-to-date information on coronavirus in North Carolina, visit our Live Updates blog here. WFDD wants to hear your stories — connect with us and let us know what you're experiencing.

April Laissle is a reporter and WFDD's host of All Things Considered. Her work has been featured on several national news programs and recognized by the Public Media Journalists Association and the Radio Television Digital News Association. Before joining WFDD in 2019, she worked at public radio stations in Ohio and California.

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