North Carolina Coronavirus Updates — July 2, 2020 | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:


    Governor Cooper announced on Wednesday that North Carolina will continue working with schools to prepare to re-open safely for in-person instruction. Schools were asked to create plans based on the criteria and scenarios in the Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit, which laid out essential health practices.

    "We want to get our students back in the classroom, and we want to make sure we get this right. My number one opening priority is classroom doors," said Governor Roy Cooper. "We encourage our public schools to continue planning, with a special focus on how teachers, staff, and students can best be protected - especially those who are high-risk."

    To help schools prepare, the state distributed supplies of personal protective equipment to schools across the state for use in the upcoming school year. The North Carolina National Guard and other contracted shipping services will continue delivering PPE Starter Pack supplies to the 116 public school systems and 203 alternative schools.

    Current shipments include more than 16,500 thermometers, 7,200 face shields, 81,000 gowns and more than 347,000 surgical masks. School districts will have increased access to statewide contracts so health and hygiene supplies can more easily be acquired. They will be able to purchase items such as cloth face coverings and hand sanitizer when more is needed.

    Governor Cooper continues to work with the Department of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education, teachers, parents, and schools to ensure adequate protection for everyone, especially those at high-risk.

    Read the Press Release.

    More information about the Strong Schools NC Public Health Toolkit.

    Information is changing rapidly, this update is current as of July 2, 2020

    It's important to rely on trusted sources of information about COVID-19. Keep up with the latest information on Coronavirus in North Carolina HERE.

    Text COVIDNC to 898211 to receive general information and updates about COVID-19 and North Carolina's response.

    Dial 2-1-1 provides free, confidential information and is available 24 hours a day to help you find resources within your community. They can connect you with people and groups that can help with questions about access to food, shelter, health care, employment and child care.

    Families who need food assistance for their children can text FOODNC to 877-877 to find free meal sites in their communities.

    Make sure to prioritize your overall wellness and don't hesitate to seek additional help. Optum has a toll-free 24-hour Emotional Support Help Line at 866-342-6892 for people who may be experiencing anxiety or stress due to Coronavirus.

    You can track the disease in real time through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' COVID-19 NC Dashboard. It includes detailed information about the state's COVID-19 confirmed cases, hospital capacity and more.

    Today Governor Coopered signed SB-562, The Second Chance Act.

    Governor Cooper also signed HB 1023 that includes funding for personal protective equipment for schools and ensures that summer feeding operations can continue to provide meals for children who can't be at school.

    See the bills Governor Cooper signed this week.

    During this time it is imperative that everyone is informed about what is going on in our state. Governor Cooper's administration has been working to get information and resources translated for the Spanish speaking population in our state. Many of the Governor's press conferences, press releases, and executive orders are available in Spanish. Resources are also available in Spanish on the DHHS website.

Thanks to our resilient economy, strong workforce and welcoming communities, forward-thinking businesses continue to invest in North Carolina.

Today, Gov. Cooper announced that @Centene will bring more than 3,000 new jobs to our state.https://t.co/yBFWsbiuUK

— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) July 1, 2020