North Carolina Coronavirus Updates — August 7, 2020 | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

North Carolina Continues to Pause in Safer At Home Phase 2


    This week Governor Cooper announced that North Carolina will remain paused in Phase 2 Safer at Home for five more weeks. While some of North Carolina's COVID-19 trends are stabilizing they do remain elevated. As schools go back into session, now is the time to double down on prevention measures like wearing a mask and social distancing.

    "While we are seeing stabilization of our numbers, that doesn't mean we can let up. We know this stability is fragile — and these trends can change quickly if we let down our guards," said Governor Cooper. "Health experts say opening too much too quickly can lead to a devastating increase in cases, sickness and death. In addition, it can lead to having to go backward like other states."

    Governor Cooper noted the need for caution to avoid a resurgence of the virus and ensure the state not only continues to be stable, but starts to see a downward trend.

    This week, Governor Cooper joined a bipartisan interstate compact with six other governors to increase availability of rapid testing. The compact demonstrates the need for a larger, national testing strategy and creates a way to collaborate on purchasing supplies.

    Read the Executive Order and the Press Release.

COVID-19 Updates: Staying Informed & Prepared

    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.

North Carolina Continues Distributing Personal Protective Equipment

    The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the NC Department of Public Safety's Division of Emergency Management (NCEM) have distributed approximately 3.5 million cloth face coverings, 4.5 million procedure masks, and significant amounts of additional personal protective equipment (PPE) to targeted settings across the state. The ongoing PPE shipments support operations including schools, nursing homes, first responders, agricultural facilities, child care facilities and courthouses.

    NCDHHS and NCEM distribute PPE across many of the state's targeted COVID-19 response initiatives. In total, the state has already distributed more than 7 million pairs of gloves, 650,000 face shields, 600,000 shoe covers, and 100,000 units of hand sanitizer in addition to 3.5 million cloth face coverings and 4.5 million procedure masks.

Free Community Testing Events Around NC

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has announced community free testing events in Edgecombe, Halifax, Hertford, Johnston, Northampton, Sampson and Wake counties. For an up-to-date list of events, visit the Community Testing Events page. People who may not currently have symptoms but may have been exposed to COVID-19 should get tested, especially people from historically marginalized communities.

    If someone tests positive for COVID-19, the COVID-19 Community Team will reach out to connect them with needed resources. People should answer when the Community Team reaches out, via phone, text from 45394, or email from NC-ARIAS-NoReply@dhhs.nc.gov with further instructions.

    Find a nearby testing site Find My Testing Place.

    For more information visit the NCDHHS FAQs about Testing and FAQs about Contact Tracing.

Governor Cooper visits Bertie and Brunswick Counties After Hurricane Isaias

    Governor Cooper travelled to Windsor, one of the most heavily damaged communities in Hurricane Isaias' path this week. The governor visited the community where two people died tragically and survivors have started the clean up and recovery process He also thanked the rescue teams and first responders who worked overnight to assist people and help get them to medical care.

    "A hurricane on top of a pandemic is cruel. But our emergency managers and first responders were prepared to handle both crises at once. And our people are showing their resilience," said Governor Cooper. "This storm flattened parts of Bertie County, and we must be there to support their recovery as they put their community back together."

    On Thursday, Governor Cooper visited Brunswick County which was hit hard by storm surge, damaging winds and resulting fires.

    Governor Cooper's federal emergency declaration was approved, which will help local communities as they recover from this storm.

    Read about Disaster Clean-Up in North Carolina

    Donate to NC Hurricane Recovery

Complete the 2020 Census

    Completing the census will help us count the number of people in our state, which is how the federal government divides tax dollars to states and communities. As of July, more than 40% of North Carolinians, over 4 million people, had not been counted, which could mean a loss of $7.4 billion dollars per year for North Carolina for health care, education, highways, and community and economic development is at risk.

    An incomplete count puts representation in Congress and and federal funding our state needs in jeopardy.

    The count is lagging behind in Eastern North Carolina where many of our military families live and where so many have been hit hard by recent storms. Encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to participate in the count. Census workers will begin knocking on doors on August 11th to ensure we all are counted.

    You can complete the 2020 Census safely at home online at my2020census.gov and by phone (844–330–2020 in English, 844–468–2020 in Spanish), or submit by mail.

Get All of the Latest Information in Spanish

    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.

Tweet of the Week


Go Back


Leave a Guest Comment

Your Name or Alias
Your Email Address ( your email address will not be published)
Enter Your Comment ( no code or urls allowed, text only please )




Biden Corruption Scandal Continues — What Was Hunter Biden Doing in Moscow? Press Releases: Elected office holders, Op-Ed & Politics, Bloodless Warfare: Politics Statement to Voters About Election-Related Mailers, Text Messages and Phone Calls

HbAD0

 
Back to Top