North Carolina Coronavirus Updates — October 1, 2020 | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:


    Yesterday, Governor Cooper announced that North Carolina will ease some restrictions as the state moves into Phase 3 on Friday, October 2, 2020, at 5 p.m. Executive Order 169 will be in effect through October 23, 2020.

    "Our top priority remains getting children back to in-person learning. This month marks a major shift for many families now and in the coming months as schools open their doors, some for the first time since the pandemic," said Governor Cooper. "The virus continues to spread, so we must take the next steps methodically, and responsibly."

    In Phase 3, large outdoor venues seating more than 10,000 people may operate with 7% occupancy for spectators or fans. Smaller outdoor entertainment venues and some venues with smaller seating capacity indoors may open at 30% capacity with or 100 guests, whichever is less. Safety protocols, including wearing masks and social distancing, are required.

    Bars may operate outdoors at 30% of outdoor capacity, or 100 people, whichever is less. Nightclubs and indoor entertainment venues may open but are subject to mass gathering limits.

    Executive Order 169 extends the 11 p.m. alcohol sales curfew for in-person consumption. Mass gathering remain limited to 25 people indoors and 50 people outdoors.

    As we continue to fight this virus, it is important to follow the Three W's: Wear a mask, Wait six feet apart, and Wash your hands.

    Read the Press Release.

    Read Executive Order 169 and the FAQs.

    Information is changing rapidly, this update is current as of August 14, 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.

    Last week, Governor Cooper received his flu shot and encourages all North Carolinians to get one as well. In addition to getting a flu shot, North Carolinians can protect themselves against the flu by continuing to practice the 3 Ws: wear a face covering, wait six feet apart from others and wash hands often with soap and water.

    "The flu can be a serious, sometimes deadly disease, and getting a flu shot can help you and those around you fight the spread," Governor Cooper said. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, getting a flu shot is more important than ever to keep ourselves and our families healthy."

    To find a flu shot location visit vaccinefinder.org/find-vaccine.

    Read the Press Release.

    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.

    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.

    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.

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched the SlowCOVIDNC Exposure Notification app this week to notify people if they come into close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus. The app is available for both Apple and Android users and allows people to anonymously report if they have received a positive result so people around them know they should get tested.

    "This new app gives us another tool to slow the spread of this virus. If we keep up our commitment we can drive our numbers down even more and put our state in a position to come out of this pandemic even stronger," said Governor Cooper.

    The SlowCOVIDNC app protects users' privacy while empowering you to protect yourself, your family, and your community. No location data or personally identifiable data is collected or stored in the app.

    For more information on how to download the app, visit the NC DHHS Website or visit your app store.

Contact tracing is a powerful tool to stop the spread of COVID-19, and now North Carolinians can help from their smartphones. Downloading the SlowCOVIDNC app is an easy, effective way to protect yourselves and your loved ones from this virus. https://t.co/syMsZgKoS5

— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) September 24, 2020