North Carolina Coronavirus Updates — October 6, 2020 | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:


    Today, Governor Cooper announced that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is providing an additional $35 million in federal grants to help child care programs providing in-person care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

    "These grants will help offset the significant financial strains placed on child care to meet health and safety guidelines while serving fewer children," said Governor Cooper. "Our child care programs have been on the frontlines since the start of this pandemic, keeping their doors open so other workers could keep our economy running and the public safe. A strong and safe child care system is essential to our recovery."

    The grants will help child care providers cover the costs of operating in-person from August to October 2020, including the additional expenses needed to meet health and safety requirements. This funding will be additional support on top of the monthly operation grants NCDHHS has been providing to child care providers across the state since April.

    Read the Press Release and see more information about child care during COVID-19.

    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 Thursday, Gov. Cooper announced the launch of RETOOLNC, a $12 million grant program that will help North Carolina minority and women-owned businesses hit hardest by COVID-19. RETOOLNC was created under the Governor's Executive Order No. 143 to address the disparate impact COVID-19 has had on communities of color.

    "We want businesses to have access to resources so they can navigate the pandemic and continue to serve their communities, and we know that some businesses have historically had a harder time getting the help they need," Governor Cooper said. "COVID-19 is shining a spotlight on inequities for communities of color in North Carolina, including in our economy, and this program is a good step forward."

    Learn more about RETOOLNC in this Press Release from the Governor's office.

    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.

We’re so grateful for the talented North Carolinians serving our state, especially as we battle this pandemic. Your dedication makes North Carolina a better place for people to live and work. https://t.co/fWRZO3YX9H

— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) September 30, 2020