COVID-19 Situation Update: December 17

Published: Monday, December 21st, 2020 @ 11:51 am
By: Stan Deatherage ( More Entries )

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Press Release:

Daily Update:

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will offer more than 300 no-cost, walk-up or drive through COVID-19 testing events over the next two weeks to help North Carolinians protect themselves and their loved ones during the holidays. This includes testing in partnership with new retailers in seven counties across the state. Read more HERE.
NCDHHS has selected 17 school districts and 11 charter schools to participate in a pilot program to deploy COVID-19 rapid testing in K-12 public schools where any in-person instruction is happening. Read more HERE.
Today, Governor Roy Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen witnessed some of the first COVID-19 vaccinations in the country at UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill. Read more HERE.

COVID-19 Testing:

Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested. If you are sick, use the Check My Symptoms tool to help you determine if you need a COVID-19 test. People who do not have symptoms but may have been exposed to COVID-19 should also get tested, especially people from historically marginalized communities, including Latinx/Hispanic, Black/African American and American Indian Populations, who have been disproportionately affected by the virus.
North Carolina has upcoming testing events scheduled in Alamance, Avery, Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Buncombe, Caswell, Chatham, Chowan, Cleveland, Craven, Cumberland, Davie, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Gaston, Gates, Graham, Greene, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Henderson, Hertford, Hoke, Iredell, Johnston, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Martin, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Montgomery, New Hanover, Onslow, Orange, Pitt, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, Rockingham, Rutherford, Stanly, Surry, Vance, Wake, Yadkin, and Yancey counties. For an up-to-date list of events, visit the Community Testing Events webpage. Many events offer testing at no cost. For more details about a specific event, call ahead before you go for a test.
North Carolina COVID-19 testing is also provided at some local health departments, doctor and clinician offices, hospitals and clinics, many pharmacy sites and retail outlets, and other community locations. Some people who work in long-term care facilities and other high-risk settings may be tested through their work. You can find testing sites by using the Find My Testing Place tool online.

ICYMI:

Starting today, North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services participants will be able to purchase groceries online using their Electronic Benefit Transfer cards at an additional authorized online EBT retailer, ALDI. This flexibility will allow participants to buy food while promoting social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and will help families with transportation and mobility barriers. Read more HERE.

NC Department of Health and Human Services
2001 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2001
Ph: (919) 855-4840
news@dhhs.nc.gov

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