COVID-19 Situation Update: March 31 | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Daily Update:

  • Through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 Support Services Program, more than 35,000 households received relief payments, food, transportation to and from testing sites or additional supports to help them isolate or quarantine during the pandemic. The program — which was set to end when all available funds were spent — is winding down this month, which means no new services can be requested. Read more HERE.
  • While vaccine supplies are limited, it is important North Carolinians continue practicing the 3Ws and get tested for COVID-19 if they have symptoms or have been in close contact to someone with COVID-19. To help reach those who are need of testing, NCDHHS, in partnership with Labcorp, is piloting a program to provide 35,000 no-cost, home test collection kits to North Carolinians receiving Food and Nutrition Services and/or are disabled and experiencing barriers to getting tested. 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, Buncombe, Cabarrus, Caswell, Catawba, Chatham, Chowan, Cleveland, Cumberland, Dare, Davidson, Davie, Duplin, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Gaston, Gates, Graham, Granville, Greene, Guilford, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hoke, Iredell, Johnston, Lenoir, Lincoln, Madison, Martin, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Nash, New Hanover, Onslow, Orange, Pitt, Randolph, Richmond, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, Surry, Vance, Wake, Watauga, Wilson, 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:

  • Governor Roy Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D., recently announced an accelerated timeline for moving to Groups 4 and 5 for vaccine eligibility with the rest of Group 4 eligible today, March 31, and all adults eligible beginning April 7. The move will allow the state and vaccine providers to continue to get vaccines into arms quickly and continue to reach underserved and historically marginalized populations. Read more HERE.
  • NCDHHS has expanded its vaccine data dashboard to provide information on people who have been partially or fully vaccinated through the federal long-term care and retail pharmacy programs. Users will be able to view information about who has been vaccinated through these federal pharmacy programs by county, race, ethnicity, gender and age group, and by week. 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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