All in Coronavirus
“Today we announce a partnership with three of our state’s medical universities to use testing and tracing to help us determine how far the disease has spread in the state. This is part of a coordinated statewide effort to better understand the true number of COVID-19 infections. The University of North Carolina, East Carolina University and Duke University are joining with us in this project and we’re confident their expertise will tell us more about how the disease spreads.”
The Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) authorized up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses to pay their employees during the COVID-19 crisis. The SBA is currently unable to accept new applications for the Paycheck Protection Program based on available appropriations funding. NC House Representative Chris Humphrey and colleagues issued a letter to the NC Congressional Delegation requesting more appropriations for the PPP.
In the last month, more than 630,000 people have filed for unemployment insurance benefits in North Carolina, mostly due to the impacts of COVID-19. By the end of the next week, the Division of Employment Security plans to have more than three times its original staffing in place to respond to the surge in claims and ensure payments go out as quickly as possible.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lenoir County WIC clinic no longer requires in-person visits for appointments or to renew benefits, at this time. The program also has modified the income component. According to Tyjuana Atkinson, WIC Director, “almost anyone that applies will be eligible until the restrictions are lifted. This is a great opportunity to get some assistance with food/feeding their families.”
Key takeaways: 1) A case of COVID-19 – the 17th – has been confirmed in Lenoir County. 2) Cases 15 and 16 were connected to travel or contact with a known positive case. 3) Lenoir County is unable to ascertain the number of recovered cases in the county due to the guidelines for certified recoveries being changed. 4) Fifteen tests pending.
North Carolina lawmakers today blasted government restrictions that allow retail stores to operate at limited capacity while prohibiting churches from operating under those same rules. Senator Jim Perry in a letter to Governor Cooper wrote, “Why can’t houses of worship be subject to the same 20% occupancy restrictions that you’ve allowed businesses to operate under?”
US Senator Thom Tillis joined our Facebook Live to discuss the CARES Act, small business funding, stimulus checks, funding for the WHO, his relationships with President Trump and Governor Cooper's offices and more.
Pharmacists have an extremely important role in health care during this COVID-19 pandemic. As stated by the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA), “Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare providers and the first touchpoint of patient engagement with the healthcare system. In fact, 90% of all Americans live within five miles of a community pharmacy.”
Rep. Chris Humphrey and Dr. Pradeep discuss the latest COVID-19 trends and our state's ability to open back up for business. We had a great discussion regarding the medical implications and policy initiatives.
We are only days away now from President Trump's announcement concerning the direction our country will take in dealing with the coronavirus, and getting our economy going again. By working together we can emerge even stronger than we were before this "silent plague" came our way. There are creatures among us that can help us understand how important it is to work together, and how we can live our lives with more meaning and purpose just by observing them.
Two more cases of COVID-19 – the 15th and 16th – have been confirmed in Lenoir County. The Lenoir County Health Department received notification of the lab-confirmed cases on Wednesday, April 15.
Governor Roy Cooper today charted a path forward for eventually easing certain COVID-19 restrictions while still protecting North Carolinians from a dangerous second wave of the virus. Click here to read his statement and see his plan.
Lenoir County Public Schools Board Chairman Keith King and Superintendent Brent Williams discuss what happens after May 15, graduation for seniors, providing meals to students while out of school and more.
A gift of $10,000 from Greenville, NC-based Union Bank, to The Salvation Army of Kinston will provide much needed help and hope to Lenoir County-area families and individuals impacted by COVID-19. The donation is earmarked to provide food and meal assistance to children and families impacted by the pandemic.
As we temporarily shut down Church services as well as many other activities throughout our land, there are several things we should keep in mind. First of all, this is not the time to panic.
Just a few days ago, I was invited to join ReOpenNC by a Facebook friend. Curiously, I joined the group which included just over 100 members at the time. I noticed that the page began to grow with comments from everyday North Carolinians, who are scared of the financial blow to their well being.
In Lenoir County, there are officially 14 cases of COVID-19. Local business owner Waylon Adams started a conversation on Facebook about the economic impact of the Governor’s Stay-At-Home mandate.
“This is about people’s livelihoods,” said Adams. “I’m sure our restaurants and salons would have been more than happy to rearrange their dining rooms to comply with social distancing.”
LCPS Child Nutrition workers on the front lines of our feeding program are in need of new plastic grocery bags used in meal pickup and delivery.
Thursday, April 9, Parrott Academy’s Student Activity Center was supposed to be filled with glitter and glamour and the sounds of the band Liquid Pleasure as juniors and seniors enjoyed the annual prom. It’s a rite of spring on the Kinston school’s campus, and throughout April and May for almost every high school in eastern North Carolina. But Covid-19 has the Class of 2020 finishing their last high school semester at home, without the traditional activities of a senior spring.
A lot has changed in the last month. For many of us, we have seen changes in how we live, work and shop. One thing that hasn’t changed, is that local farms, farmers markets and garden centers are (mostly) still open. These businesses are considered essential services in accordance with statewide stay at home orders.
