All in Coronavirus
We often hear about the Consumer Confidence Index, which is down drastically, but what about the confidence of Small Business Owners? We’re often touted with support in political campaign ads and yet the federal government has overpromised and severely undelivered. Without Small Business Owners’ willingness to take risks, the costs to our economy could dwarf the EIDL and PPP investments.
Last week, funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) officially ran out. The $349 billion small business assistance program is a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress on March 27, 2020.
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a column arguing that while a stay-at-home order might be justified as an initial response to an immediate and poorly understood public-health threat, it wasn’t “sustainable” for more than a few weeks. The piece generated more than the usual amount of snark and hate mail. I was being “ignorant” and “reckless” and “irresponsible.”
STRIDES is an initiative sponsored by International Lions in countries all over the world. Each Lions Club or a community of clubs can host events or do fundraisers for diabetes awareness. It’s the local club(s) choice how to use the funds as long as it’s for diabetes expenses, research or awareness.
Many Arendell Parrott Academy graduates are serving in medical fields and are on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To increase safe social distancing and further reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, beginning Monday, April 20, Lenoir County Transit rides will be free of charge until further notice. Rides will be provided for essential-only trips, which went into effect March 23, and will remain in effect until further notice.
In a letter to Lenox employees, CEO Mads Ryder, said “The Company must notify you that, at present, the temporary furlough is now expected to be a permanent closing and the entire manufacturing operating unit will shut down.” Read the letter to the employees here.
Volunteer fire departments from around Jones County, the Jones County Sheriff’s Office, the Maysville Police Department and local officials participated in a surprise staff appreciation for Carolina East Internal Medicine and Brook Stone Living Center nursing home.
As of 11:00 a.m., April 17, 2020, NCDHHS has reported 5,859 confirmed cases and 152 deaths. Lenoir County has 17 confirmed cases. Greene County has 12 confirmed cases. Jones County has 8 confirmed cases and 1 death. This post has data going back to March 20, 2020, which showed NC at 137 cases and 0 deaths.
TC Smith will return with strawberries, asparagus, sweet potatoes, red skin potatoes, plus they will bring in cucumbers, zucchini, squash, string beans, onions and tomatoes from Florida. Don't forget to pick some free-range eggs, honey, pork skins or peanuts and Soap Nerds' unscented hand sanitizer. Bridgette can tell you all about it.
“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.
