All in Coronavirus
China's release of the coronavirus may have been more deliberate than accidental. Folks, at the very least we should hold China accountable for this horrendous assault, and insist that Wuhan Province be closed. What China has done is equivalent to a declaration of war, and it must not go unpunished.
Today we welcomed Lt. Governor Dan Forest on Coronavirus Chat with Neuse News Publisher BJ Murphy. We discussed our healthcare system, the status of PPE's and testing, how to Reopen NC, what about going back to school, and more.
UPDATE: North Carolina State Veterans Home family members received a message late this morning stating, “This patient is no longer located in the center. Enhanced infection control protocols are being followed, staff members are utilizing appropriate protective equipment and we have increased the frequency of our cleaning procedures.”
ORIGINAL: According to family members of three separate residents at the Kinston-based North Carolina State Veterans Home, there is at least one positive COVID-19 case there. One family reports they received a phone call from Human Resources last night as notification of the case.
Today, Governor Cooper issued an Executive Order allowing furloughed employees who received compensation to also be eligible for unemployment compensation. He also addressed the need to make more funding available for small business owners through the Golden LEAF Foundation’s Rapid Recovery Program.
Lenoir County confirmed its first COVID-19 death today. The individual, who was older than 65 and had underlying medical conditions, died earlier today.
Here are the latest numbers for Jones County (4/21/20 at 11:03 am):
There are 68 total tests that have been completed:
57 are negative tests
7 active cases
- 4 Hospitalized
- 1 at home in isolation
- 2 Recovered
2 Pending Tests
2 COVID-19 Associated Deaths
Lenoir County Public Schools has secured two grants totaling $4,000 to help sustain a program that provides no-cost meals to youth in the county while schools are closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the first diagnostic test with a home collection option for COVID-19. LabCorp intends to make the Pixel by LabCorp COVID-19 Test home collection kits available to consumers in most states, with a doctor’s order, in the coming weeks.
A three-student team from E.B. Frink Middle School has qualified for state-level National History Day competition after the team’s project won honors at the regional event at East Carolina University last week.
Governor Roy Cooper announced today that North Carolina has been approved for the new Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program, to help families purchase food for children impacted by school closings due to COVID-19. NCDHHS is working to operationalize the program and families will begin to receive this benefit in coming weeks.
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.
