NC.gov: North Carolina COVID-19 Information Hub

Find Help

Food, Shelter & More:

Call 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162
Search online
Text COVIDNC to 898211

Mental Health Support:

Call Hope 4 NC at 855-587-3463 24/7
More Wellness Resources

Know Your 3Ws

Check for COVID-19 Symptoms

Find a Testing Site

Answer the Call

Case Count Dashboard

Phase 2 Extension FAQs

File for Unemployment

Prevent & Protect Media Toolkit

More Resources: Restaurant & Business Safety| N.C. Health & Human Services | Recursos e Información en Españols

Latest News & Information

Schools

Work to prepare public schools for the fall is underway, but Gov. Roy Cooper says a decision hasn't yet been made on how schools should be opened. "Our goal remains getting children back in classrooms for in-person instruction that is safe for students and their teachers," he said said.
Schools scheduled to start in July have been asked to conduct remote learning until a decision is made for in-person learning.
The State Emergency Response Team is sending personal protective equipment – including 16,500 thermometers, 17,200 face shields, 81,000 gowns and 347,000 surgical masks – to school districts and charter schools across the state for nurses and staff who provide health care for students.
The N.C. State Board of Education and Department of Public Instruction has developed guidance to support public schools in determining plans and strategies for schools in the fall.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services has released the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit, which outlines essential health practices for schools to operate safely during the 2020-2021 school year.

Moving Forward

Gov. Roy Cooper has issued an executive order requiring people to wear face coverings while out in public where physical distancing of 6 feet from other people who are not members of the same household or residence is not possible. There are some exceptions.
North Carolina remains under Safer At Home Phase 2 of lifting COVID-19 restrictions until at least Friday, July 17.
- View slideshow summary of trends (as of June 24)
- View Executive Order 147
- View frequently asked questions about Executive Order 147
- View guidance on wearing face coverings
- View public health guidance for Phase 2
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services has issued health guidance for public schools to resume in-person learning in the fall. Gov. Cooper has said the decision to reopen school buildings will depend on health data and metrics. (View guidance)
Gov. Cooper has signed Executive Order 143 to address the social, environmental, economic and health disparities in communities of color that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public Health

Ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, health officials report that July 1 was the highest day of confirmed cases of COVID-19 – 1,843 – in the state.

“We must keep our guard up. This virus is just as contagious and deadly on a holiday as it is any other day,” Gov. Roy Cooper said. “I know we want to gather with family and friends, but we have to remember that a large gathering, especially without masks and social distancing, is one of the most likely places for COVID-19 to spread.”
North Carolina has created the nation’s first statewide technology platform, NCCARE360, to coordinate whole-person care in all 100 counties.
Face coverings while in public, social distancing and washing hands for at least 20 seconds remain strong, proven methods to help slow the spread of the virus, and they are low-cost, low-tech ways to protect each other and communities without hurting the economy. “Until we have a vaccine for COVID-19, we need to learn to live with this virus, and we need to rely on the tools we have right now to slow the spread of the virus,” Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said. “That starts with the 3Ws: wear, wait and wash.”
The best ways to help protect yourself and help slow the spread include:
- Consistently practice the 3Ws: wear a cloth face covering; wait 6 feet apart; wash your hands frequently.
- Cooperate with contact tracers if they call.
- Get tested if you have have been exposed or think you have been exposed even if you aren't showing symptoms.
- Stay home if you have or have been exposed to COVID-19.
- Stay home when you can. North Carolina remains under Phase 2 "Safer at Home" restrictions.

Employment

The U.S. Department of Labor has issued a $6 million federal grant to North Carolina to support job training and temporary employment opportunities for those laid off as a result of COVID-19.
Many health care facilities are urgently seeking to hire staff for temporary, part-time or full-time roles.
Independent contractors, self-employed workers and others out of work because of COVID-19 can now apply for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance.
Gov. Roy Cooper on April 20 signed Executive Order 134, allowing furloughed workers to be eligible for unemployment benefits.
Cooper on April 9 signed Executive Order 131 that makes it easier for employers to file a batch of claims on behalf of their employees, temporarily eliminating some of the hurdles for employers so benefits can get in the hands of those who need them faster.

Community Help

Gov. Roy Cooper orders the extension of the prohibition of utility shut-offs and implements a moratorium on evictions. (View English FAQs | Spanish FAQs)
North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services participants can now use their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards to buy groceries online at authorized online EBT retailers.
Mental health resources are available to help residents cope through the crisis. (Learn more about managing your health.)
N.C. 211 launches an online tool allowing for easier search of resources available for the public.
North Carolina receives FEMA approval for housing alternatives.

Travel

North Carolina state parks and recreation areas, as well as trails, are all open, but visitor centers, picnic shelters and swim areas remain closed. Visit the N.C. State Parks website for the open/closed status of individual parks and recreation areas.

State Services

Social Media

The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak has been accompanied by a flood of misinformation from unreliable sources. Be thoughtful about what you read or hear about the virus, and make sure you are separating rumor from fact before you act. If you rely on social media for the latest news and information, turn to these reliable resources:

N.C. Department of Health & Human Services: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

N.C. Emergency Management: Facebook | Twitter

Office of Gov. Roy Cooper: Facebook | Twitter

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Facebook | Twitter