Press Releases
For people who think they might have COVID-19 and have mild symptoms, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends they stay home and call their doctor for medical advice. Most people who get COVID-19 will have mild illness and recover at home.
The Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice has named Michael Roach as warden of Dan River Prison Work Farm in Blanch.
He has served as assistant warden at the facility since 2015.
As warden, Roach is responsible for all operations at the male, minimum custody facility, which features a joint venture with the N.C. Wildlife Commission to restore forest land, parks and lakes across North Carolina.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Division of Health Benefits (NC Medicaid) will temporarily increase payments rates to long-term care providers and facilities to support them in caring for Medicaid beneficiaries who are at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19. Medicaid will also be temporarily increasing rates to behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disability and specialized therapy providers for vulnerable children and adults in outpatient and residential settings.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting the first COVID-19 associated deaths.
A person from Cabarrus County died on March 24 from complications associated with the virus. The patient was in their late seventies and had several underlying medical conditions. A second person in their sixties, from Virginia who was traveling through North Carolina also died from COVID-19 complications. To protect the families’ privacy, no further information about these patients will be released.
Governor Roy Cooper, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Secretary Mandy Cohen and Director of NC Emergency Management Mike Sprayberry will be available today for a dial-in media briefing at 2 p.m. regarding COVID-19. Please see below for
details on how to join the call. A live stream video feed will be available from a pool camera. In
order to maintain social distancing guidelines and further prevent the spread of COVID-19, the
media room at the State Emergency Operations Center will not be open for media to attend in
person.
State Public Health and Emergency Management Officials will be available today for a dial-in media briefing at 2 p.m. regarding COVID-19. Reporters can call in to monitor the remarks and ask questions. A livestream video feed will be available from a pool camera. In order to maintain social distancing guidelines and further prevent the spread of COVID-19, the media room at the State Emergency Operations Center will not be open for media to attend in person.
What:
COVID-19 Media Availability
Governor Cooper directed $50 million in school funding flexibility to help public schools and support the greatest needs to serve students during the COVID-19 crisis. Governor Cooper has ordered North Carolina public schools to remain closed to in-class instruction through May 15.
Today, Governor Roy Cooper ordered tighter limits on gatherings and extended school closures statewide to May 15, 2020. The order also closed some businesses that require close social interaction and limited visitors to long-term care centers.
The Executive Order’s effective date will be Wednesday, March 25.
Governor Roy Cooper has waived restrictions to increase access to caregivers to provide flexible child care and elder care during the coronavirus emergency. The Order provides flexibility to local health departments working to adapt to the increased need for their resources.
Additionally, it provides for ways for Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices to enact social distancing protections, and waives some registration requirements to ensure resources can be delivered by truck throughout the state.
State Public Health and Emergency Management Officials will be available today for a dial-in media briefing at 2 p.m. regarding COVID-19. Reporters can call in to monitor the remarks and ask questions. A livestream video feed will be available from a pool camera. In order to maintain social distancing guidelines and further prevent the spread of COVID-19, the media room at the State Emergency Operations Center will not be open for media to attend in person.
What: COVID-19 Media Availability