Friend,
On Friday, March 27, 2020 Governor Roy Cooper signed an Executive Order ordering North Carolinians to remain in their homes except for performing essential work and essential activities. This Stay at Home Order will help slow the spread of COVID-19 and prevent our medical system from being overwhelmed.
Below, you can find a link to a compilation of frequently asked questions about this executive order and a link to the exact language of the executive order.
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NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) has made the following recommendations for all North Carolinians. If you think you might have COVID-19 and have mild symptoms, the best thing you can do is stay home and recover.
When you leave your home to get tested, you could expose yourself to COVID-19 if you do not already have it. If you do have COVID-19, you can give it to others like critical health care workers and people at high risk for severe illness. Staying home really can help save lives.
If you who have COVID-19 or believe you might have it, you should stay home and separate yourself from other people in the home as much as possible. You can go back to your normal activities when you can answer YES to all the following questions:
- Has it been at least 7 days since you first had symptoms?
- Have you been without fever for three days (72 hours) without any medicine for fever?
- Are your other symptoms improved?
Because there is no treatment for COVID-19, a test will not change what you do if you have mild symptoms.
If you have more serious symptoms, call your doctor right away. More serious symptoms can include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain or pressure, confusion or blue lips. In the case of a medical emergency, call 9-1-1.
To stay up to date on COVID-19 in North Carolina, visit ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus or text COVIDNC to 898211. Call 2-1-1 for general questions or for help finding human services resources in your community.
The House Committee on COVID-19 and its subcommittees began meeting last week in preparation for legislative action on the crisis. We will keep you updated on legislation in the works to provide relief to North Carolinians when the legislature goes back into session. In the meantime, please send concerns or ideas about possible relief efforts to our office. We are thankful for everyone who has already taken time to provide their ideas and concerns to us.
Reminder: in line with DHHS workplace recommendations, my office in the General Assembly will be utilizing teleworking technologies until at least April 7th.
My office is not closed. We are still here to help address any questions or concerns you might have. We will just not be physically in the Legislative Building for a short time. You can still contact my office by emailing vonhaefenla@ncleg.net or by calling 919-715-0795.
Please contact me at any time. I am here to serve you.
Sincerely,
Representative Julie von Haefen
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Representatives Sydney Batch and Julie von Haefen are grateful for the opportunity to host a virtual town hall about the importance of prioritizing adults' and children's mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Adults and children have had their regular schedules upended due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak. Many adults and children might have difficulty communicating with each other about their anxieties, griefs, and fears during this time. Adults might also have difficulty explaining to their children what is happening in the world. These sudden changes and transitions are difficult to navigate under the best of circumstances and can be even more difficult to navigate during a pandemic.
This town hall aims to provide adults and children an opportunity to talk with clinical psychologists and learn about best practices to manage your family's mental health during this crisis.
Joining us will be Dr. Katrina Kuzyszyn-Jones and Dr. Jessica Tomasula. Dr Kuzyszyn-Jones is a clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience working with couples and families navigating transitions at work and at home. Dr. Tomasula is a licensed pediatric psychologist and manager of behavioral health services at WakeMed Children’s Hospital.
We welcome you to make this tele-town hall a family event!
Portions of this town hall will be interactive, and we encourage adults and children to submit questions to be answered by our psychologists. Below is a brief overview of our agenda:
Date: Thursday, April 2nd
- 7:15PM: Adult-Centric Mental Health Management
- 7:30PM: Child-Centric Mental Health Management
- 7:45PM: Question & Answer Period
Space in this virtual event is limited, and registration is required.
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Today Is Census Day, and Everyone Counts.
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Whether you’re living with your siblings, your parents, your grandparents or family friends -- EVERYONE in your home should get counted on your census.
The census affects funding for schools, roads and hospitals, firefighters, and resources for people who need it most. It helps elect community leaders on school boards and city councils.
You have the power to make a difference, right now
-- from your house -- by going online, calling the Census Bureau, or by filling out your paper from once it comes in the mail. Get counted today.
You can call the census bureau to complete your questionnaire using this number:
844-330-2020
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From the Office of Congressman David Price
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The information packet linked below is an initial summary of select programs and emergency aid provided by the federal government in response to the coronavirus pandemic, primarily from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
This is not an exhaustive list of all programs, but a menu of some of the more significant provisions that may be useful for state and local government, local elected officials and their constituents, business owners, non-profits, and other stakeholders.
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Wake County Stay At Home Order
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As the number of positive COVID-19 cases continues to rise in Wake County, so are concerns that the virus could overwhelm our local healthcare system. To help prevent that from happening, Wake County Board of Commissioners Chairman Greg Ford signed a proclamation that puts a stay-at-home order in effect on Friday, March 27, at 5 p.m.
The Governor's stay-at-home order works in addition to the Wake County stay-at-home order. Between the two stay at home orders, the stricter restrictions must be followed.
The goal of the proclamation is for Wake County residents to stay home and away from others who are not immediate members of their family or household. By restricting contact, the county hopes to reduce the rate at which COVID-19 is infecting residents.
Wake County has set up a dedicated phone line – 919-856-7420 – to address business-specific questions related to the stay-at-home order.
In addition, special FAQs focused on the business community are posted on the county’s COVID-19 webpage
here
.
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Duke Energy recognizes that the COVID-19 Pandemic could potentially create financial hardships for many of its customers and local communities in North Carolina.
Effective immediately, Duke Energy is waiving various payment fees, including late payment fees and returned payment fees, and for residential customers, Duke Energy is waiving credit and debit card payment fees. Duke Energy has already suspended disconnect services for nonpayment.
Duke Energy remains committed to working with all customers who need assistance with their energy bills to avoid creating additional hardships for customers.
Duke Energy power plants, electricity and natural gas delivery facilities and call centers, are staffed, ensuring dependable service to customers. The company will continue to respond to power outages and other emergencies. Duke Energy may continue to monitor the impacts of COVID-19 and will make operational decisions accordingly. The safety and well-being of customers is Duke Energy's top priority.
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Spectrum / Charter Communications
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Charter will offer free Spectrum Internet Assist and Spectrum broadband, including home WiFi, to new subscriber households with K-12 and/or college students, as well as teachers, for 60 days.
To enroll, dial: 1-844-488-8395
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NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
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The NC Department of Agricultural and Consumer Resources has posted updated information on their response to the COVID-19 crisis in North Carolina. This update provides information on food safety, essential businesses/critical infrastructure, FAQ’s and facility information (like educational state forests).
Information in this update is vital for farmers and members of the agribusiness community.
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Golden Leaf Small Business Loans
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The North Carolina COVID-19 Rapid Recovery Lending program supports North Carolina small businesses and family farms as they recover from the economic impact of COVID-19. This rapid recovery loan helps small businesses bridge the gap between when crisis strikes and when federal loans, insurance payouts, and other relief funds are approved, or businesses have time to recover.
NC COVID-19 Rapid Recovery loans are not designed to be a singular source of assistance for small businesses. Repayment is expected either from more permanent funding sources or from the future cash flow of the business.
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NC Restaurant and Lodging Association
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The NC Restaurant and Lodging Association is curating a collection of resources available to service workers and restaurant and hotel owners who have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
This webpage has information about:
- Relief and Aid Available for Restaurants and Hotels
- Operations and Best Practices
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Donate blood
. There is a critical need for blood donation. Find a place to donate in our community:
American Red Cross
Donate unopened medical supplies
. If you have access to health supplies (masks, surgical gowns, etc.) and wish to donate them to medical professionals during the current shortage, please contact
info@wakemed.org
with details regarding available items.
- Due to high volume, all individuals and organizations that email will be contacted within 24-48 hours regarding the items and the process for making the donation.
- Please note that only new, unopened packages of supplies will be accepted. WakeMed is not accepting handmade items.
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