A COVID-19 outbreak has been identified by Johnston County health officials at Cambridge Place, a residential rehab center located in Smithfield. An outbreak in a congregate living setting is defined as two or more laboratory confirmed cases. More info here.
Governor Cooper and N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Cohen gave an update yesterday on where North Carolina stands on the following key metrics:
Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days:
Currently, North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is level over the past 14 days, but has been on an uptick over the past seven days.
Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory of Lab-Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days:
Currently, North Carolina’s trajectory of lab-confirmed cases over the last 14 days is still increasing.
Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days:
Currently, North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive over the last 14 days is decreasing.
Sustained Leveling or Decreased Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days:
Currently, North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations over the last 14 days is mostly level.
An update from the Division of Employment Security: Since the start out of outbreak, North Carolina has paid out $1.019 billion in unemployment benefits to more than 391,200 claimants. We’ve heard from many callers that are having trouble getting through to DES. We encourage you to be patient and continue calling DES because many have also told us they were persistent and eventually got through.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services yesterday announced a series of sweeping regulatory waivers and rule changes to deliver expanded care to the nation’s seniors and provide flexibility to the healthcare system as America reopens. These changes include making it easier for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to get tested for COVID-19 and continuing CMS’s efforts to further expand beneficiaries’ access to telehealth services. Learn more here.
The IRS has updated its Frequently Asked Questions document regarding CARES Act stimulus payments. If you haven’t received your payment, take a look at the latest document here.
For today’s good news story, I’m highlighting Julie Robinson and Robin Grathwol, who have been putting together “little boxes of joy” for healthcare workers and others on the front line of the COVID-19 crisis. Another great example of all the North Carolinians who are helping our first responders as we combat the coronavirus epidemic.
