The first requires retail stores that are still operating to implement new social distancing policies to make shopping safer for customers and employees.
The order will also call for social distance markings and offer additional recommendations for ways these establishments can continue to operate safely.
The second portion of the order will deal with unemployment insurance – it issues changes that will speed up certain benefit payments to those who are out of work.
The final portion of the order involves long-term care facilities -- it makes earlier COVID-19 guidelines mandatory for nursing facilities, and recommends other long-term care facilities to do the same.
An important reminder to be wary of fraud and scams that seek to take advantage of the coronavirus outbreak. The CDC, the Federal Trade Commission and the IRS each have useful pages with tips on how to avoid being victimized by these scams. One woman called our office today after being targeted by one of these scams — be cautious!
FEMA has set up a useful webpage that seeks to combat some of the rumors and misinformation out there about the outbreak and the government's response. You can help prevent the spread of misinformation and rumors by taking three simple steps:
Don’t believe the rumors.
Don’t pass them along.
Go to trusted sources of information to get the facts about the federal COVID-19 response. Social media platforms are littered with false information.
A quick update on unemployment insurance claims in North Carolina:
Since March 16, more than 497,000 unemployment insurance claims have been made in N.C. — an unprecedented number.
So far, nearly 151,000 payments of almost $40.4 million have been made for COVID-19 related claims.
N.C.'s Division of Employment Security is working around the clock to increase capacity, including bringing two additional call centers online.
They have also received official guidance on how to implement the three unemployment programs of the federal CARES Act. They are working as quickly as possible to modify their systems to begin payments to the self-employed, contractors and others now eligible to make claims under the legislation.
News for small businesses hoping to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program: the Federal Reserve announced that it is temporarily adjusting regulatory restrictions on Wells Fargo that have made it impossible for Wells Fargo to issue additional loans through the program. Individuals have reported being turned away when they approached Wells Fargo about a PPP loan as a result of these restrictions. Learn more here.
N.C.'s Department of Health and Human Services has two new mental health resources to support North Carolinians throughout the COVID-19 crisis: Hope4NC Helpline (1-855-587-3463) and the Hope4Healers Helpline (919-226-2002). Learn more about these resources here.
Governor Cooper announced on Wednesday that North Carolina has received approval from FEMA to provide housing alternatives, such as hotels, motels, and dormitories, for North Carolinians that have COVID-19 or are at significant risk of contracting it and have housing that is unsuitable to properly quarantine. Learn more here.
For today's good news story, I want to highlight 7-year-old Steven Burgess from Wilmington, who decided he would run six hours in his own backyard to raise money for those that need it during this difficult time. “It started out again as something fun to do and then I saw that he was pretty serious about it,”said Steven’s mother Eliza Burgess. “I decided well, let’s share this to uplift some people, I just I’ve been blown away at the amount of people that have wanted to donate.”
Steven is just one of countless young people across North Carolina that are hoping to affect positive change as we confront this crisis together.
