As I mentioned earlier in the week, the IRS has launched "Get My Payment", a web app that allows many taxpayers to determine their eligibility for and the status of their stimulus payments.
To begin the process, the plan calls for a state or region to have 14-day downward trends in symptomatic individuals and cases, as well as robust testing capacity and sufficient hospital resources available to treat patients in the event of a spike in cases.
Under this guidance, once a state or region satisfies the prerequisite conditions, they can begin a three-phase process of re-opening workplaces, schools, bars, gyms and other facilities that have been shut down due to the virus.
At every step of the process, elderly people and others with underlying health conditions should remain particularly cautious. All individuals should maintain good hand washing hygiene and those who feel sick should stay home.
For the latest statistics and abreakdown of current COVID-19 cases across the state, visit the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services' COVID-19 dashboard. These are the statistics the state's leaders are watching very closely as determinations are made about re-opening the economy.
An update on the status of the Payment Protection Program: the program has run out of the $350 billion approved by Congress, and more funding is urgently needed to resume lending and help more small businesses stay afloat. But Democrats have been blocking additional funding, calling for more spending on a host of their other priorities as well. I'm in regular contact with my colleagues and officials in the administration. Negotiations are ongoing. Hopefully an agreement will be reached soon and funding can resume flowing to our small businesses and their employees. I’m betting a deal is struck in the next 5 days.
Following its launch, the SBA processed more than 14 years’ worth of loans in less than 14 days, which will protect a vast number of American jobs.
As of this morning, the program has supported more than 39,500 loans for more than $8 billion here in North Carolina alone.
Effective today: Priority Mail’s two and three day service commitments now will be extended to three and four days respectively. Customers will continue to receive end-to-end visibility and improved product tracking, as well as up to $50 in free insurance. With the extra day extension, customers should expect delivery using Priority Mail Open and Distribute (PMOD) to range from two to four days nationwide. First-Class Package Service (FCPS) two and three day service commitments will also be extended to three and four days respectively.
Due to COVID-19, international shipping has been suspended to many countries. The list of countries with mail service interruption is updated frequently; for the most current list please visit the USPS international service-alerts page.
Wayne County has set up a dedicated COVID-19 resource page, with the latest news from county government on the outbreak and statistics on testing and the number of positive cases. View it here.
An update for those in need of emergency childcare through the crisis: critical workers unable to access options for childcare are encouraged to call N.C. DHHS's childcare hotline at 1-888-600-1685. Already, the hotline has helped connect 1,600 families for childcare options for more than 2,300 kids. More info available here.
Brunswick County residents can view the county's latest COVID-19 update here. As of April 16, there are 36 positive cases of COVID-19, 43 pending test results and 927 confirmed negative test results, totaling 1,006 tests administered so far among Brunswick County residents.
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said this week that $15.5 billion in support for our farm families and producers will soon begin to flow to our rural communities, including direct purchases of milk and meat. Read more about the Secretary's comments here.
Here's an update from the CDC on the status of serology testing, which will help us determine how much of the U.S. population has been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
For today's good news story, I want to highlight the anonymous donor that donated lunches to workers at the Brooks Brothers Shirt Factory in Garland. As you know from reading this newsletter and from other sources, the company has retooled their facility to make surgical masks. There are a lot of different ways we can each pitch in to help combat the outbreak; the employees at the Garland factory and the anonymous donor that helped them out by providing lunches are just a couple more examples.
