North Carolina Coronavirus Updates — April 13, 2020 | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:


    To promote social distancing and slow the spread of COVID-19, Governor Cooper issued Executive Order 131, limiting the number of people that can shop at one time and requiring cleaning and hygiene measures to protect employees and the general public. The Order also requires long-term care facilities to take steps to lower the risk of spreading the virus. The Order also speeds up the unemployment benefits process by removing restrictions for employers who are filing a batch of claims on behalf of their employees.

    For more information, read the press release and FAQ on the new Order.

    Information is changing rapidly, this update is current as of April 13, 2020

    It’s important to rely on trusted sources of information about COVID-19. Keep up with the latest information on Coronavirus HERE at ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus.

    Text COVIDNC to 898211 to receive general information and updates about COVID-19 and North Carolina's response.

    Dial 2-1-1 provides free, confidential information and is available 24 hours a day to help you find resources within your community. They can connect you with people and groups that can help with questions about access to food, shelter, health care, employment and child care.

    Families who need food assistance for their children can text FOODNC to 877-877 to find free meal sites in their communities.

    Make sure to prioritize your overall wellness and don’t hesitate to seek additional help. Optum has a toll-free 24-hour Emotional Support Help Line at 866-342-6892 for people who may be experiencing anxiety or stress due to Coronavirus.

    You can track the disease in real time through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 NC Dashboard. It includes detailed information about the state’s COVID-19 confirmed cases, hospital capacity and more.

    “We must rely on facts instead of fear as we all approach the coronavirus in our own communities. Contact your local health department or your local medical provider if you have concerns about the virus,” said Cooper.

    Governor Roy Cooper took action to provide more access to health care, hospital beds, and get more medical workers to respond to the rising demand due the COVID-19 pandemic. He signed Executive Order No. 130, which to expands the pool of health care workers and orders essential childcare services for workers responding to the crisis.

    “In a time of emergency we need to make it easier for hospitals to free up bed space and hire more medical staff and this order does that,” Governor Cooper said. “We have never faced emergency demand for health care like we do today, and we must act now. If we do this work well, along with social distancing, our hospitals can handle the hardships of this pandemic.”

    Read the press release and questions and answers on Executive Order 130 to learn more.

    North Carolina currently has 561,009 people who have filed for unemployment benefits. As of April 13, more than $66 million in benefits were issued to 251,507 people out of work.
    Governor Cooper has expanded unemployment benefits, making it easier to sign up and the Division of Employment Security has increased capacity through staffing for phone lines and servers to support online claims. DES advised that the $600 a week federal benefit supplement payments should begin to reach beneficiaries by the end of this week.

    As COVID-19 continues to spread, medical volunteers are asked to sign up to aid in the effort to combat the virus. Executive order 130 widened the pool of potential health workers, and out of state licensed workers, retired health care professionals, students training for health care jobs and unlicensed, skilled volunteers are encouraged to sign up at https://terms.ncem.org/TRS/.

God is with us in trying times, and hope abounds upon the sunrise of Easter. Here’s a no-social-distance memory from after church in 1995. - RC pic.twitter.com/nkNUiaICmf

— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) April 12, 2020

• Contact: Ford Porter
•     govpress@nc.gov