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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting the first COVID-19 associated deaths.

A person from Cabarrus County died on March 24 from complications associated with the virus. The patient was in their late seventies and had several underlying medical conditions. A second person in their sixties, from Virginia who was traveling through North Carolina, also died from COVID-19 complications. To protect the families’ privacy, no further information about these patients will be released.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones. This is a stark warning that for some people COVID-19 is a serious illness. All of us must do our part to stop the spread by staying at home as much as possible and practicing social distancing,” said Governor Roy Cooper.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services recommends that people at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 stay at home to the extent possible to decrease the chance of infection. On March 22, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated who is at high risk for severe illness. People at high risk include anyone who:

• Is 65 years of age or older
• Lives in a nursing home or long-term care facility
• Has a high-risk condition that includes:
• chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
• heart disease with complications
• compromised immune system
• severe obesity – body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher
• other underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, such as diabetes, renal failure or liver disease

In addition, pregnant women should be monitored closely since they are known to be at risk for severe viral illness. However, data so far on COVID-19 has not shown an increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness in pregnant women.

While children are generally at lower risk for severe infection, some studies indicate a higher risk among infants.

Governor Cooper has taken several actions to protect the health of North Carolinians, including ordering all K-12 public schools in North Carolina to close through May 15, banning gatherings of more than 50 people, limiting bars and restaurants to only take-out or delivery service, restricting visitors to long-term care facilities, and promoting social distancing by closing businesses like movie theaters, gyms, nail salons, and several others.

For more information and additional guidance, please visit the NCDHHS’ website at www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus [click.icptrack.com] and CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus [click.icptrack.com].

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-Press Release, Office of Governor Roy Cooper

Governor Roy Cooper has waived restrictions to increase access to caregivers to provide flexible child care and elder care during the coronavirus emergency. The Order provides flexibility to local health departments working to adapt to the increased need for their resources.

Additionally, it provides for ways for Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) offices to enact social distancing protections and waives some registration requirements to ensure resources can be delivered by truck throughout the state.

“Doctors, nurses, first responders and other critical personnel need to know their children are safe so they can continue to respond during this time of crisis,” said Governor Cooper. “And we’re loosening trucking requirements so important medicine and equipment can get quickly to the people in all 100 counties that need it.”

The Order provides for the following provisions:

• Improve access to safe, flexible child care for first responders, emergency personnel, food preparers and others;
• Transfer authority to local health departments to be more flexible with mandates during the crisis, so they can prioritize the most needed services;
• Lifts some restrictions so that volunteers and other caregivers may care for children and elders during the crisis.

The transportation waiver includes provisions to:

• Allow DMV offices to ensure appropriate social distancing including requiring appointments and making sure offices have enough space for DMV customers;
• Postpone DMV hearings that can reasonably be delayed during the crisis response;
• Offers clarity around regulations so that critical supplies can get where they are needed throughout the state;
• Waive Commercial Driver’s License requirements to ensure school buses can be utilized in responding to the crisis.

The North Carolina Council of State concurred with the order Friday. The full order is available here.

For more information, please visit the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus and NCDHHS’ website at www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus, which includes daily updates on positive COVID-19 test results in North Carolina.