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NC researchers: Models show social distancing makes big impact on hospital capacity

By Alanna Joyner / April 6, 2020 / Comments Off on NC researchers: Models show social distancing makes big impact on hospital capacity

New projection models released today shows that social distancing practices will significantly reduce the chance that hospitals will be overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients. A team of local health experts determined that if social distance policies remain, predictions of increased cases could lessen — emphasizing the importance of maintaining social distancing.  From WRAL: The model shows…

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NCHN: COVID-19 accentuates barriers for the deaf and hard of hearing

By Alanna Joyner / April 6, 2020 / Comments Off on NCHN: COVID-19 accentuates barriers for the deaf and hard of hearing

In the midst of a public health crisis, various communities are being heavily impacted and the necessity to provide vital information for everyone as society consistently changes due to COVID-19, is important.  But that lifesaving information can be lost in translation or limited for those within the deaf community. In a state that has almost…

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“Shelter in place” is impossible if there’s no guaranteed housing for thousands

By Alanna Joyner / April 2, 2020 / Comments Off on “Shelter in place” is impossible if there’s no guaranteed housing for thousands

Pivotal measures such as self-distancing and social-isolation have been mandated across the United States in an effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Numerous states have implemented “stay-at-home” orders, but what if individuals do not have homes to go to? According to a 2018 report by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, on a…

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Medical professionals share challenges, urgent needs with lawmakers as COVID-19 cases rise

By Alanna Joyner / March 31, 2020 / Comments Off on Medical professionals share challenges, urgent needs with lawmakers as COVID-19 cases rise

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, North Carolina currently has 1,498 confirmed coronavirus cases across the state. As cases continue to rise, medical professionals remain concerned about lack of protective equipment, medical supplies and the potential for hospitals across the state to become overwhelmed by patients.  At the first meeting…

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Where you can and can’t go under North Carolina’s ‘stay at home’ order

By Alanna Joyner / March 30, 2020 / Comments Off on Where you can and can’t go under North Carolina’s ‘stay at home’ order

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has announced a stay-at-home order for the state of North Carolina that will go into effect at 5 p.m. today until April 29, but “can be revised or extended”. The mandate is an effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic as it continues to spread through the state. Travel is only…

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Coronavirus reveals vulnerabilities within states like N.C. that rejected Medicaid expansion

By Alanna Joyner / March 30, 2020 / Comments Off on Coronavirus reveals vulnerabilities within states like N.C. that rejected Medicaid expansion

Uninsured people within the 14 states, including North Carolina, that have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, could face numerous challenges as COVID-19 cases increase. Almost 5 million people across the country are without access to health care coverage and states that have turned down billions of federal dollars that would have come…

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200,000 NC residents have filed for unemployment benefits. Here’s how to apply.

By Alanna Joyner / March 27, 2020 / Comments Off on 200,000 NC residents have filed for unemployment benefits. Here’s how to apply.

Since March 16, North Carolina Division of Employment Security has reported over  200,000 new unemployment claims, of which applicants have filed their job loss due to COVID-19’s impact on their employment. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s executive order on March 17, expanded access to unemployment benefits in an effort to minimize the economic impact of…

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North Carolina ranked among the bottom 10 states for Census response, researchers say

By Alanna Joyner / March 26, 2020 /

According to research by Carolina Demography, a research group affiliated with UNC-Chapel Hill, in the first 12 days that the 2020 Census forms were made available, only 16.6 percent of North Carolina households filled theirs out. Compared to the national average of 19.2 percent, North Carolina currently is ranked 41st for its response rate —…

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Area hospitals seek donated protective gear, medical supplies amid pandemic. Here’s how to help.

By Alanna Joyner / March 25, 2020 / Comments Off on Area hospitals seek donated protective gear, medical supplies amid pandemic. Here’s how to help.

As coronavirus cases continue to surge across the nation, hospitals in every state are dealing with the stressful demand to combat the virus, but with limited resources. North Carolina hospitals, along with others around the country, are asking for donations of medical supplies, especially personal protective equipment, or PPE, for health care providers.   Health care…

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Senate passes ‘Families First Coronavirus Response Act’

By Alanna Joyner / March 24, 2020 / Comments Off on Senate passes ‘Families First Coronavirus Response Act’

A second coronavirus emergency aid package came into law last week, named the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The latest package includes a federal emergency paid-leave benefits program, free COVID-19 testing for the public and expanded unemployment benefits. The first emergency bill allocated over $8 billion for coronavirus prevention, preparation, and response efforts across the…

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