Today’s e-mail is an update on some of the steps the Trump Administration is taking to contain, combat and defeat the COVID-19 outbreak here in North Carolina specifically. 

• As of April 25th, the Administration has awarded over $35.3 million in funding to 39 health centers across North Carolina to help respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.  More information on these grants here.
  
  
• On April 22nd, the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services was awarded more than $2.5 million to support smaller rural hospitals and promote telehealth in rural communities. More information here.

• President Trump yesterday announced the release of a COVID-19 testing blueprint that outlines the steps the federal government will take, working in collaboration with state and local governments and the private sector, to expand testing to the level needed to meet our nation’s health and safety needs. 
• You can view an overview of the blueprint here, and the full document here.
• This testing blueprint follows the White House’s release of the Guidelines for Re-Opening America earlier this month.
  
  
• New Hanover County has announced that its county-specific local COVID-19 related restrictions will not be extended and will expire on Wednesday, April 29 at 5 p.m.  Among other changes, this means: 
• Restaurants in the county will be able to offer carry-out food service, in addition to their ongoing delivery and curb-side pick-up, but they must continue to comply with social distancing requirements. Dine-in service, including outdoor seating at restaurants, is still not permitted – as outlined in the Governor’s Order.
• Businesses can operate in line with the Governor’s Order. The Governor’s Stay at Home Order outlines businesses that can be open and those that need to remain closed, specifically those that are close-contact businesses. 
• Public gardens, basketball and volleyball courts will also be opened, but social distancing must be adhered to and groups cannot be larger than 10 people. Public restrooms at these facilities remain closed.
• More information available from New Hanover County here. 
  
  
• The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is beginning to hire and train staff to support existing efforts of local health departments to track the transmission of COVID-19.  Working with Community Care of North Carolina, the state is hiring a Statewide Contact Tracing Team to contact North Carolinians who have been exposed to COVID-19, explain how they can keep themselves and others safe, and connect them to necessary healthcare resources.  More information is available here.