President Trump Declares NC Major Disaster Over Coronavirus
This article originally appeared on the Charlotte Patch
NORTH CAROLINA — President Donald Trump has approved a request by Gov. Roy Cooper to declare a major disaster in North Carolina. Trump's disaster declaration will free up some federal resources to fight the state's growing coronavirus outbreak.
North Carolina has at least 636 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, the state reported Thursday. Two people have died.
“This is good news for cities, towns and counties that are incurring expenses as their public health providers, first responders and emergency managers work to protect communities from COVID-19,” Cooper said in a statement released Thursday. “We know this response will be costly and this federal assistance will help cover them.”
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Under the declaration, the governor said all 100 counties in North Carolina will be eligible for reimbursement through the federal Public Assistance program for emergency protective measures taken by state and local government agencies and certain nonprofit groups.
Cooper has also requested federal assistance for disaster unemployment assistance, crisis counseling and disaster case management. Those requests remain under review, according to the governor’s office.
Thursday, North Carolina public health officials urged state residents experiencing mild novel coronavirus symptoms to stay home and not seek testing.
The new guidance is based upon new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which urge those with symptoms stay home and call a doctor for medical advice.
“Testing is most important for people who are seriously ill, in the hospital, people in high-risk settings like nursing homes or long-term care facilities, health care workers and other first responders who are caring for those with COVID-19,” NC DHHS said.
“When people with mild illness leave their homes to get tested, they could expose themselves to COVID-19 if they do not already have it,” NC DHHS said. “If they do have COVID-19, they can give it to someone else, including people who are high risk and health care providers who will be needed to care for people with more severe illness. In addition, because there is no treatment for COVID-19, a test will not change what someone with mild symptoms will do.”
According to NC DHHS, those who are sick should call a doctor or 911 immediately if they have:
Shortness of breath
Chest pain or pressure
Blue lips
Difficulty breathing
confusion
Here’s what you should do if you feel sick, says NC DHHS.
“Our top priority here for the State Emergency Response Team remains getting critical personal protective equipment that our health care providers need,” Mike Sprayberry, director of North Carolina Emergency Management, said in a press conference Wednesday. “Yesterday we placed orders for $12.6M in PPE bringing to total amount ordered so far $65.9M.”
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