COVID-19 Updates: November 4, 2020 |
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New Video from NCDHHS about wearing a mask when not with household |
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As North Carolinians look towards the holidays and begin to plan celebratory gatherings, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launches a new advertisement as part of the statewide "Whatever Your Reason" campaign. This newest television commercial reminds everyone the decision to wear a mask is not about “who you know, or how well you know them.” |
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There will be a COVID-19 testing event Wednesday, November 4th from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Please note, testing at this location every other week was previously from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. but has changed time due to day light saving time change.
Where: Nash Parking Lot Wilson St.Chapel Hill, NC 27516
When: Wednesday, November 4th from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Anyone is welcome to come for a test. Pre-registration is encouraged and can be completed here: https://unityphm.com/campaigns/starmed. Be sure to choose Orange County as preferred testing location. You may come for a test even if you do not register. For the full testing calendar as well as more information about COVID-19 testing sites, please visit: http://www.orangecountync.gov/Testing
Links to Flyers:
Wednesday testing Flyers for November:
More information about COVID-19 testing: https://www.orangecountync.gov/Testing
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Monday through Friday from 9 to 5 in HillsboroughWhere: Whitted Human Services Building 300 W. Tryon St. Hillsborough, NC 27278 When: Every weekday. Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. COVID-19 testing hosted by the Orange County Health Department has no out of pocket cost (insurance will be charged). Pre-registration is encouraged and can be completed here: https://unityphm.com/campaigns/starmed. Be sure to choose Orange County as your preferred testing location. Weekday Testing Flyers: There will be a a few exceptions to weekday testing. In November, there will be no testing on November 26th (Thanksgiving). Testing could also be cancelled due to bad weather. |
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COVID-19 Response Program: Transportation Program |
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Orange County Housing & Community Development Department has funding available for furniture and household goods. Service providers and individuals can apply for costs incurred between March 1 - December 30, 2020 and who are Housing Choice Voucher recipients, Rapid Re-housing clients, or who are working with approved OCHCD referral agencies including Community Empowerment Fund, Community Home Trust, Compass Center, El Centro, EmPOWERment, Local Reentry Council/CJRD, and Refugee Community Partnership.
Additionally, transportation requests must directly relate to supporting participant’s efforts to lessen the spread of the coronavirus and funding may not be available via other sources (no duplication of funds). Eligible transportation costs: - Public transportation pass (e.g., bus pass)
- Community transportation options (e.g., local organization that organizes and provides transportation on a volunteer or paid basis)
- Direct transportation by a professional, private or semi-private transportation vendor (e.g., shuttle bus company)
- Account credits for taxis or ridesharing mobile applications for transportation
The following services may be deemed allowable, cost-effective alternatives to private transportation by an Agency: - Repairs to an enrollee’s vehicle
- Purchase of a bicycle
Process to Request Funding
1.Using list of eligible services above compile all receipts and or obtain quotes for requested transportation services
2.Complete the Transportation Funding Request Form including receipts and/or quotes for requested services
3.Within 2 business days, OCHCD will send a confirmation of approved services for reimbursement
a.If working with a referral agency, agency can then make purchase for services and request reimbursement from OCHCD.
For more information, please visit the link below: |
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Governor Cooper Signs Executive Order to Strengthen Eviction Prevention and Help Renters Stay in Their Homes |
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Today, Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order No. 171 to strengthen eviction protections to help North Carolina renters stay in their homes. With COVID-19 case counts increasing and many people continuing to work and learn remotely, preventing evictions is critical to the state’s fight against this virus. This order supplements the existing NC HOPE initiative started two weeks ago that pays landlords and utilities directly to keep people in their homes with the lights on.
“Many families are trying to do the right thing, but this virus has made it difficult. Roughly three to 400,000 households across North Carolina are currently unable to pay rent. Therefore, today, I have signed a new Executive Order to prevent evictions in North Carolina for people who can’t afford the rent,” said Governor Cooper. “The result during this global pandemic will be more North Carolinians staying in their homes, more landlords getting paid rent, and fewer utility companies shutting off power.”
The economic toll of COVID-19 has left thousands of families struggling to make ends meet. According to a report from the National Council of State Housing Agencies, approximately 300,000 – 410,000 households across North Carolina are currently unable to pay rent, and an estimated 240,000 eviction filings will be submitted by January 2021.
Last month, the Center for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) put a temporary residential eviction moratorium into effect nationwide from September 4 through December 31, 2020. The CDC order protects residential tenants from eviction for nonpayment of rent. However, confusion over who this order protects has caused inconsistent enforcement and unwarranted evictions in some parts of the state.
Executive Order No. 171 requires landlords to make residential tenants aware of their rights under the CDC Order. For eviction actions commencing after Executive Order No. 171, landlords must give residents the option to fill out a declaration form before starting any eviction action.
The Order also sets forth procedures to ensure protection for residential tenants once they provide the required declaration form to the court or to the landlord.
Executive Order No. 171 also clarifies the CDC moratorium so that it clearly applies to all North Carolinians who meet the CDC’s eligibility criteria, regardless of whether they live in federally-subsidized properties. The Order ensures that recipients of the N.C. Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) program are still able to qualify and that these renter protections will apply to North Carolinians regardless of the CDC Order’s status in other courts. Today’s Order received concurrence from the Council of State. Two weeks ago, Governor Cooper launched the $117 million NC HOPE program that provides assistance to eligible low-and-moderate income renters experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic by making direct payments to landlords and utility companies. This program has received 22,800 eligible applications as of today. Given the demand for assistance shown over the last two weeks, the state will continue working to boost the HOPE program so it can help more North Carolinians make ends meet. “The HOPE program is going a long way to help families stay safe in their homes by using coronavirus funds responsibly to pay landlord and utilities directly,” said Governor Cooper. “My administration is continuing to find ways to help struggling renters, but we still need Washington to put partisanship aside and send more relief to North Carolina.” People can apply for help by calling 2-1-1 or going to nc211.org/hope. In addition, to help ease housing concerns, North Carolina is funding the Back@Home program, which helps families experiencing homelessness and provides financial relief to some landlords whose tenants are at risk of homelessness. Read the Executive Order. Read a FAQ about today’s Order.
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Election Day anxiety?
These 5 activities can help reduce stress while watching returns on Nov. 3 |
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US President Donald Trump (L) and Democratic Presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden during the final presidential debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 22, 2020. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI | AFP | Getty Images |
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Sixty-eight percent of American adults say that the 2020 U.S. presidential election is a significant source of stress in their life, according to a recent survey from the American Psychological Association (APA) and Harris Poll. And that may be due in large part to the uncertainty surrounding the outcome.
Humans do not like uncertainty, and yet with the Covid-19 pandemic and election results that will likely take time process (due to the millions of people have opted to vote by mail), there is more than ever. So how do you quell anxiety and avoid rumination during the prolonged waiting period?
Making plans or scheduling activities (besides voting) can help you pass the time and potentially mitigate your election day worries and fears, Kate Sweeny, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, told the New York Times in a story published Monday.
Research has shown that distraction can reduce worry, because it shifts your focus from your negative, pervasive thoughts onto something else. But some distraction tools are more effective than others, according to research from Sweeny.
Here are some specific science-backed strategies that can help you get you through Election Day and whatever follows...
Seek out ‘flow’
A 2018 study found that activities that produce “flow,” which is the state of being so absorbed in an activity that you lose track of time and thought, can improve your wellbeing and make time pass faster when in a waiting period. Common flow-inducing activities include: making music, rock climbing, dancing, sailing, playing chess, swimming and bicycling.
Call your friends and family
Having a strong social support network can be majorly beneficial to your mental and physical health. Studies have shown that social support can boost your immune function, increase your longevity, plus help you adjust to life events better. While gathering in-person is not safe due to the pandemic, you could set up a video conference with far-flung family members and friends, or make a plan to play a collaborative game over Zoom.
Cook a meal
At the start of the pandemic, many people turned to baking as a way to relieve stress. Indeed, research has shown that creative “maker” activities like cooking or baking can be calming because they provide a sense of control and tangible end product. The act of kneading bread or chopping vegetables can also serve as a mindfulness activity, because it focuses you on the present moment. Other studies have shown that mindfulness makes it easier to wait for “personally significant news.”
Clean and organize
Like baking and cooking, cleaning and organizing can help you regain control over your environment and feel less nervous. Some cleaning tasks that require repetitive motions, such as vaccuming or washing dishes, can serve as a mindfulness exercise. As we spend more time indoors during the pandemic, it’s even more important to have a pleasant, uncluttered space: Research has shown that people who view their homes as a restorative space (rather than a stressful environment) have lower cortisol levels.
Take news breaks
When faced with uncertainty, it’s only natural to want to seek out as much information as possible to gain answers. But in the case of the election, the APA says that one of the easiest ways to reduce stress is to limit your news intake. To set boundaries, you can designate 30 minutes to read social media or the news and set a timer so you don’t go overboard. Or, you can choose to watch your go-to news program on-demand at a time when you’re feeling mentally prepared. |
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Free Smoking Cessation Class! |
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The FreshStart Class is 1 hour class for 4 consecutive weeks held on Tuesday evenings from 6pm – 7pm. Participants receive the cessation education, class materials, group support and all Nicotine Replacement Therapy products for FREE .
Registration deadline for this class is Monday, November 2, 2020 but there is some flexibility to this deadline depending on space.
This is a virtual class held via GO TO MEETING; therefore, participants will need to have access to a computer. |
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Spanish Healthy Homes and COVID-19 Virtual Class |
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Free Spanish Healthy Homes Virtual Class!
Does your child have asthma? Breathe easier knowing your home is healthier with our Healthy Homes class!
Learn about:
- Potential environmental triggers in the home, green cleaning principles, and home injury prevention tips!
- Free Green Cleaning Kit that includes a mask, and items to do class exercises, that can also be utilized for personal use. Examples of items included in the kit:
· Baking soda
· Castile soap
· Peroxide
· Vinegar
· Bucket
· Microfiber cloth
This is a free 1 hour class offered in Spanish (for all age groups) that meets on November 19, 2020 from 5PM – 6PM via GO TO Meeting:
Registration Deadline: Friday November 16, 2020.
To register call Krishnaveni Balakrishnan at 919-621-3818 or via email at kbalakrishnan@orangecountync.gov
Please include: name, address, and the email you will be using to participate in the class. |
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November Food Distribution Info |
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Story Time Adventure with Law Enforcement! |
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Check out this great interactive on-site event this Saturday with local law enforcement.
All children who attend will receive a FREE hot dog lunch, story time grab bags, teddy bear, and a copy of We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen.
For more information, please click the link here. |
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North Carolina COVID-19 Cases
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reports 282,802 COVID-19 cases, 4,507 deaths, and 1,186 hospitalizations, as of November 4, 2020. For more information regarding live updates (NCDHHS updates the site every day at noon), please visit the NCDHHS website.
Orange County Health Department also has a COVID-19 dashboard webpage, with information on COVID-19 data in the county. The dashboard will be updated every Tuesday and Thursday.
There are currently 3,213 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Orange County, and 59 deaths.
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COVID-19 Community Resources
For more information on COVID-19 community resources in the county, please visit our webpage. Resources on specific topic areas, such as food access, education, housing, and others, are all accessible on our website, or at the links below. |
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