Press Releases

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today issued a Secretarial Directive telling North Carolinians to stay home except for essential activities and avoid gathering, especially indoors, with people who do not live with you.

Former Governor Jim Hunt, Mrs. Carolyn Hunt, Washington County Commissioner Julius Walker, Jr., and Rep. Shelly Willingham (D-23) were among North Carolina's 75 and older population to receive the first of the two-part COVID-19 vaccine today at the Wilson County Health Department.

Today, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced that Food and Nutrition Services recipients will see a temporary increase in the amount of benefits they receive. This increase is part of the federal Emergency Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting new records for COVID-19 key metrics for Jan. 1 and Jan. 2, 2021.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced it had updated its vaccination plan to align with new federal recommendations issued last week. The changes simplify the vaccine process and continue the state's commitment to first protect health care workers caring for patients with COVID-19, people who are at the highest risk of being hospitalized or dying, and those at high risk of exposure to COVID-19.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with the North Carolina Central University's Advanced Center for COVID-19 Related Disparities (NCCU ACCORD) to ensure comprehensive COVID-19 information is effective in reaching underserved communities in North Carolina. The partnership aims to help everyone make informed decisions about COVID-19 vaccines.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced beginning Jan. 4, households can apply for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) and the Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) online at http://epass.nc.gov.

To notify people as quickly as possible if they have tested positive for or been exposed to someone with COVID-19, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) in cooperation with Local Health Departments, is expanding how it contacts people. Starting this week, all residents who have provided cell phone or email addresses will receive an automatic text or email message to connect people to follow-up resources and supports.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today added data on people vaccinated to the NC COVID-19 Dashboard. Data will be provided for the total number of people statewide and by county of residence who have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Data for people who have received the second dose of the vaccine will be added in January.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting the state's highest one-day number of COVID-19 cases with 8,444 new cases reported today, doubling a record day reported just one month ago on Nov. 19 when the state reported 4,296 new cases.