Press Releases

As North Carolinians prepare for the cold winter holidays, officials with the North Carolina Division of Public Health caution people not to use gasoline-powered generators or tools, outdoor grills and camp stoves in enclosed spaces. These devices should be used outside only and at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and air vents to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning .

A no-cost COVID-19 testing and food distribution event is being held Dec. 12 from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at the Global Scholars Academy located at 311 Dowd St. in Durham.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today released the following statement from NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is urging people to get vaccinated against hepatitis A. The department is reporting a sharp increase in the virus associated with an ongoing outbreak that began in April 2018.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is launching a pilot program to deploy COVID-19 testing in K-12 public schools to quickly identify students and staff who may have the virus to help slow its spread.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the launch of a new online portal for North Carolinians receiving or looking to apply for Medicaid. The portal provides Medicaid resources in an easy-to-use web platform and includes information about Medicaid Managed Care, set to launch July 1, 2021.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced it will issue an automated payment to thousands of eligible households to help with winter heating expenses via the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program. The automated payment will be issued beginning Dec. 1 and is designed to help eligible seniors and people with disabilities access winter heating assistance in a safe and socially distanced manner during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today further expanded the demographic data for North Carolina COVID-19 cases on the NC COVID-19 Dashboard. Demographic data for COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents and total deaths by week are available by age group, gender, race and ethnicity for the state. In addition, demographic data on deaths is available by county.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today released the NC Comprehensive Cancer Control Action Plan 2020-2025 to address the cancer challenges and issues that affect North Carolinians. The plan includes strategic actions to address disparities among historically marginalized and rural communities who experience a disproportionate burden of cancer disease, disability and death.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting the state's highest one-day number of COVID-19 cases with 4,296 new cases reported. The record-high day follows several days of increasing trends in new cases, the percent of tests that are positive and hospitalizations.