Coronavirus now the leading cause of death in US; new program to help feed kids in need
The coronavirus is now the leading cause of death in the U.S., NC Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said Monday.
In the state, there have been 167 flu deaths since the season started in September. There have been 179 in N.C. since the first case of coronavirus was diagnosed in the state on March 3. The first person in North Carolina died from the disease on March 24.
As of Monday morning, there were 6764 cases of the coronavirus in 93 counties and 373 people are hospitalized.
Cohen, in a press conference on Monday afternoon, said the spread of the disease and number of deaths would have been worse if the state and counties didn’t put safety measures, like stay-at-home orders, in place.
Cohen also announced the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer program, known as P-EBT, a federal program that will give North Carolina families who receive free or reduced lunch at school an additional $250 per child applied to EBT cards. This will give those families a way to feed children who normally eat breakfast and/or lunch at school, Cohen said in a press conference.
Food benefits for families, mental health resources
Cohen said that families do not need to apply for the program, and those eligible will begin receiving it in the coming weeks. It will be paid in two installments, and possibly an additional benefit if statewide schools are closed beyond May 15. The benefit can be used to buy food at most major grocery stores that already accept EBT.
There are more than 800,000 children in North Carolina who normally receive free and reduced lunch at school.
State Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry said donations of shelf-stable food and money to support food banks is still needed. Visit feedingthecarolinas.org/covid19/ for how to help.
Cohen also said the following resources are available for those in need of mental health help.
▪ Hope for NC Helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 855-587-3463
▪ Hope4Healers Helpline for healthcare workers: 919-226-2002
When NC may lift restrictions
Cohen said a COVID-19 vaccine is still a year to 18 months away.
For now, “there is not a medicine per se to treat COVID-19,” she said. Treatment is all what she described as “supportive treatment,” meaning oxygen if the patient has trouble breathing and Tylenol if the have a fever. She said treatment now is about treating the symptoms, not the virus. But clinical trials are going on now and they are learning more every day, Cohen said.
Cohen said state leaders are thinking about a reopening strategy but first need to increase the state’s testing and contact tracing capacities as well as data points like case counts, death rates and syndromic surveillance.
She said the better North Carolinians can do at staying home in April, the better they can reach the first phase of reopening.
Gov. Roy Cooper’s statewide stay-at-home order currently last through April 29. Schools are closed until at least May 15.
This story was originally published April 20, 2020 at 2:24 PM.
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