Coronavirus

As the Coronavirus has impacted many areas of people's lives, check out various agency responses to find the right information for you.

Federal Resources

• Department of Education
• Housing & Urban Development
• Department of Defense
• Department of Energy
• Small Business Administration
• US Department of Treasury
• US Department of Agriculture
• Department of Homeland Security
• US Department of Labor

Resources from the State of North Carolina Resources:

• Office of the Governor 
• NC Department of Public Safety 
• NC Department of Health and Human Services
• NC Department of Revenue
• NC Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
• NC Department of Motor Vehicles
• NC Department of Transportation
• NC Department of Commerce
• NC Department of Labor
• NC Department of Public Instruction
• NC Department of Justice

The following counties in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District have released information about the disease & their communities:

• Anson County
• Bladen County
• Cumberland County
• Mecklenburg County
• Union County 
• Richmond County
• Robeson County
• Scotland County

• $61 million to fund the FDA’s response operations
• Funding to provide an estimated $7 billion in SBA Disaster Loans Program
• Over $1 Billion to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for a robust response including $1 billion exclusively for state and local response efforts.
• $950 million dollars in assistance grants to state and local governments
  • $475 million to be available with 30 days
  • At least $40 million to assist tribal governments
• $836 million to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for response operations
  • At least $10 million to train medical workers to limit their exposure to coronavirus
  • $3.1 billion to the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund to fund response operations, vaccine production, medical supplies, detection equipment, and more.

Symptoms and Treatment

COVID-19 has respiratory illnesses symptoms like the flu including:

• Fever
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath

If you have the following symptoms and have returned from an area abroad or have been in contact with someone who is known to have Coronavirus, please contact your doctor or a medical provider before going into a medical office or emergency room to prevent the spread.

Please click here to consult the Center for Disease Control & Prevention's page on how to identify a potential case of coronavirus. 

Precautions

We can all do our part to stay healthy and prevent the spread

• Wash your hands frequently with soap
• Avoid touching your face
• Stay home if you are sick
• Practice social distancing of at least 6 feet
• Limit gatherings to no more than 10 people

If you are healthy, here are some ways from the Center for Disease Control to actively protect you and those around you from this disease.

• GRAPHIC: Keeping the workplace safe
• GRAPHIC: Keeping the school safe
• GRAPHIC: Keeping the home safe
• GRAPHIC: Keeping commerical establishments safe

If you have any further questions, please call our office at (202) 225-1976 or the North Carolina Coronavirus (COVID-19) Call Center at (866) 462-3821. 

Assistance

Federal, state, and local governments are working together to help prevent the spread of the virus. For individuals and business affected by the Coronavirus or precautions being taken to limit its spread, there are resources available to assist.

Resources for Small Businesses

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program: The SBA will work directly with state Governors to provide targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and non-profits that have been severely impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.

For more information please visit https://www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance/coronavirus-covid-19.

SBA provides several number of loan resources for small businesses to utilize when operating their business. For more information on loans or how to connect with a lender, visit: https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans.

7(a) Loan Program: This program offers loan amounts up to $5 million and is an all-inclusive loan program deployed by lending partners for eligible small businesses within the U.S. States and its territories. The uses of proceeds include working capital; expansion/renovation; new construction; purchase of land or buildings; purchase of equipment, fixtures; lease-hold improvements; refinancing debt for compelling reasons; seasonal line of credit; inventory; or starting a business.

Express Loan Program: The Express Loan program provides loans up to $350,000 for no more than 7 years with an option to revolve. There is a turnaround time of 36 hours for approval or denial of a completed application. The uses of proceeds are the same as the standard 7(a) loan.

7(a) Community Advantage Program: This pilot program allows mission-based lenders to assist small businesses in underserved markets with a maximum loan size of $250,000. The uses of proceeds are the same as the standard 7(a) loan.

504 Loan Program: The 504 program is designed to foster economic development and job creation and/or retention. The eligible use of proceeds is limited to the acquisition or eligible refinance of fixed assets.

Microloan Program: This program involves making loans through nonprofit lending organizations to underserved markets. Authorized use of loan proceeds includes working capital, supplies, machinery & equipment, and fixtures (does not include real estate). The maximum loan amount is $50,000 with the average loan size of $14,000.

Assistance for Individuals

Unemployment Benefits

If you have lost your job or are facing reduced hours due to Coronavirus the one week waiting period has been waived and workers can apply immediately for assistance. Additionally, in-person applications are also waived, click here to apply online or call: 888-737-0259.

• Governor’s Executive Order on Unemployment Benefits

Travel Assistance

If you are traveling overseas and have not already enrolled in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) please click here to do so. This program records your trip with the nearest embassy.

Health notices issued by the CDC can be found here.

International travel notices regarding COVID-19 issued by the State Department can be found here.

Country specific travel advisories issued by the State Department can be found here.

If you need assistance while traveling, please contact your nearest US Embassy listed here.

Does someone who has died qualify for the Payment? (added May 6, 2020)

No. A Payment made to someone who died before receipt of the Payment should be returned to the IRS by following the instructions in the Q&A about repayments. Return the entire Payment unless the Payment was made to joint filers and one spouse had not died before receipt of the Payment, in which case, you only need to return the portion of the Payment made on account of the decedent. This amount will be $1,200 unless adjusted gross income exceeded $150,000. 

What should I do to return an Economic Impact Payment (EIP)? (updated May 11, 2020)

You should return the payment as described below.

If the payment was a paper check:

1. Write "Void" in the endorsement section on the back of the check.
2. Mail the voided Treasury check immediately to the appropriate IRS location listed below.
3. Don't staple, bend, or paper clip the check.
4. Include a note stating the reason for returning the check. 

If the payment was a paper check and you have cashed it, or if the payment was a direct deposit:

1. Submit a personal check, money order, etc., immediately to the appropriate IRS location listed below.
2. Write on the check/money order made payable to “U.S. Treasury” and write 2020EIP, and the taxpayer identification number (social security number,  or individual taxpayer identification number) of the recipient of the check.
3. Include a brief explanation of the reason for returning the EIP.

For your paper check, here are the IRS mailing addresses to use based on the state:

If you live in…then mail to this address

Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, VermontAndover Internal Revenue Service
310 Lowell St.
Andover, MA 01810

Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, VirginiaAtlanta Internal Revenue Service
4800 Buford Hwy
Chamblee, GA 30341

Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, TexasAustin Internal Revenue Service
3651 S Interregional Hwy 35
Austin, TX 78741

New YorkBrookhaven Internal Revenue Service
5000 Corporate Ct.
Holtsville, NY 11742

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, WyomingFresno Internal Revenue Service
5045 E Butler Avenue
Fresno, CA 93888

Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ohio, West VirginiaKansas City Internal Revenue Service
333 W Pershing Rd.
Kansas City, MO 64108

Alabama, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, TennesseeMemphis Internal Revenue Service
5333 Getwell Rd.
Memphis, TN 38118

District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Rhode IslandPhiladelphia Internal Revenue Service
2970 Market St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104

A foreign country, U.S. possession or territory*, or use an APO or FPO address, or file Form 2555 or 4563, or are a dual-status alien.Austin Internal Revenue Service
3651 S Interregional Hwy 35
Austin, TX 78741

Meals

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is available to low-income families to ensure they have the food they need for a nutritionally adequate diet. USDA has authorized maximum flexibility to states to waive requirements in good faith in order to streamline the program. You can apply online here, by calling: 1-866-719-0141, or by contacting your County Department of Social Services.

School Nutrition Program flexibility has been granted by the Secretary of Agriculture for schools to continue to offer meals to students while schools are closed as well as waived the group seating requirement. School districts in rural areas are eligible to participate in the newly announced Meals-to-you Program. These boxes will contain five days worth of shelf-stable, nutritious, individually packaged foods that meet USDA’s summer food requirements.

No Kid Hungry NC has compiled county by county information for the state which can be accessed by clicking here.

Education:

While North Carolina schools have switched to online platforms, here are addtional educational resources for your children. 

Smithsonian Institution: Click here

Library of Congress: Click here

School Updates by County:

• Tar Heel Middle School, 14888 N.C. 87 in Tar Heel.
• West Bladen HIgh School, 1600 N.C. 410 between Bladenboro and Dublin
• East Bladen High School 5600 N.C. 87 outside of Elizabethtown
• Bladenboro MIddle School, 910 S. Main St. in Bladenboro
• East Arcadia School, 21451 N.C. 87 near Riegelwood
• Bladen Lakes Primary School, 9554 Johnsontown Road outside of Elizabethtown
• Clarkton School of Discovery, 10000 N. College St. in Clarkton
• Bladen Community College, 7418 N.C. 41 outside of Dublin
• Cape Fear Farmer's Market, 106 MLK Drive in Elizabethtown

DOCU-UCPS-Free-Meals-Supplies March 23.pdf

• Ellerbe Middle
• Monroe Avenue Elementary
• Ninth Grade Academy
• West Rockingham Elementary
• Hamlet Middle
• L.J. Bell Elementary
• Cordova Middle
• Cartledge Creek Baptist Church 
• Philadelphia Community Church 
• Marston First Baptist Church  
• Rockingham Skateland

• Federal Emergency Management Agency