Press Releases

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting the first identification in a North Carolina resident of the COVID-19 variant called B.1.1.7, which was first detected in the United Kingdom in December. The B.1.1.7 variant was identified in a sample from an adult in Mecklenburg County processed by Mako Medical Laboratories. To protect the privacy of the individual, no further information will be released.

Today, the NC Department of Transportation and the NC Department of Health and Human Services announced that approximately $2.5 million in Coronavirus Relief Funding is being distributed to local transit agencies across the state to help pay for rides for individuals who need transportation assistance to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced today that Legal Aid of North Carolina (Legal Aid) will provide Medicaid Managed Care Ombudsman services for the state's Medicaid beneficiaries.

April Parker, a social worker and program coordinator with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services' Central Regional Hospital, was honored today as the recipient of the 2021 John R. Larkins Award.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with health systems, local health departments and community health centers across the state to host large community vaccine events for people currently eligible to be vaccinated. More than 45,000 vaccines are expected to be given through these events.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced today that vaccine providers that are ready to expand may vaccinate all health care workers and anyone 65 years and older.

Governor Roy Cooper will join members of The North Carolina Council on Health Care Coverage for its third meeting today as the Council discusses options and guiding principles to expand access to health care coverage for North Carolinians.

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.