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COVID-19 Information For WNC

CASE COUNTS & STAY-AT-HOME ORDERS

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and his Coronavirus task force team hold regular press briefings on the latest regarding COVID-19 in North Carolina.  You can watch the latest briefing in English or with a Spanish translation here.

The statewide order allows for when a local order issued by a county is more restrictive, that the local order take precedence.  In counties where the state order is more restrictive, then it takes precedence.  For the local orders for each county in the BPR listening area in North Carolina and the Qualla Boundary, click on the county name - Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, JacksonMacon, Madison, Polk, Qualla Boundary, Swain, Transylvania, Yancey.

Public schools in North Carolina are closed for the rest of the school year.   

ACCESSING SERVICES

Manna Food Bank serves the 16 westernmost counties of Western North Carolina.  It holds mobile food markets where food can be picked up on weekdays.  A schedule of those can be found here.  For volunteer opportunities with Manna, click here.

Pisgah Legal Services is offering a variety of aid during the pandemic, including advice on how to avoid eviction.  More can be found here.  

The Southwestern Commission has put together a page of resources for the westernmost counties of the state which can be found here.

BeLoved Asheville, the United Way of Asheville & Buncombe County, the Salvation Army of Buncombe County, and Goodwill are all helping in various ways and are accepting donations.  Learn more by clicking the organization's name.

SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES, NON-PROFITS, AND RESTAURANTS

The One Buncombe Fund was set up to support both workers and businesses that need financial assistance.  Donations are still being accepted here.  More than $1.2 million has been raised thus far.

Due to stay-at-home orders at both the local and state level, restaurants, bars, and breweries are only allowed to offer takeout and delivery service.  A list of restaurants offering takeout and delivery service in the Asheville area can be found here.

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina has distributed more than $1-million from its Emergency and Disaster Response fund to the 18 westernmost counties in North Carolina, as well as the Qualla Boundary.  Learn more here

UNEMPLOYMENT & SMALL BUSINESS HELP

According to the Governor's office, more than 741-thousand unemployment claims have been filed due to the pandemic.  Those who need to set up an account to file for unemployment can do so here.

Mountain Bizworks is helping small businesses access resources.  More information can be found here, including how to file for the federal government's Payroll Protection Program.

Through the Golden Leaf Foundation, the state of North Carolina is offering rapid recovery loans.  More information and applications can be found here.

The Southwestern Commission has created an economic impact survey to track how the pandemic is affecting businesses.  It can be taken here

Matt Bush joined Blue Ridge Public Radio as news director in August 2016. Excited at the opportunity the build up the news service for both stations as well as help launch BPR News, Matt made the jump to Western North Carolina from Washington D.C. For the 8 years prior to coming to Asheville, he worked at the NPR member station in the nation's capital as a reporter and anchor. Matt primarily covered the state of Maryland, including 6 years of covering the statehouse in Annapolis. Prior to that, he worked at WMAL in Washington and Metro Networks in Pittsburgh, the city he was born and raised in.
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