The Department of Public Health reports 309 new COVID-19 cases and one additional death since the last report on Friday, Oct. 2. Cumberland County's case count is now 5,970 with 82 deaths.
Cumberland County currently has 180 cases per 10,000 residents with 7.2% of those tested returning positive for COVID-19. The daily average of positive cases in Cumberland County is 48.9.
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) COVID-19 dashboard, of the deaths in Cumberland County:
- 80% were age 65 and older
- 69% were male
- 58% were African American
- 78% were hospitalized
- 90% had at least one comorbidity
- 48% lived in a congregate living setting
NC Department of Revenue Launches Applications Process for Extra Credit Grants
The North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR) announced recently that it is now accepting applications for $335 Extra Credit Grants through Oct. 15. The program, which Governor Roy Cooper signed into law earlier this month as part of the Coronavirus Relief Act 3.0, will help families with qualifying children pay for virtual schooling and child-care costs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While taxpayers who reported at least one qualifying child (age 16 or younger) on their 2019 state individual income tax return will receive the payment automatically, some North Carolinians who were not required to file a return are still eligible, but must apply by Oct. 15, 2020 in order to receive the grant.
The online and printable paper applications are here.
To be eligible to apply for a grant, an individual must not have filed a 2019 state tax return solely because, under state filing requirements, the individual’s gross income for the 2019 tax year was below the minimum income level at which the individual was required to file a return. To receive the grant, an applicant must meet all other requirements referenced in the law, including having at least one qualifying child (age 16 or younger) for the 2019 calendar year.
Individuals who have filed their 2019 state return (or file by Oct. 15) and report a qualifying child on their return do not need to take any action to receive the grant.
The NCDOR will send grants as soon as possible, but no later than Dec. 15, 2020. Payment details will be posted on the agency website as soon as they are available.
Full information and answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
NCDHHS to Provide $35 Million to Support Childcare Programs
Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced that the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is providing $35 million in operational grants from federal Coronavirus Relief Funds to help child care programs providing in-person child care during the COVID-19 pandemic. From April through July, NCDHHS has provided over $80 million in monthly operational grants for childcare programs that served over 105,000 children statewide throughout the pandemic.
The grants will be awarded to licensed child care providers operating in-person during the months of August through October 2020 to help offset the significant financial strains due to the additional expenses to meet health and safety guidelines, while experiencing reduced revenues from lower enrollment. Providers have the flexibility to use these grants to meet their unique individual business and operational needs.
All eligible licensed childcare programs will receive some level of operational grants. Specific grant amounts are based on program size, quality, and whether the program serves infants and toddlers.
Throughout the pandemic, NCDHHS has maintained North Carolina’s long history of investments in childcare by providing monthly operational grants since April, childcare teacher and staff bonuses in April and May, and an emergency subsidy childcare program in April and May.
For more information about childcare during COVID-19 in North Carolina, visit www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/covid19/child-care.
Staying Updated
Cumberland County has made it easy for you to stay updated on the latest information about COVID-19. You can visit our COVID-19 webpage, which has a list of COVID-19-related closures and service changes. The county is also sharing important information on its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.