Coronavirus

1. How to Apply for Unemployment Benefits . If you have lost your job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you are encouraged to apply for unemployment. Governor Cooper’s executive order has relaxed some requirements which make unemployment benefits more widely available.
2. Resources for Those Who Need Food: Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC Food Finder .
3. Aunt Bertha: Find local financial, food, housing, money, education, work, and legal resources.
4. New Hanover County opened a Public Health Coronavirus Call Center for residents with questions about COVID-19. Individuals can call 910-798-6800 to speak with a public health nurse and, if needed, be connected with a provider who can determine if a flu test and/or COVID-19 is needed.
5. The NC211 Resource Team is verifying and organizing information. For detailed information on resources such as food/meals, rent/mortgage/utility help, and any other programs as they become available, call at 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162 .
6. NCCARE360 Statewide coordinated care network to electronically connect those with identified needs to community resources and allow for a feedback loop.
7. North Carolina Community College System frequently asked questions and resources
8. Hospitality Industry Resources
9. Mental Health Resources – NAMI Wilmington (National Alliance on Mental Illness – Wilmington) is hosting a FREE weekly virtual support group on Wednesdays from 3:30 pm until 5:00 pm. Just call in and enter the access code. Call-in Number: 978-990-5000 | Access Code: 894438
10. COVID-19 Relief Fund – Disabled America Veterans (DAV) In response to this unprecedented event, DAV has established a COVID-19 Relief Fund to provide financial aid to service-connected disabled veterans who have lost employment or income due to COVID-19. The issued grants are meant to help veterans pay bills, obtain food and provide for their families during these difficult times. Disabled veterans who are small business owners or who work independently and have been negatively impacted financially as a result of the virus may also be eligible for this assistance.
11. Drive-In Testing
    • Call Center Screening for Testing Site
      Facebook (English & Spanish)
      Twitter (Spanish)
    • Expanded NHC Testing Video
      Facebook (Spanish)
      Twitter (Spanish)
    • COVID-19 Testing & Symptoms
      Facebook (English & Spanish)
      Twitter (Spanish)
    • Drive-Thru Testing Site Video
      Facebook (Spanish)
      Twitter (Spanish)

1. NC Department of Information Technology (NC DIT) interactive map of internet availability in North Carolina.
2. Spectrum is offering Free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days (effective March 16, 2020) to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395 . Installation fees will be waived for new student households. (After 60 days, discounted fees would apply.)
3. Comcast is opening up their Xfinity Wifi Network nationally for free and expanding services/support for existing and new customers: corporate.comcast.com/covid-19
4. AT&T is offering unlimited internet data for their consumer home internet wireline (which uses cables or data lines to connect service) and Fixed Wireless Internet customers. For low-income households, internet access is $10 a month. Additionally, universities, schools, and businesses can connect through conference calls via Cisco Webex Meetings for three months free. Their WiFi hotspots are open to the public, as well.
5. Verizon is offering unlimited data for teleworking or remote learning through its home broadband plans. Wireless consumer and business customers’ unlimited plans include WiFi hotspot capabilities. Additionally, the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools Connection website includes resources for educators who are now working online. Check out resources from Verizon’s partner, Digital Promise .
6. Sprint is offering unlimited data to current customers, and, as of Tuesday, March 17, allowing all handsets to set up hotspots for two months with no additional charge. By Thursday, March 19, customers with metered data plans will receive unlimited data per month for two months at no additional charge, according to the company. Current customers will also receive an additional 20GB of mobile hotspot data per month for two months at no additional charge.
7. T-Mobile has introduced lower-cost prepaid plan s to respond to COVID-19.
8. Cox Communications is offering the first month free of Connect2Compete service (a service for lower-income customers); $9.95/month thereafter. Cox will provide phone and remote desktop support through Cox Complete Care at no charge through May 12, 2020. For more information, visit Cox’s Coronavirus page .
9. Suddenlink/Altice USA is offering free internet to college and K-12 students during coronavirus pandemic. For households with college and/or K-12 students who may be displaced due to school closures and who do not currently have home internet access, Suddenlink/Altice is offering our Altice Advantage 30 Mbps broadband solution for free for 60 days to any new customer household within our footprint. Free installation and free service for 60 days, no credit card or checking account needed. Call 888-633-0030 form more information or to enroll.
10. Adobe is making temporary at-home access to the Adobe Creative Cloud available to students until May 31, 2020. Get more information.
11. EveryoneOn – Search for low-cost internet service and computers by zip code
12. Need WiFi? Have a Phone? This article from PC Mag might help.

Pender County

Pender County Board of Commissioners remind Pender County citizens that the Atkinson, Burgaw, and Hampstead libraries will continue to provide FREE public Wi-Fi Internet access.

“Under the recommendations of state health officials, social distancing is a must,” said Erik Harvey, Pender County IT director. “This FREE resource is available for both students and citizens who don’t have Internet access to stay connected and informed of the latest news on COVID-19.”

Atkinson Municipal Library
300 W Henry St.
Atkinson, NC 28421

Pender County Burgaw Library
103 S. Cowan St.
Burgaw, NC 28425

Pender County Hampstead Library
75 Library Dr.
Hampstead, NC 28443

Duplin County

The following locations currently have free public wifi available for drive-up use, meaning that users can sit in their cars at these locations and download or upload school assignments, check email, or conduct brief business. This list will be updated as more locations become known.

In the interest of public safety, we make the following recommendations:

1. Users should remain in their vehicles while using the site.
2. Users should be cognizant of the amount of time they are parked at the location to allow access to others.
3. Utilize sites during daylight hours only. Some providers will also disconnect services at night.
4. Notify law enforcement of any suspicious activity. Local law enforcement agencies will be made aware of the following public site locations to monitor activity.
• Duplin County-Dorothy Wightman Library in Kenansville – 107 Bowden Dr, Kenansville
• Duplin County Library in Rose Hill – 113 S Walnut St, Rose Hill
• Duplin County Warsaw-Kornegay Library in Warsaw – 117 W College St, Warsaw
• Calypso Fire Department – 103 SE Center St, Calypso (Do not block fire department operations. Wifi provided by Open Broadband, LLC)
• Faison Recreation and Wellness Center – 184 Park Cir, Faison (Provided by Open Broadband)
• University of Mount Olive Agriculture Building – 408 Garner Chapel Rd, Mt. Olive (On the Duplin/Wayne line. Provided by Open Broadband)
• Alphin Insurance – 2330 Summerlins Crossroad Rd, Mt. Olive (Provided by Open Broadband)
• Snow Hill Free Will Baptist Church – 1224 Red Hill Rd, Mt. Olive (Provided by Eastern Carolina Broadband)
• Flea Market at the corner of Bennetts Bridge Rd and Garner Chapel Rd – Approx. 1810 Garner Chapel Rd, Mt. Olive (Provided by Eastern Carolina Broadband)
• Beulaville Town Hall – 508 E Main St, Beulaville (Provided by Eastern Carolina Broadband)
• Downtown Magnolia – Approx. at the intersection of Carroll St and Railroad St, Magnolia (Provided by Eastern Carolina Broadband)
• Old Pink Hill School Media Center – 202 Central Ave, Pink Hill (just across the border in Lenoir County, provided by Eastern Carolina Broadband)

Bladen County

Beginning Friday, March 27th, Star Communications has agreed to provide free wifi internet connectivity access in specific locations in Bladen County for personal devices during the coronavirus pandemic. The free wifi access will be available from 8am until 9pm. Students should practice social distancing (at least six feet away from one another) while accessing this service. Unsafe practices and loitering on these premises after wifi connectivity hours is forbidden. Students would be able to use these access points in parking lots and the vicinity of the following locations:

• Ammon Grocery & Grill – 13129 NC Hwy 242 N., Elizabethtown
• Bladenboro Middle School – 910 S. Main St., Bladenboro
• Bladen Lakes Primary – 9554 Johnsontown Rd., Elizabethtown
• Centerville Baptist Church – 18577 NC Hwy 53 E, Kelly
• Clarkton School of Discovery – 10000 N. College St., Clarkton
• East Arcadia Elementary School – 21451 NC Hwy 87 E, Riegelwood
• East Bladen High School – 21451 NC Hwy 87 E, Riegelwood
• Elizabethtown Farmers Market – 106 MLK Drive, Elizabethtown
• Rowan PFWB Church – 20759 NC Hwy 210 E, Ivanhoe
• Star Communications – 3112 MLK Blvd., Elizabethtown
• Tar Heel Middle School – 14888 NC Hwy 87 W, Tar Heel
• West Bladen High School – 1600 NC Hwy 410 S, Bladenboro

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Free Wifi Internet Provided by MCNC (available now
Bladen Community College – 7418 NC Hwy 41 W, Dublin, NC

Other Free Wifi Internet(available now)
Bladen County Public Library – 111 N. Cypress St., Elizabethtown

1. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
3. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
4. Stay home when you are sick.
5. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
6. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

More information is available at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.

Call your doctor if you develop symptoms, have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or have recently traveled from an area with widespread occurrences of COVID-19 . Please CALL your health care provider before going in to avoid potentially exposing others and do not use public transportation to get to the doctor’s office, if possible.

You can also contact your county’s public health department; they will advise you on the appropriate next steps:

New Hanover: 910-798-3500
Brunswick: 910-253-2250
Pender: 910-259-1230

The North Carolina Division of Public Health also has a call line at 866-462-3821 to address general questions.

Follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines on what to do if you are sick.