Graham County

shows a man in a mask against COVID-19 that reads: "I wear, I care"

North Carolina’s post-election challenge: separating the pandemic from politics.

December 7, 2020 by Rose Hoban

North Carolina’s post-election challenge: separating the pandemic from politics. - North Carolina Health News

Governor Cooper would like more people to wear masks, but cooperation remains elusive. What will it take to change people’s minds?

By Rose Hoban In the days after this fall’s election, Gov. Roy Cooper said he hoped to “depoliticize” the wearing of masks and other public health measures designed to reduce transmission of the coronavirus. “I think it’s going to be a natural occurrence, now that the election is over,” said Cooper at a press briefing […]

A Graham polling center in Alamance County. Photo credit: Hannah Critchfield

In an election with unprecedented turnout, health care issues loom large, but can’t overcome economic concerns

November 4, 2020 by Editor

In an election with unprecedented turnout, health care issues loom large, but can’t overcome economic concerns - North Carolina Health News

Voters split their tickets on Tuesday, retaining Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, while the presidential contest remains too close to call, with more than 100,000 absentee ballots still outstanding.

By Anne Blythe, Hannah Critchfield and Rose Hoban Ballots in North Carolina did not list Medicaid expansion, the Affordable Care Act, the coronavirus pandemic response or the economy as something registered voters could mark as for or against. In the outcome of the 2020 elections, it appears that North Carolina voters were willing to have […]

shows a county map of north carolina with darker counties being places with higher rates of COVID-19. The darkest counties right now are all rural.

Coronavirus Today – Oct. 21 – Paused in Phase 3; Counties asked to toughen COVID restrictions; Promising treatment underperforms; Veterans’ home outbreaks

October 21, 2020 by Anne Blythe

Coronavirus Today – Oct. 21 – Paused in Phase 3; Counties asked to toughen COVID restrictions; Promising treatment underperforms; Veterans’ home outbreaks - North Carolina Health News

Thirty-six NC counties with high COVID-19 transmission asked to consider restriction measures beyond state requirements.

By Anne Blythe, Hannah Critchfield and Thomas Goldsmith On a day that North Carolina’s COVID-19 death toll topped the 4,000 mark and the number of people hospitalized with illness related to the novel coronavirus is the second highest in the pandemic, Gov. Roy Cooper hit the pause on any further reopening. North Carolina public health […]

Three signs on a dirt berm encoureaging behavior to prevent COVID

Coronavirus Today – Aug. 19 – Lessons from UNC-CH reversal; remote learning and broadband grants; Testing drop-off and free COVID-19 tests

August 19, 2020 by Anne Blythe

Coronavirus Today – Aug. 19 – Lessons from UNC-CH reversal; remote learning and broadband grants; Testing drop-off and free COVID-19 tests - North Carolina Health News

North Carolina’s trends and metrics are showing stabilization as college campuses report COVID-19 clusters.

By Anne Blythe and Greg Barnes The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the country’s first public university to open its doors to students, found itself on the trailblazing path again this week. Instead of welcoming students to its classrooms and campus residence halls, the university became the first of the 17 UNC system […]

Students holding colorful cards in a program about suicide prevention

Churches are an unlikely ally in solving the rural internet access puzzle

May 21, 2020 by Liora Engel-Smith

Churches are an unlikely ally in solving the rural internet access puzzle - North Carolina Health News

With the coronavirus pandemic highlighting the depth of rural broadband needs, churches have set their sights on increasing access in their communities.

By Liora Engel-Smith Bridgette Diaz can’t use her cell phone without Wi-Fi. Her cellular carrier does not cover Robbinsville, the tiny mountain town where she has made her home. Diaz doesn’t have an internet connection either. Robbinsville, the Graham County seat, is situated in a four-county pocket with some of the worst broadband adoption rates […]

shows health care workers in full protective gear testing someone sitting in their car for COVID

Asymptomatic first COVID-19 case in Graham County ‘heartbroken’ by test

May 16, 2020 by Carolina Public Press

Asymptomatic first COVID-19 case in Graham County ‘heartbroken’ by test - North Carolina Health News

The Eastern Band of the Cherokee tribe has been urging that one person from every household on its land get tested.

By Joseph Martin Carolina Public Press A Graham County resident and member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians received bad news from the results of her COVID-19 test, and she is left baffled as to how she could have contracted the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Jade Teesateskie is the first positive case […]

long distance landscape photo of mountains receding into the distance.

Can western NC counties escape the worst of the pandemic?

May 5, 2020 by Melba Newsome

Can western NC counties escape the worst of the pandemic? - North Carolina Health News

Remote and sparsely populated, counties in western NC have taken some tough measures to keep their coronavirus numbers low.

By Melba Newsome To date, only Avery county in western North Carolina has no reported cases of COVID-19. Health officials in this remote, sparsely populated region say that high rates of poverty, older populations, and epidemics of obesity and diabetes along with scarce healthcare resources led them to begin planning early and be particularly aggressive […]

The Appalachian Mountains near the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina may benefit from the ARC's recovery ecosystem model. The area has a quickly growing outbreak of COVID-19

COVID-19 in western NC: Just the tip of the iceberg

April 13, 2020 by Melba Newsome

COVID-19 in western NC: Just the tip of the iceberg - North Carolina Health News

The number of COVID-19 cases in WNC is relatively low compared to the more populous areas in the state. But people on the front lines see a worrying trend that indicates it’s only a matter of time.

By Melba Newsome If you ask Bryan Hodge about the number of diagnosed coronavirus cases in western North Carolina, he can rattle off the exact number in each of 16 counties. He readily admits that, in addition to being obsessed with tracking the information, he also gets regular updates from his wife. Hodge is director […]

shows charlotte at night, where providers are collecting personal protective equipment in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus Today – March 24 – Mecklenburg shelter in place order, personal protective equipment and “a sign from God”

March 24, 2020 by Editor

Coronavirus Today – March 24 – Mecklenburg shelter in place order, personal protective equipment and “a sign from God” - North Carolina Health News

Dissatisfied that voluntary measures were enough, Mecklenburg County orders residents to stay home, and asks the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police to enforce as necessary.

By NC Health News staff On Tuesday, health officials reported 140 coronavirus cases in Mecklenburg County, prompting a county-issued stay at home directive beginning Thursday morning at 8 a.m. through April 16. A ban on private gatherings of more than 10 people replaces the prior 50-person limit. County manager Dena Diorio said that voluntary measures […]

a man stands at a podium with a number of grim faced advocates for Medicaid expansion standing behind him

Legislative mini-session produces little movement on health care issues, despite new call for Medicaid expansion

January 16, 2020 by Rose Hoban

Legislative mini-session produces little movement on health care issues, despite new call for Medicaid expansion - North Carolina Health News

An unlikely coalition of business people, law enforcement and local officials - all conservative - came together Wednesday to criticize the legislature for missing the opportunity to act on Medicaid.

By Rose Hoban By the time he reached Raleigh after six hours of driving, Dale Wiggins was angry that the lawmakers he was coming to see had already skipped town. Wiggins, the chair of the Graham County Board of Commissioners, came to Raleigh Tuesday to speak to legislators about enacting Medicaid expansion. But by the […]

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