Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illnesses in animals and humans. These illnesses can range from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV). The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new strain not previously identified in humans. COVID-19 was originally detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and has now spread to more than 34 countries, including the United States, which prompted the declaration of a public health emergency.

Governor Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen announced that additional frontline essential workers in Group 3 will be eligible for vaccinations beginning March 3. Beginning on March 24, Group 4, beginning with those with a higher risk from COVID-19 due to underlying medical conditions, will become eligible to receive a vaccine.

PBS North Carolina provides livestreaming of emergency news conferences. These livestreams appear on the PBS North Carolina and the Department of Public Safety websites. In partnership with North Carolina Emergency Management, PBS North Carolina also provides live Spanish interpretation of emergency news conferences from the State Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh. A Spanish language web stream has been added to both websites.

Code is available for digital media providers to embed the web streams into their own content.

How It Spreads

• The virus spreads most commonly from person-to-person close contact (within six feet).
• It is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
• It may also be possible that COVID-19 can spread from contact with infected surfaces or objects (although this is not believed to be the main way the virus spreads).

How to Protect Yourself

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• If you are feeling sick, stay home and away from others.
• Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects or surfaces.
• Avoid touching your eyes or mouth.
• Cover your sneeze or cough with a tissue, then discard the tissue in a trash receptacle.
• If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow (however the virus can stay in your clothes and be passed on for up to a week or more).

Symptoms & Testing

Symptoms include:

• Fever
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath

In more severe cases, symptoms may include:

• Pneumonia
• Severe acute respiratory syndrome
• Kidney failure
• Death

Call your healthcare professional if you feel sick with fever, cough or difficulty breathing and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or if you live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19.

Staying Healthy

Learn how implementing simple, healthy routines are key to keeping healthy,

Coloring & Activity Pages from Rootle!

• Activity pages
• Coloring pages
• Coloring & activity pages

At-Home Learning

PBS North Carolina (formerly UNC-TV) and the NC Department of Public Instruction bring curriculum-informed educational content to all students for free.

Additional Resources for Educators

• NCLearn@Home from N.C. Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources
• Children's Media and Education Hub
• Distance Learning Resources
• Distance Learning Tips From One Teacher to Another
• Virus Information and Prevention
• PBS LearningMedia
• PBS North Carolina's Resources for Parents and Educators

NC 2-1-1 is now a resource for people to call for assistance related to the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Health Monitoring Organizations

• NC Department of Health and Human Services
• North Carolina Division of Public Health
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• World Health Organization
• North Carolina COVID-19 Response