5/18/2020
Resources for those affected by COVID-19
Recently, two COVID-19 resource lists created by the Community Empowerment Fund and Duke students were merged.
While the lists were made for Durham and Orange Counties, they contain information that involves regional, state, and Federal resources and therefore may be beneficial to residents of other counties.
Durham:
English http://tinyurl.com/ducovid19resources
Español http://tinyurl.com/ducovid19recursos
Orange County:
English http://tinyurl.com/chcovid19resources
Español http://tinyurl.com/chcovid19recursos
5/7/20
VA Relaunched National COVID-19 Report Summary website
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the largest integrated health system in the United States with more than nine million enrolled Veterans and over six million Veterans receiving healthcare each year. VA employs nearly 380,000 individuals including more than 350,000 professionals within the Veterans Health Administration.
Yesterday, VA relaunched its National COVID-19 Report Summary website that provides a real-time look at the status of COVID-19 patients who have been tested or treated at VA facilities.
the summary divides COVID-19 case counts into the following categories:
- VA COVID-19 cumulative cases – Running total of all patients tested or treated at a VA facility for known or probable COVID-19. This includes Veterans, employees and non-Veterans.
- Active cases – Patients tested or treated at a VA facility for known or probable COVID-19 who have neither died nor reached convalescent status.
- Convalescent cases – Patients tested or treated at a VA facility for known or probable COVID-19 who are either post-hospital discharge or 14 days after their last positive test, whichever comes later.
- Known deaths – All deaths among patients tested or treated at a VA facility for known or probable COVID-19. The refence “inpatient” indicates the death occurred in a VA hospital; “known other” indicates the death was reported to VA but occurred elsewhere.
VA is grouping active and convalescent cases into the following categories: Veteran, employee, veteran-employee and all other which includes civilians admitted to VA hospitals as humanitarian cases, Tricare patients, active- duty military and other groups.
VA states that its reporting tool reflects the most accurate and timely information that VA can assemble at this time. The data represented is updated from VA's automated biosurveillance system every hour.
4/30/20
Supreme Court Will Hear Oral Arguments by Telephone
In late March, the Supreme Court postponed all oral arguments. The Court will hear oral arguments by telephone conference on May 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13 in a limited number of previously postponed cases. In keeping with public health guidance in response to COVID-19, the Justices and counsel will all participate remotely. The April 28 press release explains how the arguments will be held. The Court anticipates providing a live audio feed of these arguments to news media. Details will be available on the Supreme Court's webpage as they become available.
4/29/20
Hearing Offices Continue to Suspend In-Person Hearings
On 4/28/20, SSA has announced that, due to COVID-19 related concerns, hearing offices in North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, George Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennesee will continue to suspend in-person hearings. Hearing office will hold telephonic hearings only through the month of August. Claimants who do not agree to telephone hearings may elect to postpone their hearings until in-person hearings resume.
4/28/20
SSA Offices Remain Closed to Public
SSA Commissioner Andrew Saul announced on Friday that, for the time being, SSA offices will remain closed to the public for face-to-face service, and their employees will continue to work remotely. SSA will continue to provide critical services, and recipients of Social Security benefits will continue to receive their monthly benefit amount if they use Direct Deposit. SSA will post updates on its website at www.socialsecurity.gov/coronavirus
