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COVID-19 Update -- September 4, 2020

Here’s today’s update – with some very good news at the end!

  • As of today, North Carolina has recorded 172,209 total laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and 2,803 deaths have been attributed to the virus so far.  You can always get the latest COVID-19 statistics from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services website here.

  • Beware: the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office is warning consumers of the latest COVID-related scam, this time involving callers posing as contact tracers.  Learn more on the Office’s Facebook page here.

  • First Lady Melania Trump has announced that the White House will resume public tours on September 12th, subject to additional safety precautions.  In order to ensure the safety and health of all visitors, there have been new policies implemented that align with the guidance issued by Federal, State, and local officials.  Guests attending a White House tour should expect the following precautions to be taken during their visit:
    • Limited Hours and Guests:
      • Tours will be hosted two days a week instead of five, on Friday and Saturday, from 8:00AM to 11:00AM.
      • Number of guests is limited to 18% of normal capacity.
    • Added Safety Precautions:
      • All guests (ages 2 years and over) are required to wear a face covering and practice social distancing during their visit to the White House complex.
      • Social distancing dots will be placed on the ground for guests during the check-in process.
      • National Park Service, U.S. Secret Service Officers, and Visitors Office staff working the tour route will wear face coverings, gloves, and encourage social distancing when engaging with guests on complex.
      • Hand sanitizer will be available in multiple locations.
    • Anyone interested in arranging a White House tour should contact my Washington, DC office.

  • The UNC-Wilmington health center is offering free testing for students through funding provided by the CARES Act.  Students with COVID-19 symptoms should call the Student Health Center at (910) 962-0587 for a consultation or contact coronavirus@uncw.edu for more information.

And in a special “good news” story of the day, I’m pleased to report that at an event at the USS North Carolina Wednesday, Wilmington was designated by President Trump as America’s first World War II Heritage City.  It was a monumental day for the City of Wilmington and Captain Wilbur Jones, who has worked tirelessly to make this community the very first designated as a World War II Heritage City in accordance with legislation that Senator Thom Tillis and I worked hard to get passed and signed into law.  

On behalf of the citizens of Wilmington and the state of North Carolina, I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Bernhardt for their support.  It is an honor to have the President make the announcement of this designation, for it is one that the City of Wilmington, Captain Jones, and so many others richly deserve — not only for preserving the history of Wilmington’s contributions to support the war effort, but for the sacrifices many North Carolinians made for the sake of our country and our freedom. 

For more information about the designation and the event, you can read WECT’s coverage of the day here.

As always, stay tuned to Coronavirus.gov and the NC Department of Health and Human Services’ website for the latest on the outbreak.