Daily COVID-19 Email Update - May 14, 2020

SBA Creates New PPP Safe Harbor Rule, Extends Deadline to May 18

Yesterday, the SBA published Frequently Asked Question ("FAQ") 46, which provides some answers for PPP borrowers who are concerned about the good faith certification. In effect, the SBA has created a new safe harbor rule for borrowers with smaller loans to satisfy the requirement that they make the good faith certification that their PPP loan was necessary to support their ongoing operations: "Any borrower that, together with its affiliates, received PPP loans with an original principal amount of less than $2 million will be deemed to have made the required certification concerning the necessity of the loan request in good faith."

The SBA also published FAQ 47, which extends the original safe harbor deadline to return a PPP loan in full to May 18. The SBA explained that this extension gives borrowers an opportunity to review and consider FAQ 46.


Click here to read the full article.


Articles From the Raleigh News and Observer

Requests for Exemptions From Orders

Officials from eight eastern North Carolina counties want to be able to reopen on their own schedules.

In a letter to Gov. Roy Cooper last week, the bipartisan group requested to be exempted from his coronavirus-related orders. The letter was signed by county commissioner chairpersons in Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Jones, Lenoir, Onslow, Pamlico and Wayne counties.

"Our rural geography and low population density should not be lumped together with much larger urban counties that face very different challenges," the letter read. "We all agree that the most recent data clearly reflects that the curve in Central Eastern North Carolina has flattened and that our timing for reopening should be much sooner than other parts of North Carolina."

Raleigh, Durham Poised to Recover

Raleigh and Durham made the list of U.S. cities with the best chances to bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report from Moody's Analytics.

The report says that people who live through the pandemic may consider living in cities that offer more space to spread out over those that are more crowded.

"Places that are more spacious, rely more heavily on car travel, and provide ample access to single-family housing are likely to emerge as more attractive as a result, especially among those who choose to bypass the highly urbanized Northeast," Adam Kamins, senior regional economist at Moody's Analytics, said in the report.


Articles from NC Health News

Coronavirus Gains Foothold in Rural NC

The state's first coronavirus outbreaks began in cities, but the virus spread to rural areas. Recent data shows a disproportionate burden of cases per capita there.

Telehealth and Rural Broadband Access

The coronavirus pandemic has forced providers to see many of their patients virtually. In rural North Carolina, where the broadband infrastructure is lacking, that transition can be challenging.

Health Insurance Options for the Unemployed

About a million North Carolinians have lost work in the past two months, and for many, lost health insurance too. What can they do?


2020 Virtual Spring Congress

Join us on Saturday, June 13th from the comfort and safety of your home for 6 hours of live-streamed, COPE-approved continuing education and 1 hour of general credit!

NCOS members James Fanelli, OD and Eric Schmidt, OD will be lecturing. Member rate is $100.

Click here for details and to register.


New Resources

Health Data Institute NC Predictions for COVID-19 (5/14/20)

CDC Consolidated COVID-19 National and State Forecasts (5/14/20)

CPT Reporting For COVID-19 Testing
 (5/13/20)

Association of Treatment With Hydroxychloroquine or Azithromycin With In-Hospital Mortality in Patients With COVID-19 in New York State (5/11/20)

To Stay Afloat in the Pandemic, Doctors' Offices Turn to GoFundMe (5/10/20)


COVID-19 Statistics

NCDHHS COVID-19 Dashboard

Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

WorldoMeter Coronavirus Website