GREENSBORO, N.C. — Almost every day I look at the Covid-19 updates put out by the CDC. I scroll through the website and look at the number of cases and deaths across the country before clicking on information specific to North Carolina. There have been more than 137,000 cases in our state and more than 2,100 people have died.
I have talked with people who have battled the virus and people who have lost a loved one because of it. I have interviewed doctors and nurses who continue to be on the front lines of this fight knowing they're putting themselves at risk of infection.
I have tried to do my part to slow the spread by social distancing and wearing my mask when I do go to stores or places to pick up food.
As a reporter, I have spoken with business owners who are struggling to stay open because of the virus and some who have been unable to open at all. I have spoken with people who feel strongly about wearing a mask and others who don’t.
In the past few months, I have met people who have dedicated the past several months to help people in a variety of ways. Many are making “homemade” PPE’s for our medical workers and essential workers. One young man spent the past couple of months fundraising to support a local non-profit that works to help families in need of food.
The list of people helping people is long and that’s a good thing. We need heroes right now to help people in need.
Millions of people are still out of work and many more dealt with lengthy furloughs or reduced hours. Our station receives dozens of calls a week from people who are now unemployed and struggling to get the benefits they need to pay for their mortgage, rent, car payments and groceries.
I am encouraged by the news I read when it comes to the many companies and hospitals, many here in North Carolina, that are involved in research and clinical trials to find a safe and effective vaccine for the virus.
Almost every week doctors and nurses are discovering new ways to treat and care for patients that fall ill to the virus. In many cases, the new approach to treating patients has been positive.
One of the treatments doctors are using involves antibody donors, people who have recovered from COVID-19.