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FEMA approves North Carolina request for coronavirus shelters

The state will work with local organizations to help those with unstable housing quarantine during the COVID-19 outbreak.

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina has received approval from FEMA to provide housing alternatives, such as hotels, motels and dorms, for North Carolinians with unstable housing who may need to quarantine for COVID-19, or novel coronavirus. 

Gov. Roy Cooper made the announcement Wednesday morning. 

“North Carolinians without stable housing still need places to go if they are have a mild case of COVID-19 or need to quarantine after being exposed to the virus. These types of alternatives will help people who have no other safe options to self-isolate or social distance while we slow the spread of this virus,” said Governor Cooper.

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Cooper's office said the state will work with local organizations to provide more than 16,000 units of housing for the following: 

  • People who test positive for COVID-19 and need to be isolated but do not require hospitalization.
  • People exposed to COVID-19 and identified by a doctor as needing to be quarantined but not hospitalization
  • People needing social distancing as a precautionary measure, particularly high-risk groups such as people over 65 or with certain underlying health conditions.

The federal government with pay 75% of the operating costs for the sheltering program through FEMA. North Carolina will cover the remaining 25%. 

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