Wake County replenishing free N95 masks Tuesday

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Here's the latest news and information on COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccines.

5:27 p.m.

In just over a week, Wake County Health and Human Services has distributed almost 130,000 N95 masks to the public at regional centers, vaccine clinics, testing locations and community organizations.

Masks will be replenished at all public distribution sites by end of day Tuesday.

"The demand for these masks has been extremely high and we know they are going to go fast," said Associate Medical Director & Epidemiology Program Director Dr. Nicole Mushonga. "We appreciate our community's patience as we continue working to get N95 masks into the hands of as many people as possible."

Masks will be restocked tomorrow at all locations below and will be distributed Monday through Friday while supplies last:

• Wake County Public Health Center, 10 Sunnybrook Road, Raleigh, 8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.

• Wake County Western Health & Human Services Center, 111 James Jackson Ave., Cary, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

• Wake County Northern Regional Center, 350 E. Holding Ave., Wake Forest, 8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.

• Wake County Eastern Regional Center, 1002 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon, 8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.

• Wake County Southern Regional Center, 130 N. Judd Parkway NE, Fuquay-Varina, 8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.

• Wake County Human Services Center (vaccine clinic location), 5809 Departure Drive, Raleigh, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Residents can check if there are masks available ahead of time by visiting wakegov.com/covid.

4:10 p.m.

The Wayne County Health Department will begin distributing N95 masks Tuesday at four locations across the county.

Each household will receive one box of 20 masks, first come, first served, while supplies last. N95 masks will be available at the following locations on weekdays:

• Pikeville Library at 107 W. Main St. in Pikeville

• Goldsboro Library at 1001 E. Ash St. in Goldsboro

• Steele Memorial Library at 119 W. Main St. in Mt. Olive

• Health Department COVID-19 Vaccine/Testing Clinic at 1320 W. Grantham St. in Goldsboro

These masks are being provided free of charge by the federal government to local pharmacies and health centers across the United States. Updates to the N95 distribution can be found here.

12:55 p.m.

COVID-19 daily cases are at their lowest total of the year so far, good news in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Carolina reported 7,327 new cases. A week ago, there were 18,452 new cases added and the number was even higher two weeks ago (22,308).

This is the first time the daily case total has been below 10,000 since Dec. 29.

The percent positive is also trending in the right direction,

The daily percent positive is 26.6%, the fifth consecutive day below 30%.

A week ago it was 37.8%.

Hospitalizations stand at 4,882. That's 202 fewer than Friday It's the fourth day that the number of patients has decreased.

MONDAY MORNING HEADLINES

Yet another new mass COVID-19 testing location is opening Monday.

This latest testing site will be at DPAC, and it will be open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily.

The site offers PCR testing with results delivered within 1-2 days, and the test will be totally free.

Appointments are encouraged but not required. On site registration is also available. Click here to book your appointment.

Wake county COVID-19 testing sites reopen Monday morning at 11 for the first time since Friday. The sites closed Saturday due to winter weather and cold temperatures.

Business owners have until the end of the day to apply for COVID-19 recovery grants from the state government.

The state set aside $500 million in relief funds with the Business Recovery Grant Program. Those grants come in one-time payments and are designed to help North Carolina businesses that experienced an economic loss due to COVID-19.

Around 4,300 businesses have applied for grant money so far. Each could receive as much as $500,000.

More information about applying for the grant can be found on the NC Department of Revenue's website.

SUNDAY

COVID-19 testing locations resume normal operation today in Durham County after many closed Saturday due to winter weather.

Also, a brand new testing site is set to open Monday at DPAC. The new mass testing site will be open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily.

Free N95 masks are now available across the Triangle region.

"I think it's awesome. I work at a child care center and I know that these cloth ones do not provide the level of protection that these fancy N95 masks do, and I don't want to miss anymore work so I appreciate this," Jemma Brodney said.

National pharmacy chains like Walgreens and CVS have signs on their front doors to say if they do or don't have masks. Some county health departments are also receiving the N95 masks from the federal government and passing them out at various locations. Check with your local health department for specific details.