2020 Coronavirus Outbreak - The Daily Tar Heel

Yeshua Sanchez, a manager at Cosmic Cantina, takes an order in Cosmic on Thursday, July 11, 2019.

UNC student starts GoFundMe for Cosmic Cantina kitchen workers as hours get cut

By Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez | Mar. 26, 2020

The Cosmic Cantina cashier who started the fundraiser cites the hard work, passion, effort, and skill of his coworkers, and believes they are well-deserving of the extra funds. Despite their fears of contracting the coronavirus, Cosmic Cantina's staff keeps going to work. "I'm very scared of getting sick with the virus, but what're we going to do? We need to at least earn a little money,” said one kitchen worker.

Emily Newman, left, and Kathryn Carpenter, right, are master’s students in the Department of Health Behavior at the Gillings School of Global Public Health. Newman and Carpenter co-created the Childcare for Healthcare Workers website that helps connect UNC Health employees with emergency childcare, among other resources, amidst COVID-19. Photo by Taylor Doggett.

UNC students connect health care workers with emergency child care amid pandemic

By Claire Tynan | Mar. 26, 2020

The Gillings School of Global Public Health students co-created a website to provide UNC Health employees with childcare options amid the spread of COVID-19.

Chapel Hill Town Council members Jessica Anderson, Mayor Pam Hemminger, and Michael Parker vote during a meeting at Town Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020.

Chapel Hill Town Council gives latest coronavirus updates at special meeting

By Henry Haney and Brittany McGee | Mar. 26, 2020

In a special Chapel Hill Town Council meeting Wednesday, Town Manager Maurice Jones explained that Chapel Hill activated the Emergency Operations Center, closed many public facilities, suspended public meetings until March 30 and has moved to the Saturday route schedule in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alana Harned, a sophomore exercise and sport science major at UNC-Chapel Hill, uses the 3D printers at Murray Hall's BeAM makerspace to make a baby Yoda as a gift for her friend on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020.

UNC Makerspaces are helping fight against medical supply shortages due to COVID-19

By Emily Orland | Mar. 26, 2020

UNC's Makerspaces are teaming up with UNC Health to help fight the shortage of medical supplies due to COVID-19.

Grace Garcia poses for a family photo with her parents and four siblings. Photo courtesy of Garcia.

Everywhere you look: Here's how students are handling virtual class in a full house

By Greta Travaglia | Mar. 26, 2020

After the University announced campus closure and remote instruction, students were instructed to return to their permanent residences to finish off the semester. Students share the challenges and benefits they've experienced so far taking classes remotely back home.

The Graham Family Farm sells produce like this at the Carrboro Farmers' Market, which is staying open during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo courtesy of Louis Graham.

The Carrboro Farmers' Market will remain open amidst growing coronavirus concerns

By Emma Kenfield | Mar. 25, 2020

Farmers' markets in North Carolina are regarded as an essential food source and will thus be allowed to remain open at this time despite the growing COVID-19 crisis. The Carrboro Farmers' Market has assured that it will continue to introduce greater safety precautions in order to support both local businesses and consumers.

Orange County Schools Board of Education member Matthew Roberts speaks at a meeting on Feb. 10, 2020.

Orange County School Board discusses transition as classes go online

By Suzannah Claire Perry | Mar. 25, 2020

Faced with jolting transitions due to COVID-19, the Orange County Schools Board of Education discussed how students, faculty and the budget will be impacted.

Orange County Commissioner Penny Rich reviews documents at a joint school boards meeting between Orange County Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and the Board of County Commissioners. The meeting took place on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough, N.C.

Orange County Commissioners approve program to help small businesses amid pandemic

By Amena Saad and Guillermo Molero | Mar. 25, 2020

The Board of Orange County Commissioners met Tuesday to approve a program providing financial support to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Orange County Commissioners Candidates Mark Dorosin, Jean Hamilton, and Penny Rich discuss their platforms at the CHCCS PTA Council Orange County Commissioners Candidate Forum at Chapel Hill Town Hall on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020.

Orange County to issue stay-at-home order Friday at 6 p.m.

By Anna Pogarcic and Sonia Rao | Mar. 25, 2020

In an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, Orange County is now officially ordering residents to stay at home. The county is asking law enforcement to help with this order, which does not include travel to essential businesses, such as grocery stores.

(From left) Town Council Members Damon Seils, Sammy Slade, Randee Haven-O'Donnell and Barbara Foushee and Mayor Lydia Lavelle listen to an ENO Arts Mill proposal in West Hillsborough on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020 at the Carrboro Town Hall.

Carrboro Town Council discusses local measures to address COVID-19 pandemic

By Brent Van Vliet | Mar. 25, 2020

The Carrboro Town Council met Tuesday to discuss ideas to support the community amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Visitors walk by Thomas Sayre's sculpture "Gyre" at the North Carolina Museum of Art. The museum, among other organizations, has taken to social media to promote the arts. Photo courtesy of Kat Harding.

Arts organizations take to social media to support local artists during COVID-19

By Dominick Ferrara | Mar. 25, 2020

“Retweeting, engaging with content on social media platforms, commenting — all of that can provide a supportive and uplifting experience for everybody, whether you're the one enjoying the performance or the one participating in it.”

ICE agents are requesting a hold of 45,000 of these N95 surgical masks, a move that could make less of them available to medical providers battling the coronavirus. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Editorial: ICE agents don't need masks, doctors do

By Editorial Board | Mar. 25, 2020

"And when time inevitably comes that you or someone you know needs treatment for COVID-19, who would you rather have the mask?"

Twelve cases of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, were reported in Cabarrus County to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as of March 25, 2020.

First coronavirus related death in North Carolina reported in Cabarrus County

By Michael Taffe | Mar. 25, 2020

The first COVID-19 related death in North Carolina was reported in Cabarrus County on March 24, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The Old Well pictured on Monday, March 23, 2020.

Carolina Student Impact Fund helps students struggling due to COVID-19

By Evan Castillo | Mar. 24, 2020

The rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus has disrupted everything from the stock market to spring commencement. UNC's Carolina Student Impact Fund will aim to aid students financially due to the effects of the pandemic.

The north side of Spencer Residence Hall faces Franklin Street on Sunday, Mar. 1, 2020. Built in 1924, Spencer was the first all-female residence hall, but is now co-ed.

Hundreds co-sign letter asking UNC to pay campus RAs through the semester

By Maddie Ellis | Mar. 24, 2020

After receiving an email stating that their positions will be terminated on April 1, a group of resident advisers wrote a letter to Carolina Housing, requesting to be paid the remainder of their stipends following the COVID-19-related residence hall closures. Before sending this letter, student staff received an email from Carolina Housing updating their status, stating that no final decisions have been made about compensation after March 31. While Carolina Housing said it will wait for guidance from the UNC System, other universities such as N.C. State and UNC-Charlotte have made plans to compensate RAs.

The Daily Tar Heel's Co-Photo Editor Maya Carter poses for a portrait on Sept. 15, 2019. Carter, class of 2020, is a psychology major.

Office DJ: We gon' be alright

By Maya Carter | Mar. 24, 2020

Co-photo Editor Maya Carter shares the songs that are keeping her spirits up now that March Madness, commencement and basically everything else has been cancelled or postponed in "Ms. Rona's wake."

A professor shares class slides on Zoom during the first day of online classes on Monday, March 23, 2020. UNC has moved to online learning for the remainder of the semester.

Here's how different courses adjusted for the first days of online classes

By Alexis Dumain | Mar. 24, 2020

On Monday, UNC spring courses resumed — following an extended, two-week spring break because of the coronavirus outbreak. Campus community members share their perspectives on what transitioning to remote learning is like and some challenges they foresee for the rest of the semester.

The original Phi Gamma Delta house burned down the morning of graduation in 1996. Twenty years after the fire killed five students, a new house stands in its place on Cameron Ave.

Sororities and fraternities share how they are supporting members during the pandemic

By Sasha Schroeder | Mar. 24, 2020

Here's how UNC's Greek Life is responding to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Orange County Commissioners Candidates Amy Fowler (via laptop), Mark Marcopolos, Mark Dorosin, Jean Hamilton, and Penny Rich discuss ther platforms at the CHCCS PTA Council Orange County Commissioners Candidate Forum at Chapel Hill Town Hall on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020.

COVID-19 fallout could alter town budget schedules and funding priorities

By Victoria Johnson | Mar. 24, 2020

To limit the spread of COVID-19, or coronavirus, the Town of Chapel Hill has canceled all advisory board, commission and town council meetings until further notice, including a council budget work session originally scheduled for March 18.

Carrboro United staff, who are all displaced service industry workers, safely deliver food directly to customers' cars on Hub Day at 300 E Main St. in the heart of downtown Carrboro. Photo courtesy of Zoë Dehmer.

'Restaurants need guests to survive': New food hub supports Carrboro businesses

By Audrey Selley | Mar. 23, 2020

“The problem was immediate, and it was our responsibility to find a solution for the problem,” Tom Raynor, founder of Carroboro United, said. “We don't have a week, or two weeks, or months to take action.” Carrboro food hub looks to help restaurants, farmers and the local economy by selling meals to Carrboro and Chapel Hill residents.