I've sat through countless committee meetings at the #NCGA often boring, procedural, filled with #NCPOL yammering away. But these #COVID working group meetings have been jammed with information. 1/ https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2020/04/10/legislators-race-to-get-covid-information-as-they-start-drafting-bills/

Often the lede at a given meeting presents itself easily, but during these meetings of the #COVID #NCGA working group, the information presented is dense, thorough and often heartbreaking. 2/
#coronavirusNC #CoronaVirusPakistan

Three topics yesterday, first up was child care facilities, staffed by low paid workers who are now essential because they allow the #doctorsCOVID #NursesCOVID19 and other #EssentialWorkers like correx officers to go to work, round the clock. 3/

Those #childcare centers are getting enhanced subsidies & workers getting a pay boost, but they've lost all their better paying private payors. These folks operate on a thin dime already. Speakers from @ncsmartstart estimate the tab at >$100 million.

Next up was folks from @NcAging who detailed how #seniors were "living in fear of this virus" holed up at home, isolated, often hungry. Many #MealsonWheels programs having to retool w <volunteers, frozen - not hot - meals & < visits. Fewer eyes to check on vulnerable

Agencies that provide services to #seniors, always underfunded (remember, NC agencies have wait list of >11K ppl asking for services statewide), are now cash & staff-strapped. And their annual fundraising events are now cancelled.

Remember, ppl >65 make up 80% of #coronavirusNC deaths, while only ~20% of +cases. These folks are vulnerable.
Not to mention the 1200 seniors in the @NCPublicSafety #corrections system. Those folks are sitting ducks for #Covid19

Finally, at yesterday's #NCGA #COVID work group meeting was a rep from @mcdowellgov #EMS who talked abt #PPEShortages & their planning for their #paramedics getting sick from #coronavirusNC They're looking for bus drivers, etc to take over the wheel in case their #EMTs are out

In case you never noticed, #childcare workers, folks providing #senior services, #EMTs #MDs #RNs, etc work all the time, keeping society humming along while the rest of us go about our business. Why do we need a #coronavirus pandemic to show our appreciation? /fin