Durham County reported four new coronavirus cases on Friday, bringing its total to 39.

Durham County’s Department of Public Health reported the new totals Friday evening, saying it is investigating who the infected persons have been in close contact with while symptomatic.

The statewide total of reported cases is now 172.

On Friday morning, Durham mayor Steve Schewel ordered theaters, gyms and health clubs to close by 5 p.m. because of Durham County’s spike in cases.

By 5:20 p.m Friday, the city announced all its facilities would be closed to the public as of 8 a.m. Monday. That includes city hall, police headquarters and all fire stations. The city closed its parks and recreation facilities on March 13.

To slow the spread of illness, Gov. Roy Cooper has banned mass gatherings of 100 people or more, closed K-12 public schools and ordered bars and restaurants to close except for takeout and delivery throughout the state.

This story was originally published March 20, 2020 at 6:16 PM.

Steve Wiseman

The News & Observer

919-419-6671

Steve Wiseman was named Raleigh News & Observer and Durham Herald-Sun sports editor in May 2025. He covered Duke athletics, beginning in 2010, prior to his current assignment. In the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest, he placed in the top 10 in beat writing in 2019, 2021 and 2022, breaking news in 2019, event coverage in 2025 and explanatory writing in 2018. Before coming to Durham in 2010, Steve worked for The State (Columbia, SC), Herald-Journal (Spartanburg, S.C.), The Sun Herald (Biloxi, Miss.), Charlotte Observer and Hickory (NC) Daily Record covering beats including the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints, University of South Carolina athletics and the S.C. General Assembly. He’s won numerous state-level press association awards. Steve graduated from Illinois State University in 1989.