Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on March 31
Click here for the update for April 1.
We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases top 1,500
North Carolina has at least 1,536 reported coronavirus cases as of Tuesday afternoon, and 10 people have died.
More than 150 people in the state were hospitalized with the virus on Tuesday, the day after a statewide stay-at-home order went into effect.
Mecklenburg County has the most reported cases in the state, with 420. Wake County has 193, and Durham County has 124.
More than 23,000 people in North Carolina have been tested for the coronavirus, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
The pandemic’s peak is still weeks away in North Carolina, according to a model from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. As of Monday afternoon, the model estimates the peak will be April 22.
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More deaths reported
Ten people have died from the coronavirus in North Carolina.
The latest death was announced Tuesday evening. The Guilford County resident was 78 years old and had underlying medical conditions.
The death in Guilford is the third announced in the state Tuesday.
A person in his or her late 80s died in Cherokee County, officials said. A person also died in Forsyth County, home to Winston-Salem.
The news came after officials announced several deaths on Monday. An Onslow County resident in his or her 70s with underlying health conditions had contracted COVID-19 and died March 22.
A Virginia resident in his or her 80s with underlying health conditions also died, Carteret County health officials said Monday.
A Virginia resident died Friday after contracting the virus from a rehabilitation center in Northampton County, officials said Monday.
Wells Fargo workers test positive
Two people who work at Wells Fargo’s Customer Information Center in Charlotte tested positive for the coronavirus, the bank said Tuesday.
They had not been in the office since March 12 and 13, respectively.
The center is one the largest corporate campuses in the Charlotte area, at 2 million square feet. About 9,000 people work there.
Medical supplies needed
North Carolina has received a little over 17 percent of the medical supplies and protective gear it has requested from the federal government, Gov. Roy Cooper said Tuesday.
The state is still pushing for more supplies and is looking for ways to get them from other sources while it waits.
Utility Services
Gov. Roy Cooper signed an executive order Tuesday that prohibits utility companies from shutting off services for customers who can’t pay.
Under the order, residents will have a 60-day grace period to make payments.
The governor is also encouraging telecom companies to adopt similar policies.
Tax relief
North Carolina is expanding tax relief to residents and businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
No penalties will be issued for late filing or payment of state sales and use and withholding taxes until after July 15, N.C. Department of Revenue officials said Tuesday.
The state has already said there will be no penalties for individual, corporation, partnership, trust and estate filings and payments.
North Carolina already extended filing and payments deadlines for income taxes until July 15, along with the federal government.
Dance festival canceled
The American Dance Festival in Durham announced Tuesday its 2020 season was canceled due to concerns about COVID-19. Performances and other activities have been suspended through July.
Inmates test positive
Two inmates at a federal prison in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons reported on Monday the first confirmed cases among inmates at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner.
This comes days after the facility reported a staff member there tested positive.
Gun stores allowed to open
Wake County will now allow gun stores to stay open during the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Monday.
They originally weren’t included on the list of essential businesses under the stay-at-home order that went into effect Monday evening and required nonessential businesses to close.
But after the order was issued, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity Infrastructure & Security Agency updated its list of what it considers essential workers to include “workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors, and shooting ranges.”
Wake County will update its order to follow those guidelines.
Cases linked to church event
Multiple coronavirus cases have been linked to a Durham church event, county officials said Monday night.
The Faith Assembly event took place March 22 at Millennium Hotel Durham. Anyone who attended and has symptoms of the coronavirus is asked to call the Durham County Department of Public Health at 919-635-8150.
Durham County reported 11 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday.
Department of Revenue closes
The North Carolina Department of Revenue headquarters in Raleigh closed Monday after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus.
The employee had not been in the building since March 21, and the department says many employees were already working remotely.
The building is being cleaned and, in the meantime, taxpayers can still access online resources.
This story was originally published March 31, 2020 at 7:04 AM.
