Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on April 1
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We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases top 1,700
North Carolina has at least 1,717 reported coronavirus cases as of Wednesday afternoon, and 15 people have died.
More than 200 people in the state were hospitalized with COVID-19, and at least 26,200 coronavirus tests had been completed.
More than 80 of the state’s 100 counties now have at least one confirmed case of the virus.
Mecklenburg County has the most reported cases in the state, with 465. Wake County has 228, and Durham County has 141.
Death toll rises
More deaths from the coronavirus were reported, increasing the statewide total to 15, state and county records show.
Rockingham County reported its first death Wednesday afternoon. The patient was in his or her 60s and had several underlying conditions.
A death was reported Wednesday afternoon in Mecklenburg County. No details about the person were released. This is the second coronavirus death reported in the county.
A death was also announced in Bertie County on Wednesday afternoon. The patient was at least 65 years old, officials said, but no other information was released
Another patient died late Tuesday in Wilkes County, officials said.
In Guilford County, a 78-year-old resident who had underlying medical conditions died from the virus, officials said. A person in his or her 80s died in Cherokee County, and another person died in Forsyth County.
Law enforcement officials on Tuesday night said a Montgomery County sheriff’s deputy died from the coronavirus.
Wells Fargo workers test positive
Two workers at a Raleigh Wells Fargo campus have tested positive for the coronavirus, the bank said Wednesday.
The company says it learned of the first case on March 25 and of the second case on Tuesday.
This comes the day after Wells Fargo said two employees at its Customer Information Center in Charlotte tested positive for COVID-19.
Ambulance worker tests positive
A Mecklenburg County EMS employee has tested positive for COVID-19, officials said Wednesday.
The worker is isolated at home now and was not at work with symptoms. The worker started showing symptoms Sunday and was last at work Thursday.
He or she had not transported a COVID-19 patient.
More cases at NC federal prison
Butner Federal Correctional Institution now has nine reported cases of coronavirus, the Federal Bureau of Prisons said Wednesday.
Two cases of the virus were reported at the prison on Monday. One staff member has also tested positive.
Visitors are not allowed at the facility at this time.
School calendar changes
The Wake County school system said Wednesday it is switching all year-round schools over to a traditional calendar through at least May 15 while schools use remote learning.
Thousands of year-round school students in the county will have classes each weekday and their breaks shortened or eliminated.
The changes start April 13.
Company donates treatment
Amneal Pharmaceuticals, a New Jersey-based company, donated 600,000 doses of hydroxychloroquine to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
The drug could be used to treat patients at hospitals in the state this weekend.
The Food and Drug Administration issued an “emergency use authorization” last weekend for the anti-malarial drug to be used to treat COVID-19. But that doesn’t mean it’s clinically effective yet.
Prison employee tests positive
The N.C. Department of Public Safety on Wednesday said it would start taking the temperatures of state prison workers.
The announcement comes after an employee of Maury Correctional Institution in Eastern North Carolina tested positive for COVID-19. The worker had limited interactions with inmates, officials said.
Hospitalizations
Charlotte-area patients make up almost half of those hospitalized with the coronavirus in North Carolina, the state Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday night.
Of the 157 patients hospitalized due to coronavirus, 76 are in Mecklenberg County and surrounding counties, according to the data.
Utility services
Gov. Roy Cooper signed an executive order Tuesday afternoon the stop utility companies from shutting off services to customers who can’t pay their bills.
The order gives residents a 60-day grace period to make payments.
More tax relief
North Carolina is expanding tax relief to residents and businesses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The state already announced there will be no penalties for individual, corporation, partnership, trust and estate filings and payments. It also extended filing and payment deadlines for income taxes until July 15, along with the federal government.
Now there will be no penalties for late filing or payment of state sales and use and withholding taxes until after July 15, the N.C. Department of Revenue said Tuesday.
Wells Fargo workers test positive
Two workers at the Wells Fargo Customer Information Center in Charlotte have tested positive for the coronavirus, the company said Tuesday.
The bank said it was informed Sunday about the workers who tested positive. The two employees had not been into work since March 13 and March 12, respectively.
The center is one of the largest corporate campuses in the area, with about 9,000 workers.
Medical supplies still needed
North Carolina has received a little more than 17% of the medical supplies and protective equipment for health care workers that it has requested from the federal government, the governor said Tuesday.
The state is still pushing to get the supplies it requested and, in the meantime, is looking for ways to get them from other sources.
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 6:56 AM.
