Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on April 6
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We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases continue to climb
North Carolina has at least 3,031 reported cases of the coronavirus as of Monday afternoon, and 48 people have died, according to state and county health departments.
At least 270 people in North Carolina were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Monday, and more than 40,700 had been tested for the virus, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
More than 90 of the state’s 100 counties have at least one reported case of the coronavirus.
Mecklenburg County, considered an epicenter of the virus in North Carolina, has the most reported cases in the state, with 741.
Wake County has 325 reported cases, and Durham County has 203.
More deaths reported
More coronavirus-related deaths were reported Monday morning, bringing the state’s total to 43.
Carteret and Columbus counties in Eastern North Carolina reported their first deaths.
The news came after five deaths were reported in North Carolina on Sunday.
Mecklenburg County, home to Charlotte, announced two people died, bringing its death toll to six. Deaths were also reported in Gaston, Henderson and Moore counties.
Treatment drug tested on humans
A treatment drug developed by researchers at UNC will now be tested on humans.
The drug, EIDD-2801, can be taken as a pill and reduced and prevented severe lung damage during testing on mice infected with the coronavirus.
Clinical trials will start in the spring.
NC prisons limit inmate movement
North Carolina prisons will not accept offenders from county jails for two weeks in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus, officials said Monday.
The transfer of inmates between prisons will mostly stop as well.
As of Monday, seven inmates at state prisons have tested positive for COVID-19.
Cases at federal prison surge
The number of people who have tested positive at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner increased to 59 on Monday, officials said.
That’s nearly five times the number of cases reported over the weekend. The majority of the cases are among inmates.
Train service suspended
The train operated by Amtrak and the N.C. Department of Transportation that runs between Charlotte and New York City halted service Monday.
The train, called the Carolinian, will be out of service through at least May 3, officials say.
It’s among dozens of Amtrak trains that have stopped or reduced routes because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Projected cases
North Carolina could have up to 750,000 coronavirus cases by the end of May if social distancing measures don’t get extended, according to a model released Monday.
The state’s stay-at-home order is set to expire on April 29. If social distancing measures extend into May, about 250,000 people could get the disease in North Carolina, according to the model from experts at Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill.
Projected death toll lowers
The number of coronavirus-related deaths in North Carolina will likely be lower than originally projected, according to researchers at the University of Washington.
About 500 people are expected to die in the state, down from an expected death toll of more than 2,400.
The lower projection takes into account the state’s stay-at-home order.
Researchers said the outbreak is expected to peak in the state next week.
Outbreak at assisted living facility
Nearly two dozen people have tested positive for COVID-19 at an assisted living facility in Henderson County, officials said Sunday.
The 23 cases are linked to workers and residents at Cherry Springs Village, which “has adhered to aggressive infection-control policies” since February, a facility spokesperson said in a statement to The News & Observer.
The new cases were reported the day after Johnston County announced three residents and a worker at Springbrook Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Clayton had tested positive for the virus.
Eight nursing homes and four residential care facilities in North Carolina have COVID-19 outbreaks.
More inmates test positive
Three more inmates at North Carolina prisons tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said Sunday.
An inmate tested positive at Johnston Correctional Institution in Smithfield, marking the facility’s first reported case. Two at Neuse Correctional Institution tested positive, bringing its total to four cases among inmates.
With the new cases, seven state inmates have now tested positive.
North Carolina prisons are working to get face masks, cleaners and other supplies to slow the spread of the virus.
Senior hours at liquor stores
Ten Charlotte-area liquor stores will start opening early to seniors this week.
Starting April 7, only customers who are 65 or older will be allowed in the stores between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays so they can “feel a little safer coming in,” Mecklenburg County ABC Commission CEO Jason Hughes said.
Some grocery stores have implemented similar policies.
This story was originally published April 6, 2020 at 6:47 AM.
