North Carolina’s coronavirus total shot up by more than 350 cases Tuesday, soaring past 3,300 statewide as Gov. Roy Cooper left open the possibility of extending the state’s stay-at-home order through May.

At a news conference Tuesday, Cooper said the curve-flattening measures are working. But with social-distancing remaining the best weapon in the fight against the spread of COVID-19, residents may need to stay isolated longer, he said.

“I know many of you are wondering if this North Carolina model means our stay at home order will continue into May,” Cooper said. “My answer is we just don’t know yet.”

The state Department of Health and Human Services reported 3,221 confirmed cases Tuesday, up from Monday’s total of 2,871. The state reports 46 deaths from COVID-19, a double-digit rise over the previous day’s count of 33.

Of those people who are sick, 354 remain hospitalized statewide.

While the state updates its totals once per day, The News & Observer is tracking the number of cases and deaths throughout the day, relying on state and county health departments. The N&O’s reported case number is 3,321 cases, with 54 deaths. According to The N&O count, coronavirus has now spread to 92 of the state’s 100 counties.

Wake County reported 16 new positive cases, upping its total to 351 total cases. Durham County also reported 16 new positive cases, bringing its total to 219. The state reported Orange County added six new cases, to 73.

The virus is expected to hit its peak across North Carolina next week, though researchers with the University of Washington now project 500 deaths rather than their earlier estimate of 2,400 — an adjustment they attribute to social distancing guidelines now in their second week statewide.

“The numbers are pretty stark,” Gov. Cooper said earlier in the day at a Council of State meeting. He added that if the state will “continue with these interventions” there’s a better chance of not overwhelming health care providers.

“We are where we are, and we will get through this ... particularly if everyone does his or her part,” Cooper said.

Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry, though, added that the stress being placed on the state’s workforce is not sustainable and that officials should trust employers to keep people safe.

“I think soon we need to come to some sort of conclusion or idea for how we can put people back to work,” Berry said.

State adds childcare assistance

DHHS secretary Mandy Cohen announced in Tuesday’s new conference that the state will provide financial assistance to help essential workers with child care costs, and also bonuses to child care teachers and staff who continue to provide care during the COVID-19 crisis.

“Child care is an essential service,“ Cohen said. “Our health care professionals caring for those who are sick, grocery workers who are restocking shelves, and truck drivers delivering packages to our doors all need child care so that they can go to work.”

Essential worker emergency child care financial assistance, as defined in Cooper’s Executive Order 121, will be offered through May and may be extended.

To receive an emergency care subsidy, parents must complete the COVID-19 Parent Application for Financial Assistance for Emergency Child Care (bit.ly/3e4CVHR) and submit it to their child care provider. Financial aid is available to parents and caregivers who are essential workers and who meet the following criteria:

• Their income is below 300% of the poverty line.
• They are an essential worker fighting COVID-19 or protecting the health and safety of communities.
• They feel they have no other viable child care options available to them.

The state has established a hotline to help essential workers from child care programs: 888-600-1685 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

NC unemployment claims continue to rise

An average of 21,000 people per day have filed for unemployment in the state in the three weeks since coronavirus-related business closures began, and North Carolina is on track to surpass 500,000 jobless claims by the end of this week.

State officials have so far approved nearly $30 million worth of unemployment benefits for people who lost their jobs due to coronavirus, and even more money is on the way with federal benefits kicking in soon.

Congress and President Donald Trump recently approved a stimulus package that included expanded unemployment benefits for people out of work. Those unemployment benefits will be $600 a week, for up to four months. Those benefits are in addition to the $1,200 checks most adults will get.

State treasurer speaks about having coronavirus

On a conference-call meeting with Cooper and the Council of State, NC Treasurer Dale Folwell described battling coronavirus as a “very, very intense” experience.

Folwell was hospitalized March 29, receiving care at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem for five days before being released, according to information released by his office. He has since been recovering at home.

Three other employees at the treasurer’s office also have tested positive for coronavirus.

“I want to thank you all for all your well wishes as well as publicly thank my wife who has been the caregiver for me during this ordeal,” Folwell said during the meeting.

‘Lost Colony’ season vanishes

For the first time since World War II, Roanoke Island’s outdoor production of Paul Green’s “The Lost Colony” has been canceled.

The Roanoke Island Historical Association made the announcement about the show’s 83rd season on its Facebook page on Tuesday.

“Several times throughout our storied history, the community has rallied around The Lost Colony. Whether it was to help repair storm damage as a result of hurricanes or devastation caused by fire – every time the local community has stepped up and helped the Colony recover. We feel this is the appropriate time for The Lost Colony to take a step back and to return the favor and rally around the community that has done so much for us,” RIHA Board Chair Kevin Bradley said in the statement.

Tickets for this season’s performances are eligible for a refund, or they can be applied to the upcoming 2021 season. Contact The Lost Colony office at 252-473-2127 or visit thelostcolony.org.

Put a hold on Easter Egg hunts

Triangle police departments are warning residents that it is not safe to conduct Easter Egg hunts this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Towns and churches have canceled their annual events, but the Apex police department said it “received some concern” about groups still planning to carry on the tradition this Easter weekend.

Wake County Emergency Management officials said having an Easter egg hunt at a business or in a subdivision violates the county order against mass gatherings, according to Apex police.

Some neighborhoods are organizing modified egg hunts. In Raleigh’s Five Points neighborhood, parents are encouraged to print out large egg shapes that can be decorated by kids and hung in trees for other kids to walk by and spot, but not touch.

A similar hunt is happening in Raleigh’s Fallon Park, with hidden eggs that kids are encouraged to photograph, but not touch.

Parents can make this even more fun by offering a piece of candy for each egg their children “find.”

Breweries and bottle shops are essential

Durham Mayor Steve Schewel said the city considers breweries and bottle shops to be essential businesses and will allow them to keep operating.

Most are open for curbside service only, he said in an email, but they will be required to submit a plan for social distancing and employee sanitation by Thursday.

Staff writers Stephen Wiseman, Will Doran, Kate Murphy, Jonas Pope IV and Jonathan M. Alexander contributed to this report.

This story was originally published April 7, 2020 at 10:52 AM.