NC coronavirus stats rise, but not as fast. State health leader says that’s promising.
After the number of North Carolinians hospitalized due to coronavirus dropped each of the previous two days, that number rose on Tuesday.
The state’s Department of Health and Human Services reported on its website that 418 people are hospitalized as they battle COVID-19. That’s an increase of 105 over Monday’s reported total of 313.
DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen said in a Tuesday afternoon news conference that the increase in hospitalizations is likely a combination of an increased severity in cases and increased reporting from hospitals.
Cohen emphasized that the state is watching trends involving cases, hospitalizations and deaths, and that the “doubling rate” for lab-documented cases — how long it takes for cases to double from 1,000 to 2,000 or 2,000 to 4,000 — is key.
“If you go back in time, the doubling rate is extending, and that’s a good thing,” Cohen said. “That tells us that we’re slowing the rate of acceleration. And it tells us that all the hard work we’re doing to stay at home is working.”
Cohen also spoke on the importance of getting more people access to health insurance, and pointed those without insurance to go to healthcare.gov to look for options.
The state reported 5,024 total cases with 108 deaths on Tuesday. The virus has been reported in 93 of the state’s 100 counties.
Reaching a peak so the number of cases will begin falling is the next step in the process of emerging from the pandemic. Cohen said the modeling does not yet show when the virus’ spread will abate.
“I don’t see a peak at this moment in time,” Cohen said. “It doesn’t mean I see a surge either.”
The state’s website is typically only updated once per day. Some additional cases reported by county health departments are not immediately included in that number. The News & Observer is keeping a real-time count of additional cases announced by counties updated throughout the day. As of Tuesday night, The News & Observer has confirmed 5,133 cases and 113 deaths.
Chatham County reported its first death on Tuesday. The patient was a resident at The Laurels of Chatham Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Pittsboro, and had been in declining health before the positive test. The Laurels has reported multiple cases of COVID-19 at the facility. Chatham County has 75 cases.
Some rally to ‘reopen’ North Carolina
The latest information on the virus’ spread comes as Gov. Roy Cooper mulls whether or not to extend the mandatory social distancing guidelines in place across the state. Cooper’s executive order to stay at home is set to expire on April 29.
A group opposing the restrictions, called ReOpenNC, rallied in downtown Raleigh Tuesday morning, with more than 100 protesters carrying signs and honking car horns. One woman was arrested at the protest.
The group, which had more than 28,000 Facebook followers as of Tuesday afternoon, says Cooper’s stay-at-home order is an unconstitutional overreach that will kill the state’s small businesses.
ReOpenNC wants the restrictions to end by May 1.
Although the State Capitol Police made the arrest, the Raleigh Police Department garnered much of the attention Tuesday for its defense of the arrest on social media. The Raleigh Police Department tweeted “Protesting is a non-essential activity” about 1:20 p.m. to explain why protesters were asked to leave.
In a statement Tuesday night, the Raleigh Police Department stood by its tweet as well as officers’ obligation to enforce the stay-at-home order during “these unprecedented times and unusual circumstances.” They said there’s no exemption spelled out in state and Wake County stay-at-home orders for protesting like there is for other “essential” activities.”
“But more important is the health and wellness of all who live in our community, including the officers who must engage in circumstances such as these,” the statement said. “We simply want everyone to be safe during this very serious public health crisis.”
In an email to The News & Observer, Raleigh police said they are “having ongoing conversations with Wake County officials and the Wake County District Attorney’s Office on the scope and enforcement” of both the local stay-at-home order and the statewide order.
Nursing home outbreaks
Meanwhile, DHHS reported Tuesday that there are now 30 coronavirus outbreaks at nursing homes across the state.
The counties with nursing home outbreaks are: Burke; Cabarrus; Chatham; Cleveland; Columbus (2); Cumberland; Dare; Davidson; Durham (3); Franklin; Henderson; Johnston; Moore; Orange (2); Mecklenburg (4); Rowan (2); Stokes; Union; Wake; Wayne; Wilson.
The state has also reported that there are six outbreaks at correctional facilities across the state. The counties with outbreaks at correctional facilities are: Granville; Greene; Halifax; Johnston; Pasquotank; Wayne.
Butner federal prison is also trying to contain an outbreak.
‘The simple kindness of a meal’
In addition to the much-needed donations of masks, gloves and gowns coming into local hospitals, many in the Triangle are also donating food and meals to employees, as healthcare workers tend to COVID-19 patients.
The help comes from all over — from families, organizations, companies and restaurants. Dr. Jonathan Bae, who is helping coordinate and distribute donations to Duke Health, said it’s about people wanting to give something tangible, and that the meaning behind the gift of a meal is sometimes symbolic.
“How powerful it is to say you’re supporting the well-being of some of our most critical resources right now through the simple kindness of a meal,” Bae said in an interview. “There are some dark days thinking about what’s coming, and to feel that support from the community adds a little bit of light to that darkness.”
NC airports will get federal aid
Airports in North Carolina will receive nearly $284 million from the federal government to help make up for the loss of revenue caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport will receive the largest amount, more than $135.5 million, followed by Raleigh-Durham International Airport with $49.6 million. Altogether, 72 airports in the state will receive some federal assistance.
The Trump administration announced the grants Tuesday, drawing from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security or CARES Act passed by Congress in late March. The bill provides $10 billion to airports nationwide.
How widespread is COVID-19?
A North Carolina hospital has begun a study that may show just how widespread the coronavirus is — and was — in the state.
Wake Forest Baptist Health, working with Atrium Health, Oracle, Scanwell Health and Javara, will begin a year-long random sample of 1,000 of its patients — all volunteers — looking for coronavirus antibodies.
North Carolina’s Republican-led legislature is providing $100,000 from its legislative discretionary fund to Wake Forest University to start the survey.
The study is for research purposes, not clinical use.
COVID-19 Helpline
If you think you may have the coronavirus, call your physician or the COVID-19 Helpline at 1-866-462-3821.
Staff writers Josh Shaffer, Brian Murphy, Jonathan M. Alexander, Richard Stradling and Ashad Hajela contributed to this report.
This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 11:55 AM.