Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on April 27
Click here for updates for April 28.
We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
327 deaths reported
North Carolina has at least 9,415 reported cases of the coronavirus as of Monday morning, and 336 people have died, according to state and county health departments.
On Monday, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported 312 new cases, an increase from the 288 reported the day before.
The state originally reported 571 new cases on Saturday, but the number was inflated by a reporting error, officials said. Every test received form Vidant Health on Saturday was incorrectly counted as positive.
At least 473 North Carolinians were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Monday, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. That’s up from the 451 patients in the hospital Sunday.
Ninety-five of the state’s 100 counties have reported at least one case of the virus and 60 have reported at least one death.
Mecklenburg has the most, with 1,492 cases and 41 deaths. In the Triangle, Wake County has 752 cases and 14 deaths and Durham County has 555 cases and 15 deaths.
Nursing home data
The N.C. Department of Health and Human services on Monday said it would start revealing locations of nursing homes and other facilities with coronavirus outbreaks, The News & Observer reported.
More than 150 coronavirus-related deaths and 2,500 cases of the disease have been linked to group facilities, such as care centers and prisons, according to state data as of Monday.
The data show 17 people who lived in nursing homes in Mecklenburg County have died. In Wake County, seven have died and 12 have died in Durham County.
The state’s decision came after advocacy groups and a media coalition, which included The Charlotte Observer and The N&O, had called for releasing the names of the facilities.
Poison control calls spike
North Carolina Poison Control said Monday that more people are calling about cleaning products amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In March, NCPC received 682 about household cleaners, a 50% increase from the 454 such calls it got in March of last year.
“We understand people are paying special attention to keeping their homes clean and are very mindful of their health right now,” Dr. Anna Dulaney, clinical toxicologist at North Carolina Poison Control, said in a news release about the spike. “But we want people to know that cleaning products can be toxic if they’re used in the wrong way.”
More protests planned
A Mecklenburg County group that wants North Carolina to reopen has organized a protest. Reopen Meck is planning to drive cars through uptown Charlotte on May 1.
The group calls itself “an offshoot of the overarching ReopenNC movement,” which has called on Gov. Roy Cooper to lift coronavirus-related restrictions across the state.
ReOpen NC has also planned a protest for Tuesday at the Legislative Building in Raleigh. This will be the group’s third rally.
Last Tuesday, more than 1,000 ReOpenNC protesters rallied in downtown Raleigh.
Two days later, the governor announced he was extending the state’s stay-at-home order until May 8 to help slow the spread of the coronavirus. The order had been set to expire April 29.
A leader of ReopenNC wrote on Facebook that she tested positive for the coronavirus and ended her two-week quarantine on Sunday.
Prison cases rise
More than 70 coronavirus cases have been linked to the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women. The outbreak was reported in a camp at the Raleigh prison, according to The Charlotte Observer.
The N.C. Department of Public Safety said it’s taking measures to help stop the spread of the disease, including isolating inmates who are sick and disinfecting parts of the facility.
The announcement came after at least 460 inmates at another facility tested positive for COVID-19. State prison officials said they are testing each person in custody at Neuse Correctional Institution in Goldsboro.
Church threatened
Rumors about a coronavirus outbreak at a Western North Carolina church have prompted people to threaten the congregation on social media, The Charlotte Observer reported.
On Sunday, a former member of the church was arrested and charged with breaking into a church leader’s home while carrying a gun.
Word of Faith Fellowship says it is adhering to health recommendations and is live streaming its services. The congregation in a statement didn’t say if any of its members had become infected with the disease.
The church’s attorney told the Charlotte Observer on Monday that three church members who had COVID-19 have died but the church doesn’t know how many others are infected.
A lawyer says the rural church has brought the online threats to authorities’ attention.
The congregation is in Rutherford County, which has the ninth highest rate of coronavirus cases in the state.
During last decade’s recession, some owners of the church were accused of fraud, The Charlotte Observer reported. Members live in a gated community and practice a form of prayer intended to remove a demon from someone’s body.
Benchmarks for reopening
North Carolina leaders say they are evaluating seven benchmarks to determine when to reopen the state’s economy. Click here to see how we’re doing so far.
This story was originally published April 27, 2020 at 6:34 AM.
