Watching NC coronavirus trends, Cooper ‘hopeful’ social restrictions can ease next week
Gov. Roy Cooper is “hopeful” the state can ease some of the social restrictions he implemented last month in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, the secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services, examined the trends the state is monitoring to determine when to allow some businesses to reopen.
Cooper’s stay-at-home order is due to expire on May 8. Signs of improvements could move the state into the first phase of a three-phase gradual relaxing of the restrictions.
“We remain hopeful that the trends will be stable enough to move us into phase one next week,” Cooper said during a news conference on Thursday.
Cohen said the administration will look at a combination of metrics when deciding whether or not to ease restrictions.
State health officials are monitoring four trends related to the virus’ spread and severity while also considering testing capacity as part of their decision-making process.
Cohen said the state had met two of the four benchmarks as of Thursday.
“I would say while the overall picture is mixed,” Cohen said, “we remain hopeful that the trends will be stable enough move us into phase one next week. We are going to continue to watch this closely.”
NC’s benchmarks
The state has succeeded in its efforts to lower the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests and leveling off the number of patients hospitalized by the virus.
The state’s DHHS reported that that nine percent of those tested were positive for the coronavirus the last two days after it was as high as 13 percent last weekend. Hospitalizations hit an all-time high of 551 on Wednesday before it dropped to 546 on Thursday.
The benchmarks the state has yet to hit are declines in the total number of lab-confirmed cases and the number of cases detected through patients with COVID-like symptoms being evaluated by health care professionals.
The state reported a single-day high 561 new cases on Thursday morning, pushing the total for the pandemic to 10,509, according to the DHHS. But Cohen said the state is conducting more tests than ever, so those numbers aren’t alarming since the overall percentage of positive tests is falling.
“We are testing more and we are seeing this trend go in the right direction, which is good news,” Cohen said.
North Carolina recorded 6,000 tests on Wednesday, Cohen said, meeting the goal of conducting between 5,000-7,000 tests per day.
Hiring contact tracers
The state is in the process of hiring contact tracers to help track how many people COVID-19 positive patients came in contact with and who those people are. Cohen said the state is well on its way to hitting the goal of employing 500 contact tracers.
The final goal the state has is to have 30-day supplies of personal protective equipment on hand to allow healthcare workers to test and treat patients. The state has enough gloves, face shield and surgical masks. It is low on gloves and N95 respirators, a problem that is widespread nationwide, Cohen said.
Even with the trends moving in a mostly positive direction, Cooper said the state’s citizens must continue the efforts that have allowed North Carolina to avoid a dangerous surge in cases that would overwhelm the healthcare system.
“Our job is to do what we know works right now,” Cooper said. “Keep our physical distance, sanitize, stay at home. I know this is a difficult time for many people But there is hope and there is a plan and it is based on data and science and facts. It prioritizes the health and safety of our communities while focusing on ways to jump start our economy safely.
What does Phase 1 mean?
In Phase 1, residents will be allowed to travel to any business that is allowed to be open, including clothing stores, sporting goods stores, book stores and other retailers. Any open store will have to implement social distancing and screen employees for symptoms. Gatherings will still be limited to no more than 10 people, but parks would be re-opened.
Face coverings are recommended in public spaces where social distancing of six feet is not possible. Employers are encouraged to maintain teleworking policies.
Restrictions remain in place at nursing homes and other congregate care facilities. Those facilities have been hit particularly hard during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The state plans to further loosen restrictions in Phase 2 (two to three weeks after Phase 1) and Phase 3 (four to six weeks after Phase 2).
This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 3:18 PM.
