Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on May 5
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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 top 12,000
At least 12,480 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus as of Tuesday afternoon, and 468 people have died, according to state and county health departments.
On Tuesday, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported 408 new cases of the virus, up from 184 the day before. North Carolina was averaging 384 new daily cases over the last seven days as of Monday.
Only one county, Avery, hasn’t reported a case of COVID-19. At least one death has been reported in 64 of North Carolina’s 100 counties.
At least 534 North Carolinians were hospitalized with the coronavirus on Tuesday, up from 498 the day before. Over the last seven days, the state has been averaging 522 daily hospitalizations.
State to start reopening
Gov. Roy Cooper on Tuesday issued an executive order that will allow North Carolina to move into the first phase of reopening this week.
The order goes into effect Friday and, although the stay-at-home order will stay in place, will allow for more leniency in reasons to leave the home and more businesses will be able to open.
Retail stores will be allowed to operate at 50% capacity with proper cleaning and social distancing. Restaurants will still be restricted to takeout and delivery services.
Other businesses such as gyms, salons, theaters and bowling alleys will remain closed.
Gatherings outside with up to 10 people will be allowed and trails and state parks are encouraged to open.
Thousands have hours cut
More than 4,000 North Carolina restaurant chain workers had their hours reduced.
The cuts at OS Restaurant Services, which includes the restaurants Outback, Carrabba’s, Bonefish and Fleming’s, were at 65 locations in North Carolina and affected 4,184 workers.
“We have not had any layoffs and do not currently plan any,” Elizabeth Watts, a company spokesperson, said, according to The Charlotte Observer. “We sent WARN notices to employees and the required municipalities due to a reduction in hours resulting from the closing of our dining rooms. Some employees are working in our restaurants, which are still open for take-away and delivery.”
More than 13,000 North Carolinians have been laid off since the coronavirus outbreak started in the state.
Inmate cleaning
State prison inmates paid $1 a day to disinfect government buildings said they later tested positive for COVID-19.
The program for inmates at North Carolina Correctional Institute for Women lasted until April 16, after officials on March 25 said they would suspend work releases due to coronavirus risks.
The cleanings “were deemed to be essential to the continued effective operations of the Department of Public Safety during the response to this pandemic,” spokesman John Bull told The Charlotte Observer in a statement.
The assignments stopped after someone at the prison showed possible signs of the coronavirus, Bull said.
At least 90 inmates at the women’s facility have gotten infected, The Observer reported.
Voting lawsuit
A lawsuit filed Monday seeks looser rules surrounding absentee mail-in ballots in North Carolina in case the coronavirus pandemic leads to more voting via the mail.
Those suing, a group of voters backed by Democratic legal groups, want prepaid postage provided on all mail-in ballots, two witnesses to sign each ballot and an extended deadline.
The state board of elections included the first two parts in a list of proposed changes released in March.
School calendars
A $1.57 billion COVID-19 relief package signed into law on Monday includes changes to K-12 school calendars.
The next school year will start a week earlier than normal, on Aug. 17, and will end by June 11, 2021. No remote instruction can be scheduled before Aug. 24, except for schools with year-round or modified calendars.
In an oversight, the legislation moved up the start date for school systems in Mecklenburg County and neighboring counties, which planned to start on Aug. 31, a week after the Republican National Convention, which is expected to disrupt traffic in the area.
The legislation waives end-of-grade testing and assessments for students.
DMV renewals
License and registration renewal deadlines have been extended in North Carolina amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Five months have been added to the expiration dates of licenses, registrations, permits and other DMV-issued credentials. No fees, fines or penalties will be issued for not complying with the old renewal date.
1 million file for jobless benefits
More than one in five North Carolinians in the state’s labor force have lost their jobs in the last six weeks, as the number of people who have applied for unemployment benefits now exceeds 1 million.
North Carolina saw about 100,000 new jobless claims a month during the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009, Lockhart Taylor, head of the N.C. unemployment agency, told state lawmakers at a recent meeting.
Now the state has seen 10 times that many claims since mid-March, he said, according to The News & Observer.
This story was originally published May 5, 2020 at 6:50 AM.
