NC tops 19,000 coronavirus cases as it awaits decision on next phase of reopening

As North Carolina’s percentage of positive cases remained steady on Monday, Gov. Roy Cooper said he hopes the state can move into Phase Two of his three-phase reopening plan later this week.

Cooper said in a Monday afternoon news conference that state leaders still need to look at “a couple more days of data” before deciding on the next phase. Phase One, and his stay-at-home order, expires Friday.

“We should be able to announce something this week by midweek regarding what’s going to happen on Friday,” Cooper said. “We know it’s important to cushion the blow to the economy, but public health and safety is No. 1 and we’re going to continue to keep that at the top of the list.

“Economic prosperity and the health of the people can go hand-in-hand.”

Cooper also responded to a question about reports of “herd immunity” parties in some areas, in which people are purposely trying to get the virus, so that they can become immune to it.

“That is completely irresponsible and absolutely unacceptable,” Cooper said. “If you do that, you can easily kill someone you love.”

NC DHHS secretary Mandy Cohen was equally adamant.

“There is no circumstance under which we want people to actively pursue getting COVID-19,” Cohen said, adding that having the virus puts other people at risk.

More tests, more cases

The Department of Health and Human Services on Monday reported there have been 19,023 COVID-19 cases in 99 counties, 511 more cases than on Sunday. There have been 661 deaths in 73 counties.

The increase in case numbers continues as the state pushes forward on increased testing.

The state reported 6,811 new tests performed since Sunday, for a total of 255,755. Each of the last seven days, it has met or exceeded its goal of adding 5,000 to 7,000 tests a day.

Of total tests done so far, 7.4% have come back positive, unchanged from Sunday. The last day the state showed an overall percentage of positive tests at or above 10% was April 29.

“As we test more it’s also important to watch the rate of positive tests as a percentage of the total number of tests,” Cohen said at Monday’s press briefing. “Fortunately that has remained stable at about seven percent, which is in line with our target.”

Meanwhile, the virus has now spread to all 100 North Carolina counties, as Avery County, located in the western edge of the state along the Tennessee border, announced its first case on Monday.

Durham County passed the 1,000-case milestone on Monday, making it the county with the third most cases in North Carolina after Mecklenburg and Wake, according to data released by DHHS. The county, the sixth most populous in the state, had 1,009 cases and 39 deaths.

Durham had the third most reported deaths in the state, including more than Wake County, which has nearly four times as many people. Durham County also has a stay-at-home order that is stricter than the state’s, requiring residents to wear masks in public and limit the size of people at funerals — 25, compared to the state’s 50 maximum.

The News & Observer is keeping a separate count of COVID-19 cases based on reports from DHHS and county health departments, which tends to be higher because the state updates its total once a day. As of Sunday afternoon, after Avery County became the last of the state’s 100 counties to report its first case, that tally stood at 19,161 cases. There were 693 deaths reported over 73 counties.

More help for long-term care facilities

The state also announced on Monday a new plan that will help combat outbreaks at long-term care facilities.

DHHS says it will get more personal protective equipment (PPE) and needed supplies into facilities, which will also receive an increased payment rate for some Medicaid services to support infection prevention and management.

There are 77 active outbreaks reported in nursing homes across North Carolina. State officials have said the department will update its listing of nursing home cases every Tuesday and Friday.

The PPE packs will go to more than 3,000 state-licensed long-term care facilities and include a 14-day supply of face shields, procedure masks, gloves and shoe covers, the state announced in a news release Monday morning.

Adult care homes, family care homes, nursing homes, intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities and mental health facilities will receive supplies, which will be delivered at local distribution centers with the help of the National Guard.

The Medicaid increase will also apply to personal care and home health services.

DHHS is also recommending testing for people who live in or have regular contact with high-risk settings, which include congregate living centers such as long-term care facilities.

Wake County faces revenue shortfall

As Wake County faces a revenue shortfall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year contains no property tax rate increase or additional money for local public schools.

But the budget does propose cutting more than 100 county staff positions, though some are currently vacant. Other savings could come from a county-wide hiring freeze, cuts to services and contracts, and delayed construction projects.

County Manager David Ellis presented his recommended $1.46 billion budget from his office while Wake County leaders and the public watched during a virtual meeting Monday. The proposed budget includes nearly $17 million in cuts to spending from the current year’s budget.

Some churches stick to outdoor services

Over the weekend, a federal judge blocked Cooper’s executive order restricting indoor church attendance. Despite the action by the court, some churches continued to meet outdoors Sunday as the governor had asked.

But in Smithfield, New Life Baptist Church on Sunday held its first indoor worship service in weeks, which was planned before the court temporarily halted the state restrictions Saturday.

Steve Grice, pastor of New Life Baptist, said in an interview that the church had been meeting in the parking lot, but the distractions were too much.

This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 11:33 AM.