Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on May 19
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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.
677 new cases
At least 19,844 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 719 have died as of Tuesday afternoon, according to state and county health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday reported 677 new cases of the virus, up from the 511 reported the day before.
At least 585 North Carolinians were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Tuesday, up from 511 on Monday.
The state has completed 265,008 coronavirus tests, about 7.5% of which have come back positive.
Health officials estimate that 11,637 people in North Carolina have recovered from the virus.
Entertainment venues discuss reopening
A group of entertainment videos in North Carolina is discussing way to safely start operations back up after months of closures and cancellations due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The NC Live Coalition, which includes representative from venues in Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Greensboro and Charlotte, are considering measures such as cashless payments, staggered entrances for audiences and disinfection, according to a Tuesday release.
Maintaining social distancing at some performances is also being discussed.
Help for immigrants
Faith leaders in North Carolina have have asked Congress to help detained immigrants.
The advocacy group North Carolina Council of Churches sent a letter Tuesday to state congressional members requesting that the Department of Homeland Security investigate how immigrants in the Stewart Detention Center in Georgia are being treated.
The letter cites a Monday story from The News & Observer, which reported that detainees at the center said they were not safe from the coronavirus there.
The letter asks Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the company operating the facility to give weekly updates on its actions, including information on how many detainees are vulnerable and what measures it has in place to protect them from the the virus.
Prison death
An eighth coronavirus-related death was reported at a hard-hit federal prison in North Carolina. At least 93 people in custody at Butner Federal Correctional Complex have tested positive for COVID-19.
Last month, inmate Richard Cephas told The News & Observer he fled the facility due to fears he would get infected and die. He later turned himself in.
Construction site outbreaks
Coronavirus outbreaks have been linked to construction sites in the Charlotte area, Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris said Tuesday.
Rocio Gonzalez of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce said there should be more efforts to protect workers from the disease, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Cases reported in 100 counties
All of North Carolina’s 100 counties have now reported at least one case of the coronavirus.
Avery County in Western North Carolina was the only in the state without a known case until Monday, when the health department announced the county’s first positive case.
“Avery County has been preparing for this reality and anticipated that our community would likely be impacted at some point,” the county health department wrote on Facebook. “Public health staff have already initiated an investigation and have identified close contacts to contain the spread of disease.”
At least one death has been reported in 73 counties.
Cooper hopeful about Phase Two
Gov. Roy Cooper said during a news conference Monday he’s hopeful North Carolina will be able to move into Phase Two of his reopening plan this week.
The governor said he plans to make a decision mid week about entering the next phase, which would lift the statewide stay-at-home order.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, said during a new conference Tuesday that trends in the state are “stable enough” to lift some restrictions Friday.
“We want to be protecting the public’s health as much as possible here,” she said during the conference. “We think we’ve made some decisions in order to do that. As we look at our numbers, we see them remain stable. We believe we can move forward to easing restrictions.”
The state has been in Phase One since May 8, but Cooper’s executive order is set to expire Friday.
Under Phase Two, restaurants and bars would be allowed to serve a limited number of on-site customers, and entertainment venues could reopen with reduced capacity. More people would be allowed to gather publicly, and playgrounds could reopen.
The number of new daily cases continues to climb in North Carolina but other key trends, such as hospitalizations and the percentage of positive tests, have remained steady or are falling.
Budget shortfall expected
North Carolina lawmakers expect the state budget to fall short by billions of dollars as tax revenues plummet due to the coronavirus pandemic.
State Senate leader Phil Berger, a Republican, said during a news conference Monday that losses could reach $4 billion — about 16% of North Carolina’s $25 million budget, The News & Observer reports. Losses could potentially mean cuts across government.
More testing needed at prisons
Experts say more people will die at state prisons without more testing.
North Carolina prison officials in early May outlined their steps to slow the spread of the coronavirus at facilities in the state, per a judge’s order. The steps included providing masks to inmates, altering sleeping arrangements and having inmates manufacture masks, disinfectants and alcohol-free hand cleansers.
But experts say other crucial steps are missing.
Plans have not been announced to release more inmates or test more for the virus. Alison Jordan, a public health consultant with expertise in jails and prisons, told The Charlotte Observer and The (Raleigh) News & Observer that without more testing, undetected cases are “inevitable.”
“The consequence is that more people will spread the disease,” Jordan said. “More people will get sick. And more people will die.”
North Carolina has tested about 4% of prison inmates, which is below the national average, according to the COVID Prison Project.
This story was originally published May 19, 2020 at 7:05 AM.
