Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on May 25
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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.
Reported cases and deaths
At least 24,056 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 790 have died as of Monday afternoon, according to state and county health departments.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday reported 742 new cases of the virus, up from the 497 reported the day before.
The case counts come after 1,107 new cases were reported Saturday — the largest single-day increase since the start of the pandemic and the first time the state topped 1,000 new cases in a day. Saturday’s spike came amid an increase in testing, with an all-time high of more than 26,000 daily tests completed.
As of Monday, the state was averaging 706 daily cases over the past seven days.
At least 627 North Carolinians were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Monday, up from 587 on Sunday and the highest total the state has ever reported.
Trump comments on GOP convention
President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to take the Republican National Convention out of North Carolina if the state doesn’t allow for “full attendance.”
“I love the Great State of North Carolina, so much so that I insisted on having the Republican National Convention in Charlotte at the end of August. Unfortunately, Democrat Governor, @RoyCooperNC is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed full attendance in the Arena,” the president wrote.
The state is in Phase Two of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s reopening plan, which bans indoor gatherings of more than 10 people.
The GOP convention is scheduled to kick off Aug. 24 at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte. The event was previously expected to attract 50,000 attendees, The Charlotte Observer reported.
“State health officials are working with the RNC and will review its plans as they make decisions about how to hold the convention in Charlotte,” Cooper spokesperson Dory MacMillan said in a statement Monday. “North Carolina is relying on data and science to protect our state’s public health and safety.”
Drop in testing
On Sunday, The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported that 7,074 coronavirus tests were completed between Saturday and Sunday, a drop from 26,378 reported the day before.
Less testing translated to fewer new cases reported, as Sunday’s daily increase was the second-lowest over the last week.
The number of reported cases has increased by more than 25% over the last seven days as the state has ramped up testing. Daily cases have topped 500 five times since May 17.
A total of 336,656 tests had been completed in the state as of Sunday afternoon, about 6.9% of which have come back positive. The percentage of positive overall tests has been “gradually declining.”
Hair salons open, gyms stay closed
Barber shops and salons in North Carolina welcomed “a flood” of customers over the weekend after being allowed to reopen with the start of Phase Two on Friday afternoon, The News & Observer reports.
Gov. Roy Cooper’s latest executive order allowed more businesses, including personal care services and dine-in services as restaurants, to reopen with capacity limits and restrictions. And some hair salons began to welcome customers in over the weekend, while other promised to open in the next few days and others stayed closed.
“People are looking scary,” Jesse Padilla, the owner of a Cary barber shop, told The News & Observer.
But while some barbers and hair dressers got back to work, gyms and other indoor exercise facilities are required to remain closed.
Some gym owners are unhappy with the decision.
“We were really disappointed,” Jack Wiggen, owner of Bull City CrossFit in Durham, told The News & Observer. “I have a few friends who also own gyms, and we all got on the calls with each other to make sure we understood what was happening. We got angrier when we learned it could be five weeks. We don’t have a real answer.”
A Facebook group garnered more than 5,000 members by Saturday, with a post about retaining an attorney.
This story was originally published May 25, 2020 at 8:10 AM.
