Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on June 4
We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases reach single-day record
At least 32,074 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 1,006 have died, according to state and county health departments.
On Thursday, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported an additional 1,189 cases of the virus, a jump from the 888 reported the day before and the highest-ever daily total reported during the pandemic.
Thursday’s count broke the previous record of 1,185 new daily cases, which was set on May 30.
North Carolina was averaging 936 daily cases over the last seven days as of Thursday.
The increase in cases comes as the state on Thursday reported completing 19,039 new COVID-19 tests, the second-highest daily total. More tests have been linked to higher case counts, The News & Observer reported.
Officials reported a total of 468,302 tests — about 9% of which have come back positive.
At least 659 North Carolinians were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Thursday, down from 684 reported the day before.
Order addressing racial disparities
Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday said he signed an executive order to address health care disparities in black and brown communities.
People of color have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. African Americans make up about 22% of North Carolina’s population but account for 30% of confirmed coronavirus cases and 34% of deaths.
Latinos make up about 10% of the state’s population but account for 39% of its coronavirus cases.
“I want to be clear – there is nothing inherent to black or brown people that makes them more susceptible to severe COVID-19 illness. The data should not be used to further racism or fear,” the governor said during a news conference Thursday. “The disparity is because people of color have historically had less access to healthcare, housing, economic opportunity and more. This virus is exploiting those inequalities and it’s up to us to do something about it.”
The executive order creates a task force to address long-term disparities and directed the North Carolina Pandemic Recovery Office to fairly distribute relief funds, including to minority-owned businesses.
Bar lawsuit
A group of nearly 200 North Carolina bar owners have filed a lawsuit against Gov. Roy Cooper seeking to be allowed to reopen immediately.
Gov. Cooper ordered the bars to close on March 17.
The group, the North Carolina Bar & Tavern Association, wants a temporary restraining order from Executive Order 141 and says the state’s line between bars and restaurants was arbitrarily drawn under the state’s reopening plan.
Two North Carolina bar owners previously filed lawsuits. The owner of a bar in Hickory says Cooper should not have the sole power to order businesses closed and the owner of bar in Southport questions the logic behind allowing restaurants, wineries and breweries to reopen but not bars.
Cooper has defended his authority and reasoning behind businesses restrictions. He also suggested Thursday that bars would be allowed to reopen earlier than Phase Three.
“We’re analyzing whether bars and gyms should be able to reopen, and I will say there is a possibility that even before we get to the timeline of Phase Three, that we might want to do a Phase 2.5 or look at some of these additional items that might boost our economy but that we would feel safe about not boosting the number of COVID-19 cases enough to overwhelm our hospitals,” Cooper said during a Thursday news conference. “That is something we are considering.”
Previously, other businesses, including gyms and strip clubs and churches have sued over the state’s coronavirus-related restrictions.
Guidance on schools promised
State leaders say next week they will release guidance on reopening North Carolina’s public schools in the 2020-2021 academic year.
All public schools in the state closed in mid-March and moved to remote learning due to the coronavirus pandemic, and it remains unclear when they’ll be able to open again for in-person learning and what measures will be in place when they do.
Guidance was scheduled to be released Thursday but it was revised after districts brought up questions about the initial proposal. The revised plan will be released next Thursday at a special Board of Education meeting.
One school district, Columbus County Schools, has already said students will have the option to attend school from home in the fall.
First child death reported
North Carolina reported its first coronavirus death among a child.
Aurea Soto Morales, an elementary school student from Durham, died Monday at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, The News & Observer reported Wednesday. The virus caused swelling in the child’s brain and put her in a coma.
Creekside Elementary, where she went to school, posted a statement online:
“Our whole Creekside community’s heart is broken over the loss of one of our wonderful students, who was a shining light wherever she went. Even though we must remain physically distant due to COVID-19, we are still reaching out to support our children, families, and staff during this difficult time.”
Butner correctional officer dies
A correctional officer at the Federal Correctional Complex in Butner has died after contracting the coronavirus.
Staff at the prison were notified through emails, The News & Observer reported Wednesday.
Charlynn Phillips, 51, is the first staff member the federal prison system has reported dead from COVID-19. She had worked at Butner for nearly a decade and lived in Winston-Salem with her son, according to her father and a brother-in-law.
Officials have ordered mass testing at Butner after six deaths were reported in eight days at the facility.
Since March, 15 inmates with the virus at the complex have died — the most deaths reported at any federal facility in the country.
Protests continue
Protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died while being pinned by a Minneapolis police officer last week, continued in North Carolina on Wednesday.
Health officials have previously expressed concern about the spread of the coronavirus as large crowds gather for the protests.
Gibbie Harris, Mecklenburg County health director, said Tuesday a surge in related cases could be seen within two weeks, along with a possible increase in cases resulting from Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan.
This story was originally published June 4, 2020 at 6:57 AM.
