Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on June 30
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We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases top 64,000
At least 64,670 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 1,343 have died, according to health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday reported an additional 1,186 cases of the virus, down from 1,342 reported on Monday.
Health officials on Tuesday reported completing an additional 18,676 coronavirus tests, for a total of 910,033. The percentage of positive tests on Tuesday was 9%. Health officials have said that number should ideally be closer to 5%.
At least 908 coronavirus patients were in North Carolina hospitals on Tuesday, up from 843 on Monday. About 90% of hospitals reported data on Tuesday, compared to 75% the day before.
The most-ever COVID-19 hospitalizations the state reported on a single day was 915, a record set on June 23.
GOP leaders call for reopening schools
North Carolina Republican leaders are pushing for schools in the state to reopen Aug. 17, citing advice from the country’s top pediatric group.
Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, is expected Wednesday to announce which of the three plans public schools will use in the upcoming academic year: minimal social distancing, moderate social distancing or remote learning only.
State Senate Republicans cited guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, which “strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school” in a press release Tuesday.
“We urge Gov. Cooper to follow the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and reopen schools on August 17 for in-classroom instruction,” GOP Sen. Deanna Ballard of Watauga County and Sen. Joyce Krawiec of Forsyth County said in the news release.
Republican candidate for state superintendent Catherine Truitt also issued a news release Tuesday, citing the advice and saying plans should be left up to individual districts.
The push comes as schools in North Carolina are determining how to safely reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced them to close and move to remote instruction in mid-March.
All nursing home residents, staff to be tested
State health officials said Tuesday that all nursing home residents and workers at all facilities in the state will be tested for the coronavirus.
The number of coronavirus cases continues to increase across North Carolina, and long-term care facilities have been hit especially hard.
The state already recommends that nursing homes with at least one case of COVID-19 test all residents and employees. But now universal testing will take place in July and August.
North Carolina has more than 400 nursing homes, more than 36,000 residents and more than 25,000 employees.
Nursing homes deaths have accounted for about half of the state’s total coronavirus deaths.
“Testing will enable our skilled nursing facilities to identify positive cases earlier and better determine additional infection prevention and control measures necessary to contain spread,” Dr. Susan Kansagra, N.C. DHHS’ Chief of Chronic Disease and Injury, said in a news release Tuesday.
Some health experts have said repeat testing is also necessary to stop the spread of the virus, The News & Observer reports.
More Charlotte-area residential care facility outbreaks
Four additional coronavirus outbreaks at residential care facilities in the Charlotte area have been reported in recent days, according to Mecklenburg County health officials.
Olde Knox Commons in Huntersville, and Hunter Woods Nursing Home and Rehab, Enoch Group Home and Leaves Group Home, all in Charlotte, have had new outbreaks reported since Friday.
These additions bring the total to 24 congregate living facilities — which include nursing homes, rehab centers, senior living facilities, group homes and the Mecklenburg County Detention Center — in the county with active outbreaks.
Statewide, 123 nursing homes and 67 residential care facilities have ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks, according to data from the N.C. DHHS.
At nursing homes, 4,440 cases and 660 deaths have been reported. At residential care facilities, 1,241 cases and 114 deaths have been reported.
Bill would provide relief to meat-packing plants
North Carolina legislators last week sent Gov. Roy Cooper an economic relief bill that would help hard-hit meat-packing plants.
The bill includes “$10 million in grants for small to medium-sized meat processing plants and livestock producers,” The News & Observer reported Tuesday.
But it stops short at including safety requirements. A proposed amendment that called for more worker protections didn’t get enough support.
Statewide, more than 2,000 processing plant employees have been infected with COVID-19, according to health officials.
Wake schools delay return to athletics
Wake County public schools on Monday announced student athletes would return to workouts and practices later than expected.
Though the N.C. High School Athletic Association earlier this month said sports were allowed to restart as early as June 15, if local school districts allowed them.
Wake, which was among the school systems that decided to delay until July 6, plans to resume athletics at a later time. The decision is expected to be announced Wednesday.
Flexibility for school districts
North Carolina school districts will have more flexibility with online learning methods in the upcoming school year.
The General Assembly unanimously passed a bill last week that allows school districts and charter schools to schedule additional remote learning days if they’re needed for the health and safety of students. Gov. Roy Cooper said Monday he signed the bill into law.
All schools in the state closed and moved to remote learning in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Superintendent Mark Johnson said the new law will help schools prepare for the next academic year.
“We appreciate the General Assembly’s actions to ensure that our state’s educators and students have support to meet our schools’ critical needs during this pandemic,” Johnson said in a news release. “This is a challenging time for our students, educators and parents, and these funds will help us focus our efforts to meet their needs.”
Bars receive non-compliance letters
Seven Raleigh bars received non-compliance letters over the weekend from N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement agents for violating the governor’s executive order saying bars must remain closed.
If they continue to operate, the bars could lose their alcohol permits, according to the letters, The News & Observer reported.
Bars have become a sticking point as coronavirus restrictions continue. Under Gov. Cooper’s orders, restaurants can be open at half capacity during the current Phase Two, but that doesn’t include bars.
The bars that received non-compliance letters are in Glenwood South, a popular nightlife area. Owners of bars that opened Friday night said they were following guidance from the ABC commission. A memo from the commission said bars that serve food could be considered “private clubs” and treated as restaurants, The News & Observer reported.
This story was originally published June 30, 2020 at 7:06 AM.
