Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on July 3
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
New cases, hospitalizations hit record highs
At least 70,241 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 1,392 have died, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday reported a record 2,099 cases of the virus, breaking the earlier record of 1,843 set Wednesday.
The number of North Carolinians hospitalized with COVID-19 also set a record of 951, DHHS said Friday.
On Friday, the percentage of positive tests was 11%, passing the 10% mark for the first time. Health officials have said that number needs to get closer to 5%.
How man people are actually infected in NC?
While more than 70,000 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, the number of people who have contracted the virus statewide is likely closer to half a million, according to researchers from N.C. State University and UNC Chapel
The researchers estimate more than 480,000 people have been infected in the state, less than 5% of North Carolina’s population. They said the number indicates the state is not testing enough people, according to The Charlotte Observer.
The estimates show that about 84,000 people currently have the virus in North Carolina and about half of those could still be infectious, The Observer reports.
No juveniles test positive at detention centers
No juveniles in North Carolina’s detention centers have tested positive for the coronavirus, the state Department of Public Safety reported Thursday.
North Carolina operates four youth development centers and seven juvenile detention centers. About 96 were tested in juvenile detention centers, and about 152 were tested in the youth development centers. Youths were only tested if they agreed to it.
The testing was conducted at juvenile facilities in mid-June after state officials recommended testing at all congregate living facilities.
In May, four staff members across different facilities tested positive.
“We are thankful that to this point, no child in one of North Carolina’s state-operated juvenile justice facilities has been infected with the coronavirus,” William Lassiter, deputy secretary for Juvenile Justice, said in a press release Thursday. “These results are good, but we will not relax our efforts to protect the health and safety of our staff and the juveniles in our care.”
State fails to hit benchmarks
Dr. Mandy Cohen, N.C. DHHS secretary, said during a news conference Thursday that the state is continuing to fail to hit benchmarks that measure the spread of COVID-19.
State officials use four metrics to monitor the spread of the coronavirus: hospitalizations, the number of new lab-confirmed cases, the percentage of positive tests and the number of people with COVID-like symptoms at hospital emergency departments.
She said North Carolina isn’t seeing progress in any of them.
“We are not in dire straits like some (states) around us,” she said. “We have reason to be concerned, though. This isn’t where I’d hoped we’d be for July Fourth weekend.”
Cohen also said North Carolina is seeking federal help with a testing supply shortage that’s causing delays in receiving results. The shortage of reagents, the chemicals used to run lab tests, means labs can take between five and six days to report test results.
“The health systems could run more tests if they had more reagents,” Cohen said. “We can’t solve that problem from the state level. Federal help and action is needed to address these supply issues right now.
Governor vetoes reopening bills
Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday vetoed three more bills passed by the state legislature that attempted to lift coronavirus-related restrictions.
The bills would have reopened gyms, fitness centers, skating rinks, bowling alleys, amusement parks and entertainment venues — all of which have been required to stay closed under Cooper’s executive orders.
He also vetoed House Bill 686, “Freedom to Celebrate the Fourth of July,” which would have allowed parades and firework shows to violate Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan and Senate Bill 105, “Clarify Emergency Powers,” which would have required agreement from the rest of the Council of State for some orders.
Fewer wait for unemployment
The backlog of unmet unemployment claims in North Carolina is shrinking.
The Division of Employment Security says over 1.1 million North Carolinians applied for unemployment benefits between March 15 and June 30. More than 765,000 of those have received benefits and 4% of claims, or 45,000, are still pending. More than 230,000 were considered ineligible for benefits.
In mid-April, 630,000 claims had been filed and 211,672 had received their benefits.
The unemployment office was inundated with claims as shutdowns related to the coronavirus pandemic put many out of work.
The shrinking backlog is partly due to less people filing for benefits. From March 15 to April 23, DES received about 18,000 claims a day. In June, it averaged 12,264 daily claims.
Hospitals relax restrictions
The Triangle’s three biggest health care systems, Duke, WakeMed and UNC, recently relaxed visitor restrictions.
Non-coronavirus patients can now have one designated visitor who is at least 18 years old. They must be screened and must wear a mask when in the building. Coronavirus patients are still not allowed to have visitors except for “end-of-life” situations.
The relaxing of restrictions comes as the virus is more prevalent in North Carolina than when they started and as hospitals are busier than ever. But hospitals say they’re more confident now in their supplies, such as PPE, and in their ability to prevent the spread of the virus.
School reopening options
School districts in the Raleigh and Charlotte areas have discussed possible ways to operate in the fall.
In the Wake County school system, officials recommend reopening with a weekly rotation schedule that starts in August.
Campuses would be at one-third capacity, with students transitioning from in-person to at-home learning. The proposal will go to the school board for a vote.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg district staff on Wednesday presented options that “range from a complete return to school to operating at 50% capacity to a fully remote education,” The Charlotte Observer reported.
The next steps would depend on an announcement from Gov. Roy Cooper, who has said a reopening decision would come in “the next couple of weeks.”
This story was originally published July 3, 2020 at 9:11 AM.
