Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on July 15
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We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases top 91,000
At least 91,266 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 1,568 have died, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday reported an additional 1,782 cases of the virus, down from 1,956 on Tuesday. Both counts were down from the all-time high of 2,462 reported Saturday.
The death toll also increased by 16. That’s down from the record of 42 deaths reported Tuesday.
The health department on Wednesday reported completing an additional 29,791 COVID-19 tests, for a total of more than 1.2 million. The percentage of positive tests was 8%, a drop from Tuesday’s record high of 11%.
The percentage of positive tests has fallen between 8% and 10% since at least mid June. But health officials have said it should be closer to 5% to be on track for slowing the spread of the virus.
Hospitalizations hit another record high
At least 1,142 North Carolinians were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Wednesday — an all-time high.
Wednesday marked the second time daily hospitalizations in the state exceeded 1,100 and was the seventh consecutive day in which the count topped 1,000.
The latest total surpassed the previous record of 1,109 daily hospitalizations reported Tuesday.
About 76% of hospital beds and 81% of ICU beds in the state were in use as of Wednesday.
More cases at Triangle nursing home
More staff members at Springbrook Nursing and Rehabilitation have tested positive for the coronavirus.
The cases were reported at the Clayton facility just as the state had declared a COVID-19 outbreak there, one of the biggest, ever . In early April, 86 people — including 28 workers — got the virus and 22 residents died.
Now four workers have tested positive.
Statewide, more than 5,000 COVID-19 cases and 718 deaths have been reported at nursing homes.
Another inmate dies
An inmate at Albemarle Correctional Institution, east of Charlotte, died from COVID-19 complications.
The inmate, who officials did not identify, was in his late 50s and had health issues. He tested positive for the virus three days after being hospitalized on July 8. He died Tuesday, state officials say.
The prison, in Stanley County, has been hit hard by the pandemic. As of Tuesday, 98 of the medium-security facility’s 780 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19. Only two North Carolina prisons have had more inmates test positive. Neuse Correctional Institution, in Goldsboro, has had 460 and North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women, in Raleigh, has had more than 220.
Overall, 1,920 coronavirus cases and 31 deaths have been reported at correctional facilities in North Carolina.
High schools sports start date moved back
The N.C. High School Athletic Association announced Wednesday the start of high school sports practices will be delayed until at least Sept. 1.
This comes a day after Gov. Roy Cooper announced the state’s public schools could reopen under a modified plan for social distancing.
The NCHSAA also said the first five days of the school year will be a “dead period,” meaning workouts won’t be allowed. Teams can continue their limited summer conditioning and workouts under Phase One of the organization’s plan.
Spring sports and the 2020 state basketball championships were canceled in March due to the pandemic. In June, teams were allowed to return to off-season training with no contact, temperature checks and other safety measures.
More communities to limit late-night alcohol sales
Charlotte and other parts of Mecklenburg County are planning to prohibit alcohol sales after 10 p.m. to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The bans would impact “unincorporated parts of Mecklenburg County, the city of Charlotte, and in the towns of Davidson, Matthews and Mint Hill,” The Charlotte Observer reported Wednesday. They would be in effect during Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan, but it’s not clear how officials would enforce the restrictions.
“We are currently drafting the language that will be signed by the (county commissioners) Chair and the respective mayors,” Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio wrote in an email to officials, according to the Observer.
The plan comes as Orange County also banned late-night alcohol sales. People in favor of bans have said they can help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 at large gatherings.
County reports outbreaks at 5 facilities
Coronavirus outbreaks were reported this week at five different facilities in Gaston County, west of Charlotte.
The announcement came after the county for months had no COVID-19 cases at nursing homes and senior care centers. Facilities with at least two cases include “Brian Center Health & Rehabilitation and Alexandria Place in Gastonia, Peak Resources and Carolina Care in Cherryville, and Holy Angels in Belmont,” The Charlotte Observer reported Wednesday.
Gaston County officials have recently warned of a “spike” in coronavirus cases.
Phase Two extended
Cooper on Tuesday said North Carolina will remain in Phase Two for at least three more weeks.
The next phase of the state’s reopening plan could’ve started as soon as Friday but will now be delayed until at least Aug. 7 as coronavirus numbers aren’t where they should be to continue loosening restrictions, Cooper said.
“Our virus trends are not spiking like some other states,” Cooper said during a news conference Tuesday. “We have hospital capacity and our percent positive is still high but it’s steady. However, our numbers are still troubling and they could jump higher in the blink of an eye.”
The state is monitoring several benchmarks — including hospitalizations, positive cases and testing — to determine when restrictions in North Carolina can be lifted.
In addition to the high rate of positive tests and consistent record-breaking hospitalizations, infections have been increasing since May — with cases up 31.8% in the first 14 days of July compared to the last 14 days of June. More than 440 of the state’s COVID-19 deaths have been reported within the last four weeks.
Additionally, a report found the virus is spreading “uncontrolled” in the state.
This is the second time Phase Two has been extended. Cooper initially extended it in late June.
Gyms, entertainment venues, bars and other businesses are required to remain closed under Phase Two and gatherings continue to be limited to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.
Governor announces plan for schools
Cooper on Tuesday announced North Carolina’s public school students will return to school in August under a “moderate social distancing” plan.
The plan limits the number of students allowed on campus at once to 50% capacity, meaning many students will get a mix of in-person and remote teaching. Additionally, daily temperature checks and health screenings will be required and many students and staff will be required to wear face coverings.
School districts had been instructed to create three reopening plans. Plan A called for “minimal distancing” and Plan C for remote instruction only. Cooper decided on Plan B, or “moderate” distancing.
Decisions on which students attend school each day will be left up to districts. The health department has encouraged districts to set up options for online-only programs.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools plans to hold a board meeting at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday to discuss future steps. A live stream is expected to be available on the district’s Facebook page.
Most students in the state are scheduled to return to school Aug. 17. Schools closed in mid-March and moved to remote instruction the latter part of the previous school year due to the worsening coronavirus pandemic.
Bowling alleys must close again
The North Carolina Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a judge’s previous ruling that allowed many bowling alleys in the state to reopen.
Judge James Gale ruled last week that Cooper treated bowling alleys differently than businesses with similar coronavirus risk levels that were allowed to reopen — overturning the governor’s executive order keeping bowling alleys closed.
The Supreme Court granted a request from Cooper’s attorneys, who say allowing bowling alleys to reopen would make it harder to reopen schools and other businesses in the state as coronavirus cases increase.
The Court’s decision puts a temporarily delay on the judge’s prior order, meaning the bowling alleys must shut down again for now. The justices will review Gale’s decision.
NC among states with most health insurance losses
North Carolina ranks No. 5 in the United States for health insurance loss during the pandemic, a report found.
At least 238,000 North Carolinians became uninsured due to job losses between February and May, a report published on Monday says.
Unemployment increased in North Carolina after Cooper ordered some businesses closed in March in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. More than 1.1 million North Carolina workers filed for unemployment between March 15 and June 30.
About 1 in 5 adults under age 65 in North Carolina, or about 1.2 million people, don’t have health insurance with new job losses, according to a Families USA study.
This story was originally published July 15, 2020 at 7:29 AM.
