Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on July 21
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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 102,000
At least 102,861 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 1,668 have died, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday reported an additional 1,815 cases of the virus, up from 1,268 on Monday. Both counts were lower than the record 2,481 on Saturday.
New cases pushed the state’s total over 100,000 on Monday — a grim milestone about 140 days after the first COVID-19 case was reported in North Carolina. But experts say it’s still just the beginning, as less than 10% of the state’s population has been infected.
The health department on Tuesday reported completing about 35,100 new coronavirus tests for a total of more than 1.4 million. On Monday, about 8% of tests were positive.
More than 78,000 people in North Carolina are presumed recovered from the virus. Data on estimated recoveries is released once a week, on Monday.
Hospitalizations reach a new record
At least 1,179 North Carolinians were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 on Tuesday — a new single-day high, according to state data.
The total exceeded the 1,086 hospitalizations reported on Monday and the previous record of 1,178 hospitalizations.
The state on Friday had originally reported 1,180 hospital patients with COVID-19 but has since lowered that number.
Tuesday marked the 14th consecutive day the hospitalization count topped 1,000.
On Monday, 124 patients confirmed with COVID-19 were admitted to hospitals over 24 hours, and 324 adults were admitted to the ICU, the state health department reported Tuesday.
Governor stresses face mask use
Gov. Roy Cooper emphasized Tuesday the importance of wearing face masks and called a refusal to do so “selfish.”
“For those who continue to defy basic decency and common sense because they refuse to wear a mask — either wear one or don’t go in the store,” Cooper said. “The refusal to wear a mask is selfish. It infringes on the life and liberty of everyone else in the store.”
He said their widespread use is crucial to slowing the spread of COVID-19.
“Not only is wearing a mask the decent, neighborly thing to do, it’s the best way to boost our economy,” he said.
Cooper said 900,000 masks, hand sanitizer and cloth face coverings will be distributed to farms and agricultural operations through Cooperative Extension Service county centers. The masks are for workers to take home.
“Many of our farmworkers live in group housing, putting them at higher risk of exposure to COVID-19,” Dr. Mandy Cohen, DHHS secretary, said in a news release. “Providing masks is one way we are helping to protect workers.”
Virtual learning at Wake schools
Wake County Schools will only offer online classes at the start of the upcoming academic year.
The school board approved a reopening plan Tuesday under which students will attend school remotely for an unspecified time period.
Wake County Superintendent Cathy Moore said the plan allows for time for the COVID-19 situation to improve and for schools to gear up from safety procedures.
Moore’s goal is to have Pre-K and special-education in regional programs back in schools by Sept. 8, but said that a return date hasn’t been set.
Wake, the largest school district in North Carolina, joins at least 22 other districts and 15 charter schools in North Carolina that have opted for remote learning, saying that starting in-person instruction in August in unsafe. Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools will also hold remote classes in the fall following a two-week, in-person orientation that parents can opt out of.
Last week, the governor announced he’s reopening the state’s public schools under a plan for “moderate social distancing” that gives districts the option to hold remote classes only.
Utility order to expire
Gov. Roy Cooper’s orders to prevent utility companies from stopping services or charging fees for late payments is set to end at the end of this month.
“More than 1.45 million utility accounts in North Carolina have gone unpaid during the coronavirus pandemic,” The News & Observer reported Tuesday.
The possible expiration comes as some people may be paying more for utilities as they stay inside, and some smaller providers are feeling the strain.
Most in survey aren’t comfortable with return to school
Most North Carolina residents in a survey say they aren’t comfortable with sending children to school for now.
About 44% say they won’t feel OK with kids returning to schools, day care or camps after three months or more. Sixteen percent say they won’t be ready for a year, and 3% never will be, findings from Chernoff Newman show.
But another 18% each are already comfortable with kids going to school now or expect to feel that way “over the summer,” results show.
Also in the survey, nearly three-fourths of North Carolinians say they agree with state officials imposing a face mask mandate, McClatchy News reported Tuesday.
The survey of 1,000 North Carolina and South Carolina residents was conducted online.
Campers test positive
A Durham museum has suspended this week’s in-person summer camp sessions after two attendees tested positive for COVID-19.
The Museum of Life and Science says two children didn’t have symptoms when they participated in activities last week.
Museum staff members are being tested, and the facility “has not decided when it will restart camp sessions,” The News & Observer reported Tuesday.
Raleigh bans late-night alcohol sales
Raleigh has banned late-night alcohol sales in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Starting Wednesday, bars, restaurants and grocery stores will not be allowed to sell alcohol between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., per an order from Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin.
“Numerous instances” have been reported in which people gather at restaurants and other businesses late at night and early in the morning without social distancing or wearing face masks, according to the order.
“Our goal is to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and reduce the number of people, especially young people, gathering without masks during the early morning hours,” Baldwin said.
Orange County issued a similar order earlier this month — prohibiting alcohol sales at restaurants, private clubs and other food-service establishments after 10 p.m.
A similar order is also expected in Charlotte and surrounding towns. Officials were “drafting the language” for it last week.
Proponents of such restrictions say they will deter overcrowding in bars and businesses and will reduce potential exposure to the virus as drinking alcohol lowers a person’s inhibitions.
Private schools plan for fall sports
The N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association plans to hold high school sports this fall.
All sports except football will be allowed to start practices Aug. 10 and start playing the week of Aug. 31, provided North Carolina is in Phase Three of its reopening plan, Homar Ramirez, executive director of NCISAA, told The Charlotte Observer on Monday.
Football games can’t start until Sept. 4 and a practice start date has not been set.
Teams at public schools in North Carolina won’t start practices until Sept. 1.
More road tests waived
The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles will temporarily waive the road test requirement for more new drivers seeking a license.
The new policy takes effect Wednesday and will last until the DMV can again perform road tests, which it stopped offering in March due to COVID-19.
Gov. Roy Cooper signed a bill last month allowing teens ages 16 and 17 to get a Level 2 provisional license without a road test, but it did not apply to drivers age 18 or older.
Now the DMV says it’s found a way to waive the requirement for most drivers seeking their first license in North Carolina. Drivers must still meet certain requirements to qualify.
Longer waits for COVID-19 test results
North Carolina is among states where COVID-19 test results are delayed.
In July, the average wait time neared six or seven days, according to Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the health department. That’s up from about two or three days in June.
In some parts of the country, there’s a higher demand for tests as coronavirus cases rise, The Charlotte Observer reported. The situation has overwhelmed labs and led to a shortage in testing supplies.
On Tuesday, Atrium Health CEO Gene Woods told a U.S. Senate panel the Charlotte-based company is processing tests at 20% to 25% of its capacity “due to the national supply shortage in reagents.”
Reagents are chemicals needed in COVID-19 testing to get a positive or negative result.
“We could probably do four times the amount of tests and have close to same-day turnaround, the challenge is reagents and, still in some respects, swabs,” Woods said. “We really need to continue to beef up the supplies of reagents so that we can expedite the testing. That would be our request.”
Gibbie Harris, Mecklenburg County public health director, last week said the delays could impact contact tracing. The efforts are used to help determine who may have been in contact with an infected person.
This story was originally published July 21, 2020 at 6:41 AM.
