NC reaches 2,000 reported coronavirus deaths; Phase Two set to expire this week

More than 2,000 people in North Carolina have died from COVID-19, the state reported Tuesday.

North Carolina reached the grim milestone of 2,010 reported deaths on the same day it added 1,629 new lab-confirmed coronavirus cases. The latest case report breaks a string of four days when the number of new cases declined.

The state reported that 186 people died from the flu in North Carolina during seven months of the last flu season that ended in mid-May.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday that more than 154,000 people in the United States have died from COVID-19.

According to DHHS, 56% of state deaths from COVID-19 are among people 75 and older; 22% of the deaths are among people ages 65 to 74.

The new COVID-19 cases bring the total reported in the state since March to 128,161. The official total is likely an undercount since testing was restricted in the early months of the pandemic.

Daily coronavirus tests completed, at 9,667, dipped to its lowest point since early June. In Tuesday’s DHHS report, 9% of total tests were positive. Kody Kinsley, a DHHS deputy secretary, said during a news conference Tuesday that several dozen testing sites were closed in preparation for Hurricane Isaias.

“We’ve immediately started to work to reschedule those to continue to make sure folks have access to testing,” Kinsley said.

Phase Two set to begin Friday

The state Department of Health and Human Services reported Monday that 105,093 people are presumed recovered. The estimate is based on when people were tested and whether or not they were hospitalized.

With 92% of hospitals reporting, DHHS reported on Tuesday 1,166 people hospitalized with COVID-19, up 109 from the day before.

DHHS says its COVID-19 data, including hospitalizations, is preliminary and subject to revision.

Gov. Roy Cooper banned alcohol sales in restaurants, breweries and establishments with onsite consumption after 11 p.m. beginning last Friday in an effort to drive down the infection rate. North Carolina has had a statewide mask mandate since late June.

Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan is set to expire Friday. Cooper is expected to announce Wednesday what happens next. He extended Phase Two past a mid-July expiration date, citing “troubling” indicators. In Phase Two, restaurants were allowed to open dining rooms to 50% occupancy and personal care businesses such as salons and barbershops were allowed to open with occupancy restrictions. But other businesses such as bars and theaters remain closed.

College students returning to campuses

Tens of thousands of students are returning to university campuses around the state, sharing dorms and common areas where the coronavirus can spread.

Cooper said at the news conference Tuesday that DHHS has given the universities public health guidance that follows CDC guidance.

“Clearly, it is important to protect students and faculty,” Cooper said. “The steps that they are taking at the universities to protect these students and faculty are absolutely critical, and we’re going to continue to work with them to provide any advice that they might need.”

Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, the Republican challenging Cooper in this year’s election, has sued Cooper over his COVID-19 executive orders, The News & Observer reported. A hearing on the suit is scheduled for Tuesday. Forest’s lawsuit says Cooper should have gotten consent from the Council of State before issuing the orders. Cooper said he can act unilaterally in an emergency, The Associated Press reported.

Cooper said at the news conference that he did not need concurrence from the Council of State to issue orders concerning public health.

“Clearly those orders are important for the public’s health, and we believe the courts will see it that way as well,” he said.

This story was originally published August 4, 2020 at 2:10 PM.