Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Sept. 25
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases top 200,000
At least 204,331 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 3,409 have died, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday reported more than 6,140 cases new COVID-19 cases — a sudden spike attributed the the state’s one-time addition of new testing data that dates to May 20, when the first antigen positive case was reported.
“An antigen test is a rapid test that looks for proteins on the surface of the virus and can be processed at a doctor’s office or what’s called a ‘point of care,’” The News & Observer reported. “The molecular, or PCR test — the only test DHHS had been reporting up until Friday — looks for the virus’ genetic material, and is processed in a lab.”
North Carolina’s total case count now includes 199,768 cases diagnosed by molecular testing and 4,563 diagnosed by antigen testing.
While it took more than four months to reach 100,000 cases, it will have taken about two months to reach this “grim milestone” of 200,000, The News & Observer reported. The figures reflect the record-breaking daily case totals and other metrics reached this summer.
In addition to the new case numbers, DHHS reported 53 coronavirus-related deaths on Friday.
About 5.2% of tests were reported positive as of Thursday, the latest day for which data is available. That’s just above health officials’ goal of 5% or lower, which the state has been hovering around for about a week.
At least 903 people in North Carolina were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Friday, with 93% of hospitals reporting.
Phase 2.5 of reopening is set to expire Oct. 2 and Gov. Roy Cooper has said he will announce early next week about the status of the state’s coronavirus-related restrictions.
Wake moves ahead with reopening plans
The Wake County School Board is expected to vote Tuesday on a reopening plan despite objections from teachers and principals in recent surveys.
Under the current plan, students would return to “limited in-person classes on Oct. 26” and elementary students would come back full-time in November, The N&O reported. Educators say they’d rather wait until January.
“This board is challenged with trying to balance the risks and benefits of a return to school, and given the recommendation from staff, we will most likely land somewhere in the middle,” school board chairman Keith Sutton said at this week’s board meeting.
Gov. Cooper announced last week that school districts could reopen elementary schools starting Oct. 5 with no capacity restrictions.
Kamala Harris to visit NC
Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris will make her first trip to North Carolina on Monday since Joe Biden announced her as his running mate.
Harris is expected to discuss the Supreme Court and “what’s at stake for the American people this election” during a visit to Raleigh, The News & Observer reported.
The U.S. senator and former California attorney general last visited North Carolina when she was running in the primary, according to the N&O. She previously gave two speeches in Durham at a Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People event and at St. Joseph AME Church.
Cases at Charlotte area school; contact tracing focuses on restaurants
Health officials in Charlotte are putting renewed attention on businesses as they find out more information about the spread of the coronavirus.
Investigators about a month ago started tracking new details about the places people who had gotten COVID-19 infections visited.
“A broad analysis showed 36% of infected people had frequented restaurants and breweries, and 38% went to gatherings with family and friends,” The Charlotte Observer reported Friday. “Less than 10% of people reported going to weddings, funerals and places of worship.”
The announcement comes as six coronavirus cases were reported at Covenant Day School as of Friday. The Charlotte-area private school’s cluster is the first to appear in a Mecklenburg County K-12 setting, the Observer reported.
Mail-in voting settlement documents revealed
After both Republicans on the N.C. State Board of Elections stepped down, the board’s leader said the two former members weren’t telling the truth.
“Two members of our board resigned their seats, claiming they were misled and did not have all the information,” said Damon Circosta, chair of the N.C. State Board of Elections. “This is not true.”
He and the other Democrats left on the board shared documents they say will support their claims, The News & Observer reported Friday.
Ken Raymond and David Black resigned on Wednesday and cited concerns about a lawsuit settlement the board had approved the day before.
“In addition to creating new rules making it easier for people to fix issues on their mail-in ballots, the settlement would also extend the amount of time after the election that absentee ballots could come in and still be counted,” the N&O reported.
In North Carolina, more people than usual are expected to vote by mail this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As of Friday, the number of absentee ballots cast in the state already topped the total from the 2016 presidential election, when fewer than 200,000 residents voted by mail.
Trump visits NC day after Biden event
President Donald Trump visited North Carolina on Thursday — his fifth trip to the state in a month — and talked about health care. He also touted his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, saying the country is on the cusp of having a vaccine.
The virus has claimed 200,000 American lives, and most voters think the president has mishandled the crisis, according to polls. But on Thursday, the president told a different story.
“We have reduced the fatality rate by 85% since April,” he said. “Incredible.”
His visit came the day after Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden visited North Carolina and brought up the coronavirus pandemic’s disproportionate impact on Black Americans.
While in Charlotte, he told a dozen Black business owners and educators that the “tough times” Americans are facing during the pandemic are even worse for Black communities.
“It’s sort of emblematic of the inequality that exists,” he said at a Black Economic Summit at Camp North End. “We have a gigantic opportunity to change the systemic racism.”
Hundreds attend outdoor concert
The owner of an outdoor arena in Wake County has been told by the sheriff’s office to cancel all future events after a weekend concert there exceeded the state’s limits on gatherings.
The Sept. 19 event at Gooch Sports Arena in Wendell was investigated by the sheriff’s office after neighbors complained. The governor’s executive order limits outdoor gatherings to 50 people, but 200 tickets for the event were sold, The N&O reported.
The venue’s owner defended the enforcement of COVID-19 safety guidelines and said he did what he could.
NC State employees face cuts
North Carolina State University on Thursday announced new employee furloughs and salary cuts as a result of sharp financial losses due to COVID-19.
UNC-Chapel Hill administrators warned of similar personnel actions in response to revenue losses. UNC has already furloughed employees in auxiliary departments and has also limited new hires and restricted non-personnel spending, The News & Observer reported.
“Every university around the country is facing revenue losses, in some cases historic revenue losses and so Carolina is no different,” UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said at a media briefing Thursday.
The announcement comes the day after N.C. State said students can plan to take classes in person and live in dorms during the spring semester.
The university announced Wednesday that it plans to offer at least some in-person classes and reopen residence halls with limited capacities.
N.C. State was forced to switch to remote learning and close its dorms after reporting hundreds of COVID-19 cases during the first few weeks of the fall semester. Students contracted the virus in residence halls, fraternity and sorority houses and off-campus housing.
UNC-Chapel Hill and East Carolina University also moved classes online after reporting cases at the beginning of the semester.
But N.C. State says it’s learned from the fall semester and that it has a plan to safely bring students back this spring. The semester will start Jan. 11 and end April 29. Classes will be a mix of in person, online and hybrid. Students will have the option for on-campus living and all rooms will be single occupancy.
The school said it has also “enhanced” its quarantine and isolation plan.
This story was originally published September 25, 2020 at 7:05 AM.
