Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Oct. 29
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We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Daily case count sets record
At least 269,021 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 4,283 have died, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday reported 2,885 new COVID-19 cases — up from 2,253 the day before and the highest single-day total since the start of the pandemic. Thursday’s case count surpassed the previous record of 2,716 on Oct. 23.
Thirty-eight deaths were reported Thursday.
About 6.4% of tests were reported positive on Tuesday, the latest day for which data were available. That’s higher than the 5% target set by health officials.
At least 1,181 people in North Carolina were reportedly hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Thursday, up from 1,175 the day before. Wednesday’s preliminary hospitalization total had been listed as 1,193.
Two attendees at Trump rally test positive
The Gaston County Health Department on Thursday confirmed two people who attended President Donald Trump’s rally at the Gastonia Municipal Airport on Oct. 21 have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Officials said “the cases are believed to be independent from one another, and not an indication of spread at the rally,” The Charlotte Observer reported.
Gaston County said it made the announcement public ““because of the large number of potential contacts from the rally, and the inability to alert them directly.” Officials are trying to conduct contact tracing for the two infected people.
About 1,500 people attended Trump’s rally, many of whom wore masks to enter but took them off once inside, according to The Observer.
COVID-19 case possibly tied to Dan Forest event
A person who may have attended Lt. Gov. Dan Forest’s campaign rally in Burnsville on Oct. 15 has tested positive for COVID-19, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday.
Officials did not identify the political event the person attended, but Forest’s rally was held the same day the health department said the person attended a rally, The News & Observer reported.
The state health department releases information in a weekly report about the general location of coronavirus outbreaks and clusters, including rallies under the heading “community event.”
Forest’s campaign spokesperson said they hoped the person infected has a speedy recovery but objected to the release of the contact tracing information.
“We have had no communication from DHHS on this and only learned of it from what they leaked to the media,” spokesperson Andrew Dunn said. “Dr. Mandy Cohen has repeatedly stated that all tracing and tracking is confidential and pandemics are not political, but I guess that does not apply to us six days before an election.”
NC company that does COVID-19 testing to add jobs
A North Carolina-based firm that offers testing for the coronavirus is bringing hundreds of new jobs to Durham.
BioAgilytix is poised to add 878 jobs from 2023 to 2027, the N.C. Department of Commerce said Thursday. The company’s plans also include investing $61 million in a facility expansion.
The firm, which already has 350 North Carolina workers, gets $18.9 million in state incentives if it reaches employment goals, The News & Observer reported.
Second COVID-19 cluster hits UNC Charlotte
UNC Charlotte reported a second coronavirus cluster on Thursday among five students who live off campus together.
The university returned to in-person classes Oct. 1 after starting the school year virtually on Sept. 7, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Officials quarantined residents of an undisclosed dorm for the second time this semester on Oct. 28 after traces of the novel coronavirus were found in the building’s wastewater. Another residence hall was quarantined after something similar happened during the first week of in-person learning.
UNC Charlotte has reported a total of 485 COVID-19 cases among employees and students as of Oct. 29. At least 59 of those are active on campus.
An updated list of schools in Mecklenburg County and the surrounding area where coronavirus cases have been reported can be found here.
Wake high schools, reopened elementary report cases
A coronavirus case has been reported at another Wake County school.
Forest Pines Drive Elementary School in Raleigh announced its first case two days after returning to in-person classes on Monday. Principal Michelle Bell said someone tested positive for COVID-19 after being on campus Tuesday.
The news came as coronavirus infections were reported at three Wake County high schools.
“Fuquay-Varina High School, Heritage High School in Wake Forest, and Panther Creek High School in Cary” each had one COVID-19 case, The News & Observer reported Tuesday.
The infections are tied to the athletic programs, though the schools didn’t reveal whether the cases were among students. The campuses say they are working with Wake County health officials and that those who may have come into contact with the infected people will be notified.
The announcement comes as roughly 50 elementary schools in Wake County kept students at home on Wednesday, just two days after students returned to campus for in-person instruction. Wednesday was the first “asynchronous learning day,” in which students are given work to do on their own at home.
Asynchronous learning days are factored into the schedule until January to “help teachers who are juggling both in-person and online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic,” The News & Observer reported. It’s also designed to give students and families a break while reducing “screen time,” Superintendent Cathy Moore said at an Oct. 20 school board meeting.
Residents will be protected from pandemic-related evictions
Gov. Roy Cooper announced Wednesday that residents who can’t afford their rent because of the coronavirus pandemic can’t be evicted if they give their landlords a sworn statement.
The new executive order enforces the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s nationwide eviction moratorium and is in effect through the end of the year, The News & Observer reported. The order also requires landlords to provide their tenants with a sworn statement they can fill out for the court “if they take an action to evict.”
Other evictions for reasons outside of tenants not paying rent will still be allowed.
During the press conference announcing his decision, Cooper also said North Carolinians should avoid big gatherings during the holiday season and offered recommendations for how to safely celebrate Halloween.
Coach K calls for nationwide COVID-19 safety protocols
Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said universal health and safety protocols for college sports across the U.S. would help calm the chaos that has befallen teams trying to schedule their season.
The Blue Devils are gearing up for a 27-game schedule after their first game scheduled for Nov. 10 at Michigan State was scrapped.
“Hopefully by the time we do play,” Krzyzewski said during a news conference Wednesday, “there will be national protocols, medically, so that everyone who is playing against one another will be under the same medical protocols, which I think are essential to the safety of these kids.”
Each conference is currently setting its own guidelines for schools to follow, The News & Observer reported.
Officials concerned over coronavirus clusters at NC churches
Religious activities, including worship services, bible studies and youth group meetings, are the third leading source of COVID-19 clusters in North Carolina, The News & Observer reported.
At least 1,180 coronavirus cases in the state are linked to 88 clusters at religious events, and at least 18 people have died.
Meat and poultry processing plants are responsible for the most cases attributable to a cluster, followed by colleges and universities, according to Department of Health and Human Services data.
The state defines a cluster as five or more cases with positive test results or illness onset within a 14-day period.
The recent spread comes as more churches opt to return to in-person services. A federal judge in May said churches should be allowed to gather after several sued the governor.
One of the largest clusters traced to a religious gathering is at United House of Prayer for All People in Mecklenburg County, which has been the source of 121 COVID-19 cases and at least three deaths. The church held convocation events from Oct. 4-11 that attracted up to 1,000 people.
Carowinds to reopen for holiday season
An amusement park in the Charlotte area is reopening after months of being closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Carowinds plans to welcome visitors Nov. 21 to Dec. 20 for Taste of the Season: An Outdoor Holiday Experience, according to the park.
Anyone interested in attending the outdoor event must wear a face covering, fill out an online health survey and make a reservation. The registration period starts Nov. 9 for season pass holders and Nov. 11 for other visitors.
COVID-19 forced Carowinds to shut down in March, and “continued uncertainty” about the disease has kept the park closed, The Charlotte Observer reported Wednesday.
How many COVID-19 vaccine doses could each NC county receive?
A new tool estimates how many doses of a COVID-19 vaccine could be available in North Carolina.
While an exact timeline and plans are unknown, Harvard University researchers have rolled out the Vaccine Allocation Planner for COVID-19, McClatchy News reported Wednesday.
Based on population size, the tool predicts that of 10 million vaccine doses produced nationwide, 314,000 would end up in North Carolina. Those would serve fewer residents if people need to take two doses, as scientists expect.
Most vaccines would go to the most populous counties, such as Wake and Mecklenburg, though not all residents would get immunized in the beginning, predictions show.
“That means 9% of first responders, older adults, high-risk health care workers and people with significant underlying conditions across the state would receive a vaccine to start,” McClatchy News reported.
State health officials have shared a four-phased plan that includes the first round of doses going to health care employees, emergency management workers, adults at risk for getting seriously sick and people linked to congregate living settings.
NC restaurant owners win coronavirus-related lawsuit
A pair of North Carolina restaurant owners won an insurance lawsuit that could impact businesses struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.
Giorgios Bakatsias and Matt Kelly, who together run more than a dozen Triangle-area eateries, sued their insurance company this year. The owners argued a business interruption claim should cover losses from the state’s coronavirus-related shutdowns.
Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson sided with them this month, making the restaurant owners the first to win this type of lawsuit during COVID-19, according to the University of Pennsylvania.
The insurance provider, Cincinnati Insurance Company, said it will appeal, The News & Observer reported Wednesday.
“We continue to believe that business interruption coverage under our property policy in this case does not apply because there was no structural alteration to the property,” spokesperson Betsy Ertel said in a statement. “The prevailing view by courts around the country has been that an economic loss alone doesn’t qualify as direct physical damage or loss to property, which is the trigger for business interruption coverage.”
This story was originally published October 29, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
