Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Nov. 16
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We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases surpass 314,000
At least 314,207 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 4,814 have died, according to health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday reported 1,972 new COVID-19 cases, down from 3,117 reported the day before. Saturday’s case count of 3,885 was a single-day record in North Carolina.
Saturday’s count came after a one-time adjustment in the way new cases are reported on the state health department’s website. On Friday, the department noted that its daily report gave a smaller total due to using a shorter time window — 10 hours instead of 24 — meaning some cases reported in Saturday’s total may have been positive tests entered from labs late Thursday.
As of Monday, the state’s seven-day average of new cases stood at an all-time high of 2,764. The average helps to give a sense of cases over time.
Eight deaths were reported Monday. The additional deaths came after officials on Sunday reported 50 new deaths, the second-highest number confirmed on a single day.
At least 1,424 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Monday, a record daily total since the start of the pandemic. State officials last week said patient counts would be higher due to a change in how the federal government reports hospital stays.
About 8.1% of tests were reported positive as of Saturday, the latest day for which data are available. That’s above the 5% target set by health officials.
CMS sees bus driver shortage ahead of schools reopening
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is delaying reopening most of its middle schools until 2021 after reporting it could only staff 80.9% of its bus routes on Monday.
Chief school performance officer Kathy Elling said bus driver vacancies are harder to fill.
“Transportation is a very different situation,” Elling said. “Our drivers require very specific licensure. We have very limited access to supports when they are on leave.”
CMS middle schoolers were supposed to return to campus on Nov. 23, but the board voted last week for a delay, The Charlotte Observer reported. Under the new plan, students in K-8 schools will start Nov. 30 while students at middle schools with grades six through eight won’t return until Jan. 5.
University got hundreds of reports about students breaking COVID-19 rules
UNC Chapel Hill received more than 450 reports of its students violating coronavirus regulations this fall, university officials announced in a report Monday.
Most of the students received a warning or were restricted from certain campus facilities, The News & Observer reported. But 50 of them were booted from campus housing because of the infractions. In an additional 60 cases, no student was identified or the student wasn’t found responsible.
No students were kicked out of the university over the violations.
“This data reinforces that the vast majority of our students are working very hard to adhere to community standards and are following them whenever possible,” said Amy Johnson, UNC’s vice chancellor for student affairs.
Nearly half of NC counties near COVID-19 ‘tipping point’
At least 42 of North Carolina’s 100 counties are at a “tipping point” in terms of new coronavirus cases ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, according to Harvard researchers.
Harvard has been mapping coronavirus risk across the U.S. since July using the seven-day moving average of new cases per 100,000 people, also known as the per capita case rate. As of Monday, a large swath of North Carolina was in the red zone — meaning those counties have 25 or more cases per 100,000 people.
The map, released by Harvard Global Health Institute, uses four colors to illustrate risk levels in every county: green, yellow, orange and red. Red designates a “tipping point” in which researchers say stay-at-home orders are necessary.
Many of the counties shaded in red are rural areas, where state health officials say the virus had been slow to spread at first.
Columbus County near the coast and Alexander and Mitchell counties in Western North Carolina have the highest per capita case rate as of Nov. 16, according to Harvard researchers. Dare County on the Outer Banks is also in the top 20 with the highest per capita case rate.
Panthers allowed more fans
The Carolina Panthers received an exemption to Gov. Roy Cooper’s order limiting fans at professional and collegiate sporting events to 7% capacity under Phase 3 of the state’s reopening plan.
The exemption from Mecklenburg County and state health officials allows the Panthers to distribute more tickets in the 500 level of the stadium, The Charlotte Observer reported, citing a team spokesperson. A spokesperson from the state health department didn’t return the Observer’s request for comment.
On Sunday, the team had 5,815 fans in attendance at Bank of America Stadium — up from the 5,240 initially allowed under the governor’s executive order.
Thanksgiving travel warnings as COVID-19 cases rise in Triangle
Health officials have urged people to stay at home this Thanksgiving as Triangle-area coronavirus cases climb.
Across the region, county health departments have warned against traveling and gathering in groups for the holiday.
“We want people to keep in mind that the best gift you can give is the gift of health this holiday season,” Quintana Stewart, Orange County health director, said in a statement.
For those planning to travel, Orange County last Thursday encouraged people to enter a 14-day quarantine. Everyone also should stay home if they have symptoms and should consider getting tested for the disease, officials say.
But those who get tested should remember that the results show a person was negative only for a period of time, according to health officials.
“Please don’t be a COVID host this holiday season,” said Rod Jenkins, director of the Durham County Department of Public Health. “Show how much you care about your friends, family and your own safety by making the difficult decision not to host or attend group gatherings.”
Statewide, officials last week put a 10-person limit on indoor gatherings through Dec. 4. Gov. Roy Cooper and Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, said the order intended to target gatherings of loved ones.
UNC expert warns about winter surge
Ralph Baric, a UNC professor and one of the world’s top coronavirus researchers, told The News & Observer the pandemic is likely to get worse before it gets better and cases could surge in the United States over the winter.
“We are looking at five months of extensive and rapid virus spread,” Baric said. “The good news is there is a light at the end of (the) tunnel.”
But that “light” — the Pfizer vaccine candidate that has so far shown promising results — won’t be ready for weeks or months.
“I think it is important (to note) that before vaccines become widely delivered, that we are looking at about 250,000 more deaths in the U.S., despite the development of new drugs,” Baric said. “That is probably going to still occur because of the massive increases in cases.”
Wake parents upset about spectator ban
Some parents in Wake County are angry about the school system’s ban on spectators at athletics and performing arts events.
The school system has told families that spectators won’t be allowed to attend sporting events and that arts groups can only do virtual performances because of COVID-19.
Now, parents are bombarding school leaders with letters, emails and phone calls requesting that the ban be lifted, The N&O reports. More than 1,000 people have signed an online petition, and more than 1,000 have joined a Facebook group called “WCPSS Parents Advocating to Be Event Spectators: Athletics/Performing Arts.”
Superintendent Cathy Moore said district administrators could recommend a plan on Tuesday to begin allowing spectators at events.
“We know that it’s important for families to be able to attend their student-athletes’ events,” Moore said at this week’s board meeting. “We also know that we’re going to have some limitations.”
This story was originally published November 16, 2020 at 7:02 AM.
