The number of reported people testing positive for COVID-19 in North Carolina jumped nearly 15 percent Saturday, according the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The number of COVID-19 cases reported on Saturday morning jumped from 2,093 on Friday around 11 a.m. to 2,402 in 88 counties. The 309 new cases mark the largest one-day surge as the novel coronavirus spreads to more counties in the state. DHHS reported 24 deaths and 271 people hospitalized.

On Saturday, Durham County reported its first death. The Durham resident was over 65 years old and had underlying health conditions, Durham County reported in a news release.

Johnston County reported a third death related to coronavirus, though it did not release any information about the person who died, other than the death occurred Saturday morning, according to a county spokesperson.

The News & Observer is keeping a tally based on reports from the state and county health departments, which is typically higher than the state’s total because the state takes longer to confirm positive tests.

The number of cases passed 2,000 Thursday night. By Saturday evening, The News & Observer’s count reached 2,542 cases. By that count, 91 North Carolina counties have reported cases and 32 people in the state have died.

On Saturday, total cases rose 6 percent in Wake County to 302, 1 percent in Durham County to 182 and 18 percent to 52 in Orange County. Cases in Mecklenburg County, which has the most cases in the state, increased nearly 6 percent to 635 cases. Guilford County’s numbers rose nearly 7 percent to 94.

Two new coronavirus cases were reported at the Butner Federal Correctional Complex, bringing the total to 11 inmates and one staff member testing positive for coronavirus at Butner.

Retailers, counties make more adjustments

In response to COVID-19, some businesses that are providing essential supplies have adjusted their hours and safety measures.

Walmart has started to limit the number of people allowed in the store at the same time, and Target will do the same when needed, the companies recently announced.

Costco and Home Depot reduced their hours, as many others have, to give employees more time to sanitize the stores and restock the shelves. Costco and Sam’s Club will also only allow two people per membership card into the store.

As the numbers continue to increase, some cities and counties are taking steps to continue to encourage social distancing.

Durham’s city and county stay-home orders are now combined, with crowd sizes reduced to no more than five people.

Franklin County announced Friday it will add a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew to its stay-at-home order.

Saturday marks the fifth full day under Gov. Roy Cooper’s stay-at-home order, which has halted all but essential businesses and outlawed large gatherings.

State plans to roll out predictive model, could tighten social restrictions

North Carolina plans to roll out its own predictive model on Monday to determine if its stay-at-home order is having enough of an effect on the spread of the coronavirus.

Nearly a week into a statewide stay-at-home order, health officials say North Carolina residents need to do a much better job at heeding the statewide order halting most movements.

“People should only be out to be buy food, to get medication, to get health care or if they are an essential worker,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Resources, at a Friday news conference.

“We need to be doing everything possible right now to avoid overwhelming our hospitals in the future,” Cohen said. “Our actions today will impact how this virus will spread across North Carolina over the weeks and months to come.”

Cooper said Friday that the state will look at data to see whether people are heeding the order to stay at home, rather than venture out to public spaces. The state plans to incorporate anonymous cell phone location data into its decision making, WRAL reported.

Cooper said state rules around movement “can be tightened even more if necessary.”

Many are complying with social distancing

Most people in the state appear to be attempting to honor the spirit of the order, if imperfectly. Between March 29-31, Duke University surveyed more than 1,200 North Carolinians about how their social distancing practices have changed.

Two-thirds of the survey’s respondents said they had made significant changes to their routines because of the coronavirus — while 6% said they had not made any real changes. However, most of the survey was conducted before the state’s stay-at-home order went into effect March 30 at 5 p.m. The survey will be conducted each week.

On Saturday, with the spring April weather near ideal temperatures, crowds at parks and stores across the Triangle were thin.

All four baseball diamonds at Lions Park in Raleigh stood empty, as did the normally bustling BMX track. The Costco parking lot on Wake Forest Road had more empty than occupied spaces.

In Durham, the Home Depot on U.S. 15-501 was not overwhelmed Saturday morning. A sign warned that the number of customers would be limited inside, but the rule didn’t need enforcing.

At Shelley Lake, trail walkers were safety-conscious enough to stop and ask people to move further to one side, giving them space to pass.

Not that risky behavior was completely absent.

A group of four friends shared a picnic blanket. A pair of joggers gave each other high-fives when they finished a loop around the lake. But these were exceptions.

“I guess they figure if you’ve got a roommate, you’re already exposed,” said Joanne Oler, a trail walker. “I know people depend on social media, but I hope people get back to calling each other. It’s depressing. It can get gloomy.”

News & Observer staff writer Ashad Hajela contributed

This story was originally published April 4, 2020 at 12:01 PM.