CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Here is a roundup of what’s happening so far today, June 14, surrounding COVID-19 in both North Carolina and South Carolina (Click here to get caught up on yesterday’s coverage). Scroll below for live, local real-time minute-by-minute updates.
>> Have questions about the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the Carolinas? We have an entire section dedicated to coverage of the outbreak -- CLICK HERE FOR MORE.
[WANT TO WATCH ON OUR STREAMING APPS? CLICK HERE]
[COUNTY-BY-COUNTY COVID-19 RESOURCE GUIDE]
[CORONAVIRUS IN THE CAROLINAS; HERE’S HOW TO STAY INFORMED]
>> We’ll bring you LIVE updates on Channel 9 Eyewitness News. Get extended coverage on the free WSOC Now app on Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV.
- The number of cases across North Carolina reached 44,119 on Sunday. North Carolina is now reporting 1,109 deaths, 627,130 completed tests and 798 people currently in the hospital.
- Health leaders issued guidance on reopening NC schools.
- South Carolina also released guidance for its schools.
- SC Gov. Henry McMaster has declared a new state of emergency and is reopening bowling alleys.
- A judge has granted a temporary restraining order against a NC stock car speedway.
- NC legislators are aiming to reopen gyms, health clubs despite Cooper order.
- Atrium, Novant, Tryon say they will test asymptomatic protesters.
- Gov. Roy Cooper and the state’s coronavirus task force announced the state moved into a “safer-at-home” plan on May 22.
- Gov. Henry McMaster lifted the home or work order in South Carolina on May 1.
Live, local updates from Sunday:
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting 7,131 coronavirus cases in Mecklenburg County.
Officials also confirmed 121 people have died from the virus in the county.
___________
Officials in Caldwell County report new cases of the coronavirus
Caldwell County is reporting two additional COVID-19 cases.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the county to 248.
Officials said of 5,041 people who have been tested in the county, 4.91% of tests have came back positive.
___________
SC health officials report more than 18,000 COVID-19 cases
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 799 new cases of the coronavirus and 1 additional death.
This brings the total number of confirmed positive cases in South Carolina to 18,795 and those who have died to 600.
South Carolina tested 5,875 people (not including antibody tests) statewide Saturday and the percent of tests that came back positive was 13.6%.
Officials said the death was a middle-aged person from Jasper County.
___________
NC sees another day with more than 1,000 new cases
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services on Sunday reported another day of more than 1,000 new cases of coronavirus.
1,443 new cases were reported on Sunday. The largest increase in one day was on Friday when 1,768 new cases were reported in one day.
The state also reported 15,440 completed tests in the last 24 hours, well exceeding the state’s goal of 5,000 to 7,000 per day.
The number of people hospitalized due to complications of coronavirus decreased, with 798 people now hospitalized. That’s down 25 people from Saturday.
5 more people died in the past 24 hours, bringing the statewide total to 1,109.
Over the last day, NCDHHS has reported that 9% of the completed tests have come back positive. Dr. Mandy Cohen said during a news conference earlier this week that the percentage of positive tests in North Carolina is among the highest in the U.S.
With 76% of hospitals reporting, 22% of inpatient beds and 21% of ICU beds are still available.
Lab-confirmed cases: 44,119
Completed tests: 627,130
Currently hospitalized: 798
Statewide deaths: 1,109
Mecklenburg County continues to lead the state in both cases and deaths with at least 7,131 and 121 respectively.
Confirmed cases by age:
0-17 (9%)
18-24 (11%)
25-49 (45%)
50-64 (21%)
65-74 (7%)
75 or older (7%)
COVID-19 deaths by age:
25-49 (4%)
50-64 (13%)
65-74 (20%)
75 or older (62%)
Cases by race:
White: 54%
Black: 26%
Cases by gender:
Women: 50%
Men: 50%
(Men account for 53% of deaths)
Cases and deaths in congregate living settings:
There are 102 outbreaks in nursing homes across the state, resulting in 3,955 cases and 584 deaths.
There are 59 outbreaks at residential care facilities across the state, resulting in 1,078 cases and 92 deaths.
__________
Health officials: Burke County is holding steady, warns about community spread
Burke County health officials said the county is holding at 802 positive cases of coronavirus. The cases are from traveling, congregate living and community spread.
Officials said all positive cases are isolated and staff at the public health department are working to contact those who may have come into contact with the virus.
The department said some of Burke County’s community spread is coming from rsidents coming together in large groups for events like:
- Family reunions
- Funerals
- Parties
- Choir practices
- Bible Studies
- Church services
__________
Health officials concerned about surging cases in NC, SC
In an ideal situation, we would be 12 days away from reopening bars and gyms in North Carolina. But doctors watching over the health of the state say every day, it is becoming more clear how risky it would be to move into Phase Three right now.
The CDC said 19 states, including both Carolinas, are seeing surges in COVID-19 cases. Officials said what is even more concerning is how many people are getting seriously ill.
At least eight states have seen an increase in hospitalizations over the last two weeks and again, both Carolinas are included in this.
Hospitalizations hit another new high in North Carolina Saturday at 823. The state reported more than 1,400 new cases with 10 percent of tests being positive Friday.
In South Carolina, more than 13 percent of tests came back Friday. The total number of new cases was nearly identical to Thursday’s record amount and hospitalizations rose to 523.
__________
SC health officials reports report another single-day high for COVID-19 cases (Sunday)
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 770 new cases of the coronavirus and 6 additional deaths.
This brings the total number of confirmed positive cases in South Carolina to 17,955 and those who have died to 599.
Officials said four deaths were elderly people from Cherokee (1), Darlington (1), Greenville (1), and Richland (1) counties, and two deaths were middle-aged people from Greenville (1) and Horry (1) counties.
© 2020 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
