CHARLOTTE, N.C. — At WCNC Charlotte, we are focusing our coronavirus coverage on facts, not fear. We aim to give our viewers the information they need from officials to best protect themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Facts:
- Cases in North Carolina: 11,509 with 420 deaths. State health officials say the percentage of positive tests has gone down to 7% with doubling the number of tests, so the spike in positive cases is expected.
- Cases in South Carolina: 6,489 with 267 deaths. Confirmed cases have increased by 226 from Friday. A total of 267 people have died, an increase of 11 from Friday. Dr. Linda Bell, the state's epidemiologist with DHEC, says the curve of cases for the illness appears to be leveling in the state.
- Cases in Mecklenburg County: 1,680 with 50 deaths. Mecklenburg County trends and daily case counts remain stable, according to the Mecklenburg County Public Health Director
- How to file for unemployment in North Carolina
- North Carolina stay home order expiration: May 8
- South Carolina State of Emergency expiration: May 11
SC Gov. McMaster declares Sunday a 'statewide day of prayer'
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared May 3, 2020, a statewide day of prayer, encouraging South Carolinians to "join together in prayer to God, acknowledging our shortcomings, asking for His protection, and giving thanks for the divine bounty He bestows upon us."
Mecklenburg County: No new COVID-19 related deaths
Mecklenburg County health officials report 26 new cases of COVID-19 since Friday, but no new deaths related to the novel coronavirus.
Mecklenburg County's Stay at Home order expired this week, but residents are still under the Stay at Home Order for the entire state of North Carolina, which is in effect until May 8.
SCDHEC announces over 200 new cases of COVID-19
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 226 new cases of COVID-19 and 11 additional deaths. It brings the total number of confirmed cases in South Carolina to 6,489, and 267 people have died statewide.
Nine of the people who recently died were elderly individuals from Edgefield (1), Florence (1), Greenville (1), Laurens (1), Lee (1), Lexington (1), and Richland (3) counties. Two were middle-aged individuals from Richland (1) and Sumter (1) counties.
Here's a county-by-county breakdown of the newly reported cases:
Aiken (4), Anderson (5), Bamberg (2), Barnwell (1), Beaufort (1), Charleston (3), Chester (2), Chesterfield (1), Clarendon (4), Darlington (5), Dillon (13), Dorchester (1), Edgefield (2), Fairfield (5), Florence (4), Georgetown (1), Greenville (20), Greenwood (4), Kershaw (6), Lancaster (1), Lee (2), Lexington (43), Marion (1), Marlboro (3), Newberry (1), Orangeburg (4), Richland (33), Saluda (11), Spartanburg (8), Sumter (18), Williamsburg (12), York (5)
NC General Assembly passes two COVID-19 response packages
The North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed two COVID-19 response packages approving over 1.5 billion dollars of funding relief for critical needs and extensive policy measures to help local communities address the crisis as the state safely reopens its economy.
This package approved on Saturday is an investment laying the groundwork for moving the state forward and responding to the economic and human impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
NCDHHS reports nearly 600 additional COVID-19 cases
North Carolina health officials reported a total of 11,509 cases of coronavirus across 98 counties Saturday, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. That’s a rise of 586 cases in one day.
Twenty-one additional deaths were also reported across the state, bringing the total to 420.
Virus curve 'appears to be beginning to level' in South Carolina, Dr. Bell says
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is lifting the mandatory home or work order for the state, making it voluntary, and allowing restaurants to again serve customers in outdoor dining situations.
McMaster issued a series of executive orders Friday relaxing many rules that had previously been put in place during a news conference. He also called for a statewide day of prayer on Sunday.
South Carolina's lead expert on the coronavirus says the curve of cases for the illness appears to be leveling in the state.
Dr. Linda Bell, the state's epidemiologist with DHEC, made the statement Friday at the same news conference where Gov. Henry McMaster announced he was lifting the mandatory home or work order. The order will now be voluntary.