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: 1,202, with 6 deaths
- Cases in South Carolina: 774, with 16 deaths
- Cases in Mecklenburg County: 336, with 1 death
- The House signs $2.2 trillion relief bill Friday
SUNDAY, MARCH 29
NC Governor announces plans for first COVID-19 unemployment benefits
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper says the first payments for unemployment claims due to COVID-19 will be going out this week.
The Division of Employment Security received "an unprecedented number" of unemployment insurance claims since Gov. Cooper signed Executive Order Number 118 on March 17.
In the past two weeks, approximately 270,000 claims have been filed, with most of them related to COVID-19, up from about 7,500 claims in the first two weeks of March.
“Thousands of workers have lost jobs, but their bills don’t stop. My administration is working overtime to get unemployment checks out now. We’ll keep pushing every day for more state and federal help to save our workers and their families,” Governor Cooper in a statement.
Two new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Rowan County
The Rowan County Public Health Department confirmed two additional cases of COVID-19 in the county, bringing the positive case count for Rowan County to 16.
SC health officials confirm one additional death related to COVID-19
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced one additional death related to COVID-19, bringing the state’s total number of deaths to 16.
The patient was an elderly individual from Horry County with underlying health conditions, according to DHEC.
Additionally, DHEC reported 113 additional cases of COVID-19 Sunday, bringing the total number statewide to 774 cases in 40 counties.
Here's a breakdown of newly announced cases by county:
- Aiken County: 2 cases
- Anderson County: 5 cases
- Beaufort County: 11 cases
- Calhoun County: 1 case
- Charleston County: 8 cases
- Clarendon County: 9 cases
- Darlington County: 2 cases
- Edgefield County: 1 case
- Florence County: 1 case
- Georgetown County: 4 cases
- Greenville County: 14 cases
- Horry County: 3 cases
- Kershaw County: 5 cases
- Lancaster County: 4 cases
- Laurens County: 1 case
- Lexington County: 5 cases
- Marlboro County: 1 case
- Oconee County: 1 case
- Orangeburg County: 2 cases
- Pickens County: 1 case
- Richland County: 17 cases
- Spartanburg County: 4 cases
- Sumter County: 6 cases
- York County: 5 cases
Buncombe County announces first COVID-19 associated death
Buncombe County Health and Human Services reported the first COVID-19 associated death in a Buncombe County resident. The individual, who was elderly, died from complications associated with the virus on March 28 at Mission Hospital.
Buncombe County and all of its municipalities have issued an order to Stay Home, Stay Safe for all people in Buncombe County.
"It is imperative that we all comply with the directives of the order, which include no gatherings of any number of people outside of a single household or living unit for any reason and strict guidance to eliminate all non-essential travel, services, or exposure to people outside of your immediate family unit," county health officials said in a statement.
There are currently 19 lab-confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Buncombe County, including the one fatality.
Governor Cooper announces first unemployment benefits will be paid this week
Governor Roy Cooper said the first payments for the unemployment claims related to coronavirus will begin going out this week. The Division of Employment Security has received an unprecedented number of unemployment insurance claims since Governor Roy Cooper signed an executive order on March 17.
In the past two weeks, approximately 270,000 claims have been filed, with most of them related to COVID-19. The state received about 7,500 claims in the first two weeks of March before the order was issued.
“Thousands of workers have lost jobs, but their bills don’t stop. My administration is working overtime to get unemployment checks out now. We’ll keep pushing every day for more state and federal help to save our workers and their families,” said Governor Cooper.
Mecklenburg County announced its first COVID-19 related death
Mecklenburg County Public Health announced the first death in Mecklenburg County due to the COVID-19.
The individual was 60-years-old and passed away Sunday morning.
“Our sympathy and thoughts go out to this individual’s family,” said Gibbie Harris, Public Health Director. “This first death of a Mecklenburg County resident due to COVID-19 emphasizes the importance to stay at home and away from others to stop the spread of this virus.”
Cleveland County identifies fifth case of COVID-19
A fifth Cleveland County resident has tested positive for the coronavirus Officials said the person who tested positive did not recently travel or have direct contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19, therefore it is noot community transmission.
“This is the second case of COVID-19 in the county that appears to be caused by community transmission,” Interim Cleveland County Health Director Deshay Oliver said. “This confirms that COVID-19 is now spreading throughout our community. I strongly urge county residents to comply with the Stay-at-Home Executive Order that goes into effect Monday at 5:00 p.m. Residents should only leave their homes for essential services and, when doing so, should take proper precautions such as social distancing and handwashing.”
The Cleveland County Health Department will maintain the county’s real-time number of COVID-19 cases HERE.
Stay-at-home order now in effect in Columbia, SC
A citywide stay-at-home order is now in effect in Columbia, an effort the leaders of the capital hope will stop the further spread of the coronavirus.
The order went into effect at 12:01 a.m. Sunday morning. It's only in for areas in the city's jurisdiction, which does not include Forest Acres or Richland County outside of the city's lines.
Catawba County report two new coronavirus cases
Two new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Catawba County, bringing the county’s current total case count to 14.
Officials said there have been 503 people tested for COVID-19 in Catawba County and 172 negative results have been received. The remaining test results are pending. There have been no deaths associated with COVID-19 reported in Catawba County.
Caldwell County announces fourth case of COVID-19
A fourth Cleveland County resident has tested positive for COVID-19. The person works in a nearby county experiencing widespread community transmission, which could be how the virus was contracted.
“This individual experienced mild symptoms for over two weeks before being tested for COVID-19,” Interim Cleveland County Health Director Deshay Oliver said. “This emphasizes the importance of staying home and isolating when you are sick, even if symptoms are mild."
South Carolina DHEC announces two additional deaths related to COVID-19
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced two additional deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the statewide total number of deaths to 15.
Both were elderly individuals who had underlying health conditions. One was a resident of Richland County, one of Horry County.
DHEC is also reporting 121 additional cases of COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 660 cases in 40 counties.
"This high number of cases is due to reporting cases from a backlog that had developed at DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory due to a nationwide shortage in the chemicals required for performing testing," DHEC said in a statement.