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: 3,426 with 58 deaths
- Cases in South Carolina: 2,552, with 63 deaths
- Cases in Mecklenburg County: 848*, with 10 deaths
*Cumulative total since beginning of outbreak - How to file for unemployment benefits in the Carolinas
- UNC Charlotte won't become field hospital for coronavirus patients
Amazon worker at Charlotte location tests positive for COVID-19
An Amazon worker at the Tuckaseegee Road Amazon location has tested positive for COVID-19. The Amazon Fulfillment Center is also known as CLT4.
This is the third Amazon location in the Charlotte area with a positive case of coronavirus. This is in addition to the positive test from workers at the Old Dowd Road location and the facility in Concord.
"We are supporting the individual who is recovering," Amazon's Timothy Carter said. "We are following guidelines from health officials and medical experts, and are taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of employees at our site."
Cleveland County Sheriff's deputy tests positive for COVID-19
A Cleveland County Sheriff's deputy has tested positive for COVID-19. The Cleveland County courthouse will be closed for the rest of the week so it can be cleaned and disinfected.
According to the sheriff's office, everyone who had contact with the deputy has been quarantined. The exact number of people quarantining in connection to this case is not known.
President Trump holds briefing
President Donald Trump and the White House coronavirus task force are holding a briefing in Washington.
South Carolina reports more than 2,500 cases
The South Carolina DHEC announced 139 new cases of COVID-19, including 12 additional deaths. This brings the total number of people confirmed to have COVID-19 in South Carolina to 2,552, and those who have died to 63.
North Carolina sees surge of cases at nursing homes
A series of tests for COVID-19 has revealed at least 60 positive results in a skilled nursing facility in Orange County with more likely to come. Of those, 7 are hospitalized & 2 have died.
The state is seeing more than 3,400 cases with 58 deaths.
Two senior living facilities in Mecklenburg County are seeing outbreaks, which are defined as two or more patients, county officials announced Tuesday.
North Carolina has 240 National Guard airmen and soldiers working a variety of missions, including planning, warehousing, and shipping, cyber-security, and engineering. The costs of activating National Guard resources to support our state’s COVID-19 response will be covered by the federal government, officials announced.
North Carolina received a shipment of 200,000 N-95 masks Wednesday. The limited supply of personal protective equipment, is being sent in small, short-term quantities for the most urgent needs around the state, officials said.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper says he is likely to issue a statewide order Thursday limiting the number of people, including both staffers and shoppers, in a store at the same time.
Mecklenburg County's curve is flattening, but social distancing must continue
"Looks like the curve is beginning to flatten," Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris said Tuesday. "We must continue to, and increase, social distancing."
The flattening of the curve is spreading the expected coronavirus patient surge from April into May, officials said.
Mecklenburg County is continuing its 'stay at home' order until April 29th, the same day the current North Carolina statewide 'stay at home' order is currently scheduled to expire. It was not yet known if the state would extend their 'stay at home' order into May.
To handle the surge, plans for a field hospital evolved Tuesday from 3,000 beds at UNCC to 600 beds near Uptown Charlotte.
Mecklenburg County has seen a total of 839 cases and 9 deaths since the outbreak began. Two senior living facilities are reporting outbreaks, which are defined as two or more cases.
African American community accounts for 48% of positive cases, according to Harris. At least 50% of our county's deaths are African American patients.
"This should not be surprising for us," Harris said. "This is the demographic that's always hardest hit... This is symptomatic of the problems we have in our system."
Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio says there is need for more healthcare workers. Officials are encouraging nurses, doctors, and paramedics who may have retired to help during the pandemic. Applications can apply through the e-mail address: terms@emnc.org.
Burke County now reporting 34 cases
Health officials in Burke County announced they are now reporting 34 positive cases of COVID-19. The cases consist of patients who traveled and community spread infections. All positive cases are in isolation and officials are trying to contact any people who may have been in close contact with those individuals.
NC DHHS now reporting over 3,400 COVID-19 cases
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released new data Wednesday. There are now at least 3,426 confirmed cases of coronavirus across 90 counties. The state says 53 people have died as a result of the virus. Statewide, 42,987 tests have been completed and 386 people are hospitalized.
Charlotte Mayor and City Council announce coronavirus recovery task force
This task force will support and assist families and businesses as they plan to move forward through the crisis. The task force will focus on three key areas: small business, housing and Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Mayor Vi Lyles and Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt will lead the task force and are responsible for coordination of the effort and final report to the community. Each of the three task force areas will have four city council members and five community "thought leaders" that will be chosen by council to represent Charlotte's businesses and demographics.
The task force will meet weekly beginning April 21 until the pandemic is resolved, according to the City of Charlotte.
Salisbury Transit suspends Saturday service during stay home order
Salisbury Transit announced Wednesday they will modify operating hours due to a decreased demand since Governor Cooper's stay at home order. All routes will operate Monday-Friday, from 6 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. Saturday service has been suspended.
Charlotte company Founder Sport donates $14,000 to first responders
The Charlotte-based company Founder Sport announced it is donating over $14,000 to first responders and their families. The donation was generated from the sales of Badger performance activity masks.
Novant Health to launch Southeast's first COVID-19 clinical trial
CytoDyn Inc. announced today that Novant Health is the first site in the southeastern United States to initiate its Phase 2 clinical trial for COVID-19 patients with mild-to-moderate indications. Novant Health is the second clinical trial site in the nation.
The Phase 2 clinical trial is a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of leronlimab in patients with mild to moderate documented COVID-19 illness and calls for 75 planned patients in up to 10 centers in the United States.
It typically takes a research site anywhere from 3 to 6 months to get a clinical trial up and running. In approximately 4 days, this clinical trial was able to open at Novant Health.
FEMA approves North Carolina request for coronavirus shelters
The approval will allow North Carolina to set up shelters at hotels, motels and dorm rooms for people to quarantine during the pandemic. This will be used for people who have nowhere to quarantine and those high risk for contracting the virus.
Model projects North Carolina's coronavirus peak to be 1 week away
According to a model from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluations (IHME), North Carolina is expected to see the peak of COVID-19 on April 15. That's 12 days earlier than this same model predicted last week. Currently, there are about 5,700 combined cases in North Carolina and South Carolina.
There's even better news: The model now projects fewer people will get sick from the virus in the area. Charlotte leaders said Tuesday this is because social distancing measures are flattening the curve.
US expected to reach 400,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19
The U.S. will likely reach 400,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 Wednesday. The total confirmed cases as of midnight ET Wednesday morning was 399,081, according to Johns Hopkins University. There were 12,895 deaths, an increase of more than 1,900 that JHU reported the same time a day before. There have been 22,224 recoveries.
For perspective, the first case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was confirmed on Jan. 20, according to the New England Journal of Medicine. It took 67 days to reach 100,000 cases on March 27. Five days later, the U.S. had 200,000 cases on April 1. It took three more days to reach 300,000 on April 4. Four days later, its expected to reach 400,000.
Worldwide, JHU reports 1.43 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 82,119 deaths and 301,130 recoveries.