Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on March 22
Click here for the March 23 updates.
We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases pass 300
North Carolina has more than 300 reported cases of coronavirus as of Sunday evening.
On Sunday, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported 255 positive cases of COVID-19, up from 184 on Saturday.
The statewide total is now at least 306 cases, based on The News & Observer’s tally, which also includes cases reported by county officials.
Buncombe and Nash counties both reported two additional cases on Sunday afternoon.
It can take up to two days for cases reported by individual counties to be counted in the statewide total, The News & Observer reports.
Mecklenburg County, home to Charlotte, has the most reported cases in the state, with 80. Nearby Union County has nine cases, and Cabarrus County has six.
In the Triangle, Wake County has 52 reported cases and Durham County has 41.
Durham County reported one additional case Sunday evening. Mecklenburg and Wake counties each reported three additional cases.
Wake state of emergency
Wake County declared a new state of emergency Sunday in response to the coronavirus outbreak, The News & Observer reports.
The declaration limits crowd sizes to 50 and requires some public places to close. Additionally, businesses are urged to screen employees and prevent anyone with a high fever from entering.
No shelter-in-place orders have been announced in the state, but officials in Raleigh and other towns on Sunday hinted it could be a possibility.
Hospitals ask for help
Two North Carolina hospital systems, UNC Health and WakeMed, are asking for the public’s help to get medical supplies, The News & Observer reports.
The most “urgent needs” include N95 masks, surgical masks and surgical masks with shield, nasal swabs, disinfectant, eye protection, face shield, disposable gloves, gown and shoe cover and hand sanitizer and hand soap, The News & Observer reports.
Company ramps up mask production
A North Carolina-based textile mill is organizing an effort to increase the production of face masks for health care workers, The Charlotte Observer reports.
Parkdale Mills Inc. in Gastonia is working with other eight companies to build a “manufacturing supply chain.”
Production should start Monday and deliveries should start my the middle of the week.
Testing
North Carolina health officials say they have completed 6,438 tests for COVID-19 as of Sunday morning, The News & Observer reports.
That’s up from 5,276 tests on Saturday.
Great Smoky Mountains closures
Restrooms, campgrounds and picnic areas in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will close Monday until April 30, the National Park Service said Sunday.
Trails, roads and other outdoor spaces will stay open, but that could change, The Charlotte Observer reports.
Gun sales surge
Sales of guns and ammunition are surging across the United States as coronavirus spreads.
The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office said it saw 487 handgun purchase permits in the first two weeks of March, a 53% increase from a similar time span in January.
The owner of Hyatt Guns in Charlotte said Saturday’s sales will likely turn out to be the best day in the store’s roughly 60-year history. Many first-time buyers are looking for firearms, he said.
Hospitals announce more restrictions
The three major hospital systems in the Triangle are putting stricter limits on visitors as coronavirus spreads.
Starting Monday, visitors won’t be able to go to patient areas at Duke Health, UNC Health and WakeMed facilities, though there are some exceptions.
Universities report cases
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, UNC-Wilmington and Elon University all announced cases on Saturday.
Do you have questions about the coronavirus? The News & Observer will get the answers for you. Go to bit.ly/virusnc and let us know what you need to know.
This story was originally published March 22, 2020 at 7:10 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on March 22."
