It’s been seven days since Charlotte and Mecklenburg County officials declared states of emergency in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

In a week’s time, the number of positive cases locally has grown from four to 80, according to the county’s count as of Sunday night Statewide, there are 300 cases in North Carolina — up from 32 a week ago.

The higher numbers are in part due to more people being tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. But state and local officials also say North Carolina is now experiencing “community spread,” meaning public health officials cannot determine the origin of each new case.

For most Charlotteans, their routines have unraveled at a dizzying pace while government and public health officials grapple with reducing the spread of COVID-19.

On Sunday, Concord-Padgett Regional Airport unveiled new safety measures to curb the spread of the virus, and hospitals continued regional efforts to keep up with demand. Novant Health on Sunday said it would open a new screening facility in Salisbury. Closures of businesses and gathering spots continued, too, with the National Park Service saying it has closed restrooms, campgrounds and picnic areas in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Both city and county governments have canceled previously-scheduled public meetings for this week but Mecklenburg County officials plan to hold a special-called meeting to discuss public health on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, along with all K-12 schools in the state, remain closed for at least one more week, though Gov. Roy Cooper said students “will likely be out school for a longer period of time.” Thousands of professionals who usually flood uptown Charlotte are now largely working from home and other employees are faced with being out of work or losing their jobs as retail and restaurant businesses reduce hours and cut staff.

Much of Charlotte’s workforce is spread over neighboring counties and across the state line, where the number of cases has continued to grow over the weekend.

Cabarrus County, which reported its first case of COVID-19 a little over a week ago, said Sunday there are eight people there who have tested positive, according to its health alliance. Union County has nine positive cases, while Iredell County has six and Gaston County has three.

In South Carolina, York County reported its second coronavirus case on Saturday and two more Sunday, for a total of four, according to state officials. Lancaster County reported five cases as of Sunday.

Airport temperature checks

Concord-Padgett Regional Airport announced it is screening people for possible indicators of COVID-19, beginning on Sunday. As soon as passengers arrive at the airport, certified nurses take their temperatures using no-touch forehead thermometers.

Passengers showing symptoms or with a fever will be given “appropriate medical attention,” according to a joint press release from the airport and Cabarrus Health Alliance. Others are directed to restrooms “to wash their hands thoroughly.”

“Concord-Padgett Regional Airport and Cabarrus Health Alliance are taking every precaution to provide a safe and healthy environment for staff and travelers arriving into Cabarrus County,” the release states.

At Charlotte Douglas International Airport, there are daily cleanings for seats, handrails, elevators and other touch points. Airport shuttle buses and bathrooms are also cleaned nightly, officials have said.

Novant adds new COVID-19 screening center

Medical providers in the Charlotte area have expanded their capacity to test for coronavirus in the past week. On Sunday, Novant Health announced that it would open an additional screening center in Salisbury. The facility will open on Tuesday, and operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Like other Novant testing facilities, the center will only screen those who have symptoms. If you aren’t sick or haven’t been in close contact with a person who has COVID-19, health officials urge you to not seek a test.

“Visiting a screening center unnecessarily will only further one’s risk of exposure and put on strain on resources for those who need it most,” Novant said in a press release.

The new screening facility is located at 315 Mocksville Avenue, in Salisbury. Novant has two other dedicated testing centers in the Charlotte area, one in Huntersville and another in Matthews. Its GoHealth Urgent Care Centers are also screening for coronavirus.

Atrium Health and Charlotte’s Tryon Medical Partners are also testing locally.

Disruptions, public meeting cancellations

This weekend was the first North Carolinians found themselves unable to dine at restaurants and congregate at bars. Cooper’s office restricted those businesses in an order last week, limiting dining across the state to takeout, delivery and drive-through.

In Mecklenburg County, gyms and movie theaters are also closed. Public Health Director Gibbie Harris incorporated those businesses into her order last week that banned all mass gatherings of 50 or more people. (So far, Harris has exempted a wide swath of places, including the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, light rail and bus stops, residential buildings, hotels and grocery stores.)

A Charlotte City Council meeting planned for Monday is canceled, as is a county commissioners policy meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

Last week, it was still deemed safe for Charlotte City Council to meet, so long as elected officials sat 6 feet apart and were relegated to a separate space than citizens. Future meeting formats are uncertain, though.

“We are in the process of vetting virtual meeting platforms to identify one that will satisfy open meeting laws,” Cory Burkarth, a city spokesperson, told the Charlotte Observer. “We also want to ensure that any software we use can be easily streamed to the public on social media and on the Gov Channel.”

Meanwhile, the Mecklenburg County commissioners’ public policy session planned for Tuesday is off due to “health and safety reasons,” Chairman George Dunlap said in a written update to members, which was shared with the Observer.

A new meeting for county elected officials has been called instead, with Dunlap telling commissioners there will be a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss COVID-19. That meeting will be held at the Government Center, one of numerous public buildings that has closed to the public.

This story was originally published March 22, 2020 at 3:35 PM.