New restrictions were announced Monday for residents of North Carolina, which now has at least 410 reported cases of coronavirus.

A new order from Gov. Roy Cooper banned gatherings of more than 50 people and ordered businesses such as gyms, movie theaters and nail salons to close by Wednesday. The order came a day after a similar order was issued in Wake County.

Cooper said public schools in the state will remain closed until May 15.

Previously, Cooper had banned gatherings of more than 100 people and banned dine-in service at restaurants and bars. On Monday, the Town of Beaufort, Pitt County and Madison County each issued their own shelter-in-place orders.

As of Monday, the state had tested more than 8,400 people for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

The largest number of cases are in the Charlotte area, which has 106.

Durham reported 30 new cases on Monday to bring that county total to 71.

Wake reported 14 additional cases Monday evening, bringing that county’s total to 66.

Wake County’s state of emergency

On Sunday, Wake County declared a heightened state of emergency, closing gyms and other non-essential businesses, prohibiting playground use and placing new restrictions on nursing homes.

Community spread has grown into a larger problem as Carteret County announced a confirmed case Sunday involving a patient who had not traveled to high-risk areas or contacted anyone else with the virus.

Some doctors’ offices in the Triangle are providing “telemedicine” visits that do not involve coming to the office.

UNC-Chapel Hill has confirmed at least two cases at the university, including an employee.

Raleigh has closed all city park playgrounds and restrooms, though open spaces and trails remain open. The parks department urged users to follow social distancing guidelines and stay at least six feet apart from other people.

Durham officials planned to close most county offices, though GoDurham has announced all buses will be free to ride. Riders are asked to enter through the rear doors to support social distancing.

Duke Health, UNC Health and WakeMed have all announced that they will limit visitors starting Monday.

Unemployment skyrockets

The N.C. Department of Employment Security said on Monday that in just the past seven days, around 113,000 people have filed for unemployment in the state.

That’s nearly triple the number of unemployment claims that North Carolinians filed in the rest of 2020 combined. Federal data shows the state had just 33,000 claims total in all of January, February and the first week of March.

Triangle bus systems drop fares

Four of the Triangle’s bus systems dropped fares on Monday and asked riders to get on and off the bus using the rear door, away from the driver.

GoDurham, GoRaleigh, GoTriangle and GoCary say the changes are intended to enforce social distancing and reduce contact with frequently touched surfaces, such as the fare box. Exceptions will be made for riders who need to use the front door for wheelchairs, strollers or other mobility devices.

Chapel Hill Transit, which is already fare-free, is also having riders use the rear door to board and exit the bus.

Counting North Carolina’s cases of coronavirus

The News & Observer is keeping a case count based on combined reports from DHHS and county health departments. That figure can differ from the DHHS number because it can take 24 to 48 hours for cases reported by individual counties to be included in the state figures.

Forty-seven counties now have at least one case, according to The News & Observer tally. Mecklenburg (which added 17 more cases on Monday), Durham and Wake counties continue to have the highest number of reports.

This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 8:56 AM with the headline "As North Carolina coronavirus cases continue to rise, new restrictions take effect."