‘Assume you’re going to be exposed,’ Mecklenburg warns in announcing third local death

Mecklenburg County coronavirus cases jumped Thursday night to a total of 533, officials said.

County officials made the announcement via Twitter and also said three people have died in Mecklenburg from COVID-19.

The tweet Thursday night was ominous saying: “The curve will not flatten immediately. We don’t expect numbers to drop right away. Community spread is here, so assume you’re going to be exposed if you’re out and about.”

The warning comes one week after a local stay-at-home order went into effect.

The county’s third death from coronavirus came Thursday. Health officials described the person as 89 years old, with underlying health conditions. Two other people have died in Mecklenburg County from COVID-19, according to local officials. In one case, the person’s age was not released. In the other, officials said the person was 60 years old, with underlying health conditions.

This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 5:11 PM.

Anna Douglas

The Charlotte Observer

704-358-5078

Anna Douglas is The Charlotte Observer’s deputy managing editor and previously worked as an investigative reporter and news editor in the newsroom. Prior to joining the Observer, she worked as a local news reporter for The (Rock Hill) Herald and as a congressional correspondent in Washington, D.C., for McClatchy. Anna is a past recipient of the South Carolina Press Association’s Journalist of the Year award and the Charlotte Society of Professional Journalists’ Outstanding Journalism Award. She’s a South Carolina native, a graduate of Winthrop University, and a past fellow of the Dori Maynard Diversity Leadership Program, sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists. Anna has lived in Charlotte since May 2017.