Coronavirus update in Mecklenburg County: 665 cases, 6 deaths, social distancing urged
As of late Sunday, Mecklenburg County had 665 reported coronavirus cases — accounting for around 25% of all cases in North Carolina. And local health officials announced there have been 6 deaths in the county.
In North Carolina, the state identified at least 183 new cases on Sunday, increasing the total to nearly 2,590 across 89 counties. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported 31 deaths — seven more than there were on Saturday — and 271 hospitalizations — ten fewer than there were on Saturday. The total number of deaths rose higher as counties, like Mecklenburg, made announcements late Sunday.
In Henderson County, 23 new cases were reported at a senior living facility. The people who tested positive are in isolation and the community is under quarantine. According to a spokesperson for Cherry Springs Village, the facility had “adhered to aggressive infection-control policies” since early February.
So far there have been COVID-19 outbreaks at eight nursing homes and four residential care facilities in North Carolina, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Part of what may be driving the Charlotte region’s high case rate is its dense population, the area’s status as a transit hub and the intensity of testing COVID-19, the Charlotte Observer reported Saturday.
More than two dozen city of Charlotte employees have been quarantined as a result of cases among first responders. On Friday, the city announced that three more first responders — two Charlotte Mecklenburg Police officers and a Charlotte Fire Department employee — had tested positive for COVID-19.
Charlotte has been under a stay-at-home order since March 26. North Carolina followed and instituted an order that took place on March 30 and will last 30 days.
County officials are urging people to stay home except for critical needs, such as medical treatment or grocery shopping.
“If each infected person spreads the virus to two other people, the chain of infection grows exponentially. Avoiding even one social transmission early can significantly reduce the number of infections. An infected person can infect others before they show symptoms,” county officials said in a news statement Friday while urging people to observe social distancing rules.
Social distancing means staying 6 feet away from others in public, including outdoors in parks.
Catawba County
Two new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Catawba County as of Sunday morning, bringing the county’s total number of residents who have tested positive to 24, according to the Catawba County Public Health. There have been 339 negative test results, according to a news release.
“Because community spread is occurring locally and across North Carolina, all residents are urged to stay home and avoid contact with others to the extent possible,” the health department said.
Iredell County also reported two more cases — totaling 44 cases.
Enforcement so far
CMPD has charged people for violations related to COVID-19 on two separate occasions.
On Saturday, police arrested eight protesters outside A Preferred Women’s Health Center on Latrobe Drive, an abortion clinic that attracts near-daily protests.
Police said there were 50 protesters present Saturday. Twelve people who refused to leave were cited for being in violation of the stay-at-home order and restrictions on mass gatherings. Eight protesters were arrested, police said.
Earlier last week CMPD issued its first citation to a business found in violation of the coronavirus restrictions. A manager at Cool Cave Day Spa — a massage parlor and day spa — continued to operate despite an order that non-essential businesses close to the public. The citation was issued after multiple requests for employees to comply with the state’s stay-at-home order, CMPD officials said.
Most businesses have followed the rules, according to CMPD Deputy Chief Jeff Estes.
This story was originally published April 5, 2020 at 11:26 AM.
