Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on May 17
We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Reported cases and deaths
At least 18,659 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 684 have died as of Sunday afternoon, according to state and county health departments.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Sunday reported 530 new cases, a drop from the 853 reported Saturday — the largest single day jump since the state reported its first case in early March.
As of Sunday, 248,944 COVID-19 tests had been completed in North Carolina, up from 238,586 on Saturday. The state is aiming to test between 5,000 and 7,000 people per day.
At least 493 North Carolinians were in the hospital with COVID-19 on Sunday, up from 481 the day before.
Avery is still the only one of North Carolina’s 100 counties that hasn’t reported a case of the virus. Avery County has about 17,500 residents.
At least one death has been reported in 73 N.C. counties.
Testing goals surpassed
North Carolina is continuing to ramp up testing and surpassed 10,000 new tests on Sunday for the second time in three days.
State health officials have set a goal to test between 5,000 an 7,000 a day, and Sunday was the fifth consecutive day the goal was met or surpassed.
About 7.4% of tests have come back positive.
Unemployment
State data show that a little more than half of the North Carolinians who have filed for unemployment have started receiving benefits, The News & Observer reports Sunday.
Typically, people should wait no longer than 14 days to start getting their benefits, as long as there are no complications with the claim, officials with the N.C. Division of Employment Security say.
Since March 15, when restrictions on who can apply for unemployment were loosened, nearly 900,000 people in the state have filed and the state has paid out nearly $2 billion in benefits.
The state’s unemployment system was abruptly inundated with claims and tripled its staff last month, but Gov. Roy Cooper says he doesn’t think it’s doing enough.
“They need to do more, they need to move faster, and I am pushing them to move faster,” Cooper said in a news conference last week.
But some say the office is still understaffed and didn’t triple its staff soon enough.
Judge blocks Cooper’s restrictions on religious services
A federal judge has temporarily blocked Gov. Roy Cooper’s restrictions on religious services put in place in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The judge’s order came Saturday, two days after two Baptist churches had sued the governor claiming the order violated their First Amendment religious freedoms, The News & Observer reported. A hearing is scheduled for May 29.
The governor’s office said it wouldn’t appeal, so churches will be able to choose whether to hold indoor services of more than 10 people. But Cooper’s office urged religious leaders to voluntarily comply with restrictions to protect public health.
On Sunday, some North Carolina churches held services indoors for the first time in months following the restrictions being blocked.
However, others continued to hold their services outdoors, as Cooper’s executive order recommends.
Steve Grice, pastor of New Life Baptist Church, told The News & Observer that his congregation gathered indoors Sunday as having service in the parking lot had been distracting.
“I felt strongly that we could do this safely,” Grice said.
Renard Sharrett, pastor at Crosspoint Community Church in Clayton, also told The N&O his church felt they could hold services indoors safely as the building holds up to 140 people and 40 usually attend.
“We’re looking to obviously be good citizens and honor our authorities as we’re called to, but also honor God first and foremost,” he said.
New guidance on tests
North Carolina is expanding its guidance on who can get tested for the coronavirus, Dr. Mandy Cohen, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services secretary, announced Friday.
Clinicians are encouraged to test anyone who thinks they have the virus, and first responders, health care workers and essential workers should have access to tests, the N&O reported.
During the news conference, Cohen also said overnight summer camps will be allowed to reopen during Phase Two — with certain restrictions.
J Cole’s Dreamville Festival canceled
The organizers of J. Cole’s Dreamville Festival called it off on Friday after initially agreeing to postpone until the fall.
“Although we originally hoped it would be possible to bring you the festival this August, the ongoing uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic has made this timeline no longer possible,” organizers wrote. “This decision has been extremely difficult to make, but the safety of our fans, artists and staff is always our top priority, and nothing will ever take precedence over your well-being.”
The festival was originally slated for April 4 but had been rescheduled for Aug. 29.
Are people wearing masks?
Phase one of Cooper’s reopening plan began May 8. During the first week, staff at The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer went to 125 stores to find out how many people were out shopping, if stores were enforcing social distancing rules and whether anyone wore masks.
According to the N&O, the majority of employees were wearing a face covering — “even if they weren’t always wearing it correctly.” But half or fewer than half of all customers at retailers were wearing masks.
“Yeah, we are kind of past the point of concern,” one shopper at a TJ Maxx in Knightdale said. “We were really scared and cautious at first, but ... you have to live life and not live life in fear. We weren’t afraid to come out.”
The Charlotte Observer reported not all employees were wearing masks at more than half of the businesses staff visited.
“In nearly 1 in 5 businesses, all customers wore masks,” according to the Observer. “But at 40% of the locations, less than half of the customers had them on.”
This story was originally published May 17, 2020 at 7:35 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on May 17."
