Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on May 28
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We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases exceed 25,000
At least 25,720 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 867 have died as of Thursday afternoon, according to state and county health departments.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday reported an additional 784 cases of the virus, up from 488 reported Wednesday.
The state is averaging 650 daily cases of the virus over the last seven days as of Thursday.
Health officials estimate that 14,954 have recovered from the virus in the state. Data on recoveries is released once a week, on Mondays.
Hospitalizations reach new high
At least 708 North Carolina patients were in the hospital with COVID-19 on Thursday, the highest-ever daily total the state reported during the pandemic.
The latest count breaks the previous record of 702 hospitalizations, which was reported the day before.
As of Wednesday, the state’s seven-day hospitalization average was 610.
Health officials say “24 percent of in-patient hospital beds and 18 percent of intensive care beds” are available, The News & Observer reported.
NC has not received RNC plans
Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday that his administration has not received plans from organizers of the Republican National Convention about how it would operate during the coronavirus pandemic.
The convention is scheduled to be held in Charlotte from Aug. 24-27 and Cooper said health experts in his administration have been talking for months with organizers on how to hold it safely.
On Monday, President Donald Trump threatened to move the convention from North Carolina if Cooper did not immediately give an answer on whether full attendance would be allowed.
“We’re not on any timeline here. We want to work with them. We look forward to them submitting plans to us,” the governor said. “We have yet to see them.”
Media coalition sues
On Thursday a media coalition of more than two dozen organizations, including The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer, filed a lawsuit seeking the release of coronavirus-related records the state has so far refused to provide.
Gov. Roy Cooper and two of his secretaries are named as defendants.
The suit includes 26 outstanding requests to the state Department of Public Safety and the state Department of Health and Human Services — including the database of cases, without personal information, the database tracking PPE requests, prison inspection reports and communication between officials.
The governor said during a news conference on Thursday that his office is committed to following the state’s Public Records Act.
“Number one, we want to make sure that we comply with the public records laws and I want to make sure that every agency in state government does that,” he said. “Number two, this administration is making a lot of data available, particularly as it relates to COVID-19 and working hard to make sure that data is available more and more every single day.”
Deadlines extended for businesses
North Carolina businesses given grants from the state have extra time to meet their required goals.
The Job Development Investment Grant program from the North Carolina Department of Commerce gives tax breaks to companies and is used to attract new businesses and jobs. It also requires that businesses meet annual hiring and investment requirements.
But due to the coronavirus pandemic, the department is allowing businesses to carry the requirements into 2021, giving companies more time to meet set goals.
Limited information on meatpacking plants
North Carolina is still limiting information about coronavirus cases at meat processing plants in the state.
Outbreaks at meat processing facilities are reported to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, but the state isn’t telling the public where they occur, The News & Observer reported Thursday.
Officials say they are aware of more than 2,000 workers that have tested positive for COVID-19. The state has released the counties in which outbreaks have occurred, but not the specific facilities.
Dr. Mandy Cohen, N.C. DHHS secretary, has said she’s concerned the list would be incomplete and discourage cooperation from companies.
“What we are saying is this may not be the universe of all of them, so by naming them individually, I think we are calling out ones, frankly, that raised their hand and said, ‘We want to work with you,” Cohen said. “And we continue to want to encourage them to do that, because that’s the right thing to do from a public health perspective.”
Voting bill passes House
A bill that would make it easier to vote by mail in the 2020 elections passed almost unanimously in the North Carolina House of Representatives on Thursday.
State officials have said they expect as many as 40% of North Carolinians could vote by mail this year due to the public health concerns surrounding the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The bill puts millions of dollars toward preparing for that increase and toward health concerns at polling places. It also makes requesting mail-in ballots easier and the completion of them simpler.
The state Senate is scheduled to take up the bill next week.
Bill to reopen bars passes NC legislature
A proposal that calls for reopening North Carolina bars passed the state Senate and House on Thursday. If the bill becomes law, the establishments would be allowed to serve customers during Phase Two of Gov. Cooper’s plan to lift statewide coronavirus-related restrictions.
Currently, bars are ordered to remain closed, and restaurants must operate at limited capacity.
Under the new bill, restaurants, breweries and similar establishments that have already been allowed to reopen would “seat 50% capacity, or 100 customers — whichever is less — outside, in addition to the 50% capacity already allowed inside,” The News & Observer reported.
The proposed legislation will now go to Gov. Cooper after passing 42-5 in the Senate and passing 65-53 in the House.
Protest outside Raleigh prison
A group of protesters gathered near the N.C. Correctional Institution for Women to hold a baby shower for pregnant inmates.
The rally comes after at least one person in custody at the Raleigh facility died after getting COVID-19. The N.C. Department of Public Safety has reported “1,166 coronavirus cases and 16 deaths” at prions, The News & Observer reported.
Coronavirus testing
Starting Friday, drive-thru testing for COVID-19 will be available at 55 CVS pharmacies across North Carolina. The sites can be found in Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and other parts of the state, The Charlotte Observer reported.
People must meet certain requirements to get the self-administered tests. Those who are interested can make appointments at cvs.com as early as Friday.
Help for teen drivers
North Carolina lawmakers on Tuesday filed at least four bills related to teen drivers. The state in mid-March suspended road tests due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
The Division of Motor Vehicles hasn’t yet determined a date for continuing the tests, which are required for teens to get their provisional driver’s licenses. Two of the lawmakers’ proposals would temporarily allow people to get provisional licenses without taking road tests.
Gym owners sue
A group of North Carolina gym owners filed a lawsuit against Gov. Roy Cooper on Wednesday for not allowing them to reopen under Phase Two.
Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan, which started Friday afternoon, allowed additional businesses to open and eased some restrictions. But gyms and indoor fitness facilities were not included, as health officials said they have a greater risk of virus spread.
The group argues in the lawsuit that the governor is depriving them of earning a living and enjoying the “fruits of their labor.” It’s seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent Cooper from enforcing the executive order.
“Phase 2 is a modest step to boost the economy while protecting public health, and Governor Cooper and state health officials will continue to work with the private sector as we move forward,” Dory MacMillan, press secretary for the governor’s office, said in an email to The News & Observer on Wednesday.
Voting by mail could be easier in NC
Proposed legislation would make it easier to vote by mail in North Carolina in the November elections.
State officials say they predict a tenfold increase in absentee voting during the coronavirus pandemic. That means 40% of N.C. voters could opt for mail-in ballots, compared to the typical 4%, The News & Observer reports.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers has filed HB 1169, which is moving quickly through the state General Assembly.
Among the changes under the bill: Only one person, not two, would be required to serve as a witness for an absentee ballot.
Duke Energy not required to waive fees
The North Carolina Utilities Commission denied a request to order Charlotte-based Duke Energy to waive fixed monthly fees for commercial and industrial customers during the pandemic.
The manufacturers trade group Carolina Utility Customers Association wanted fees waived by Duke and Dominion Energy — arguing such customers pay thousands of dollars in “demand charges” even if their businesses are closed or slowed.
But doing so would mean extra costs for other customers, Duke Energy and the commission say.
Additionally, Duke Energy says is still has to maintain the ability to deliver energy when needed even if businesses aren’t using much.
Leadership change at unemployment office
North Carolina’s unemployment office has a new leader, Gov. Roy Cooper said during a news conference on Wednesday.
Pryor Gibson, who formerly served as a state lawmaker and former Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue’s adviser, is replacing Lockhart Taylor, who is moving to a different government job. But the governor did not say why the change was made.
The transition comes as North Carolinians have complained of long waits to get through to the unemployment office and to receive jobless benefits during the coronavirus pandemic. The office has been inundated with claims, with more than 1 million residents filing for unemployment between mid-March and early May.
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 7:08 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on May 28."
