Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on June 2
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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.
Reported cases and deaths
At least 30,022 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 961 have died, according to the state and county health departments.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday reported an additional 626 cases of the virus, down from 674 reported the day before.
Health officials reported about 13,000 new tests were completed Tuesday, for a total of 434,921. About 8% of tests have come back positive.
Officials also released new data on recoveries Monday, estimating that 18,860 people have recovered from the virus.
Hospitalizations reach new daily high
At least 716 coronavirus patients were in North Carolina hospitals on Tuesday, up from 650 the day before and the highest-ever daily total reported by the state.
Tuesday’s count broke the previous record of 708 hospitalizations, which was recorded on May 28.
The state was averaging 678 daily hospitalizations over the last seven days as of Tuesday.
Cooper rejects RNC request
Gov. Roy Cooper on Tuesday rejected a request from organizers of the Republican National Convention to hold the event at full attendance in Charlotte.
The request for a full-capacity event came in a letter Saturday to Gov. Roy Cooper from GOP national chair Ronna McDaniel and convention CEO Marcia Kelly. It would put 19,000 people in the Spectrum Center. President Donald Trump also requested in a phone call with Cooper that masks and social distancing not be required.
The letter gave a Wednesday deadline to receive the go-ahead. Otherwise, McDaniel and Kelly said in the letter they “will immediately need to begin making modifications as to how the convention will proceed.”
“As much as we want the conditions surrounding COVID-19 to be favorable enough for you to hold the convention you describe in late August, it is very unlikely,” Cooper wrote RNC officials Tuesday. “Neither public health officials nor I will risk the health and safety of North Carolinians by providing the guarantees you seek.”
The RNC is scheduled to start Aug. 24. Trump previously threatened on Twitter to move the convention from North Carolina if full attendance was not allowed.
Protests lead to fears of coronavirus spread
After a weekend of protests in Raleigh, the Wake County public health director said he worried about the spread of the coronavirus.
Many downtown businesses were vandalized and police deployed tear gas and shot rubber bullets as people gathered to protest the death of George Floyd, a black man who was pinned by a Minneapolis police officer last week.
“Based on what we all saw, you saw different levels of social distancing,” health director Chris Kippes told The News & Observer on Monday. “You saw different levels of protective measures that people were taking or not taking such as wearing masks or not wearing masks or things of that nature. Those are the things that will concern us.”
Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, talked about health inequities in a news conference Monday. African-Americans make up 22% of the state’s population but account for 30% of the confirmed coronavirus cases and 34% of deaths. Hispanic residents make up less than 10% of the state’s population but account for 38% of confirmed cases and 7% of deaths.
Wake drive-thru testing
A drive-thru testing center opened in Wake County on Monday and will offer free tests through Thursday.
It’s located at the Wake County Commons Building in Raleigh. Patients will need to sign up for a time slot online and register to be tested. A printed registration from and identification must be taken to the appointment.
Those with symptoms, those who have been in close contact with someone who tested positive, health care workers and first responders, those in congregate living, people ages 65 years and older, those with underlying health conditions and members of a historically marginalized or vulnerable population are eligible for a test.
All slots were filled Monday and most were filled for Tuesday as of Monday afternoon.
This story was originally published June 2, 2020 at 7:03 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on June 2."
