Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on June 3
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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 31,000
At least 31,221 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 999 have died, according to state and county health departments.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported an additional 888 cases of the virus on Wednesday, up from 626 the day before. The state was averaging 878 daily cases over the last seven days on Wednesday.
Health officials say about 14,300 new tests were completed Wednesday for a total of 449,263, about 8% of which have come back positive.
Officials estimate that, as of Monday, 18,860 people have recovered from the virus in the state.
Hospitalizations drop from record high
The number of North Carolina patients in the hospital with the coronavirus dropped from Tuesday’s all-time high.
The state reported 684 hospitalizations on Wednesday, down from 716 the day before.
The state was averaging 675 daily hospitalizations over the last seven days on Wednesday.
First child death
North Carolina reported its first child coronavirus death Wednesday.
Aurea Soto Morales, an elementary school student from Durham, died at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill on Monday, Oscar Henriquez, the organizer of a GoFundMe page to support the family, said, according to The News & Observer.
Creekside Elementary School posted a statement on its Facebook page about the student’s death.
“Our whole Creekside community’s heart is broken over the loss of one of our wonderful students, who was a shining light wherever she went. Even though we must remain physically distant due to COVID-19, we are still reaching out to support our children, families, and staff during this difficult time,” the statement said.
Trump seeking new location for RNC
President Donald Trump said he is looking for a new state to host the Republican National Convention after North Carolina leaders refused to meet GOP requests that included full capacity at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte.
“Because of @NC_Governor, we are now forced to seek another State to host the 2020 Republican National Convention,” he wrote.
Gov. Roy Cooper on Tuesday told GOP leaders it’s unlikely they will be able to hold the RNC in Charlotte in August in the way they’ve requested.
A request for full capacity at the event came in a letter on Saturday to 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 to 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 governor told officials in the letter that social distancing and masks would be necessary. He also left the door open for a smaller event.
Prison deaths
Six coronavirus-related deaths were reported in one week at a federal prison in North Carolina.
Now, the Federal Correctional Complex at Butner is starting COVID-19 testing for all people in custody at its low-security facility, The News & Observer reported Wednesday.
Since March, 15 Butner inmates who got infected with the virus have died, the most of any federal facility.
The prison has 270 active cases among 4,386 inmates. Seven staff members also have the virus.
While officials responded to outbreaks at medium-security facilities, they moved inmates who had the virus to a “closed” area within the low-security area, prompting concerns about possible exposure, The N&O reported.
Prison officials say 46 inmates and six employees have recovered from COVID-19. Butner is roughly 14 miles northeast of Durham.
Coronavirus concerns at protests
A surge in coronavirus cases from George Floyd protests in Charlotte could be apparent within two weeks, the Mecklenburg County health director said Tuesday.
Gibbie Harris also told county commissioners that Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan could also lead to an increase in new cases, The Charlotte Observer reports.
Wake County Health Director Chris Kippes expressed concern on Monday over the spread of the coronavirus following a weekend of protests in Raleigh.
“Based on what we all saw, you saw different levels of social distancing,” 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, also discussed health inequities during a Monday news conference, as minorities have been disproportionately affected by the outbreak in the state.
This story was originally published June 3, 2020 at 6:59 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on June 3."
