‘We’ve got to step up’: Mecklenburg leaders, wary of lockdown, pass stricter mask rules

As Mecklenburg County leaders sounded their concerns about the steep trajectory of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the region, they instituted new, stricter mask requirements.

Face coverings must be now worn inside all buildings and facilities that are owned or leased by Mecklenburg County, Charlotte and Matthews. And masks are now mandated in outdoor settings, including county-owned parks, where people cannot social distance, according to the joint proclamation.

Tuesday’s updated proclamation — passed unanimously — strengthens a provision in Gov. Roy Cooper’s statewide face mask mandate aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19. The order is effective immediately.

The decision came after a lengthy discussion where Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Gibbie Harris said she is “greatly” concerned that the Charlotte area could soon look like coronavirus hotspots now swelling in Texas.

Some residents are not taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously enough and following health guidelines, Harris told county commissioners during their virtual meeting Tuesday evening.

“I’m watching what’s happening in other communities and how quickly this can turn,” Harris said, responding to questioning from County Commissioner Mark Jerrell on how likely another lockdown may be in Mecklenburg.

“I think we’ve got to step up as a community to really get this under control before we start looking like a Houston or San Antonio,” Harris said.

There have been 13,202 confirmed coronavirus cases and 160 related deaths among county residents, Mecklenburg officials said Tuesday afternoon.

Texas eclipsed 10,000 new coronavirus cases Tuesday, and hospitalizations surged beyond 9,000, the AP reported. Bars in the state were ordered to close last week, with restaurants slashing their capacity.

‘We’re in trouble’

Jerrell also urged Harris to “put the community on notice” before COVID-19 trends reach a “point of no return.” Commissioner Trevor Fuller echoed that call, pleading with Harris and his colleagues to take swift action to curb rising case tallies.

“We’re in trouble, folks,” Fuller said. “Are we prepared to close our county again? Are we prepared to do that, from a public health perspective?”

Harris said she would recommend stricter guidelines if necessary, though the health director added she doesn’t have the authority to impose a stay-at-home order. Such a measure would require the approval of the Mecklenburg County commissioners chairman, as well as the mayors of Charlotte and the six towns.

But County Manager Dena Diorio said Mecklenburg is not in a position to issue another stay-at-home order, emphasizing local hospital systems are currently able to manage the volume of coronavirus patients. And hospitals have learned more about the virus — and how to ramp up surge capacity— since the local outbreak began in March, Diorio said.

Diorio said county leaders should continue to encourage residents to wear masks, follow social distancing guidelines and practice good hygiene.

The hospitals are at about 80% capacity, with 400 ventilators available, Harris told commissioners Tuesday.

“Right now, their capacity is holding, and they’re continuing to adjust their admissions based on the need they’re seeing in the community,” Harris.

New face mask rules

Under the governor’s executive order, which went into effect June 26, masks are required in public settings where social distancing may be difficult, including in retail stores, restaurants, and personal care businesses.

While Cooper’s order requires masks worn at state government agencies — including for “public-facing operations” — it only “strongly encouraged” local government bodies to pursue similar face covering rules.

The new Mecklenburg directive does not incorporate town-owned properties in Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Mint Hill and Pineville. Previous emergency declarations, such as the local stay-at-home order, had county-wide support.

Separately, Davidson does require face coverings in town facilities, which are currently closed to the general public under Phase 2 of Cooper’s reopening plan, assistant town manager Karen Whichard told The Charlotte Observer Tuesday.

Commissioner Susan Rodriguez-McDowell said it’s a shame Mecklenburg did not have county-wide support for the tighter mask order.

“I’m just profoundly disappointed in our towns that did not join this proclamation,” said Rodriguez-McDowell, who represents south Mecklenburg.

The local measure includes the same mask-wearing exceptions as Cooper’s order, such as for people with medical or behavioral conditions and children under age 11. It also exempts masks in private offices, and in circumstances when people are complying with law enforcement or cannot feasibly wear face coverings when “obtaining or rendering goods or services,” according to the updated local proclamation.

Still, county attorney Tyrone Wade said enforcing this new measure will be difficult in Mecklenburg.

More testing in Mecklenburg

Harris announced the state has asked Mecklenburg to test 12.5% of its population — or about 140,000 residents — within the next 30 days. The latest test push, which began more than a week ago, is on track, Harris said.

In May, Mecklenburg had to significantly ramp up its testing capacity as the state eased some coronavirus restrictions. Through that program, the county tested more than 50,000 residents, or about 5% of Mecklenburg’s population.

Testing and case data from June shows Mecklenburg’s latest increase in known infections cannot be explained by increased testing alone, according to a Charlotte Observer analysis. Community exposure risks to COVID-19 have moderately increased as Charlotte moved away from strict stay-at-home orders, which public health experts say fueled a higher prevalence of the virus.

More than 184,000 COVID-19 tests have been done in Mecklenburg, with an average of 3,200 now run daily through Atrium Health, Novant Heath and CVS Health. Yet Harris said Mecklenburg will need the state’s help, with testing results now taking about a week.

“We’re overloading our laboratory systems,” Harris said of testing constraints.

More than a third of Mecklenburg’s infections are among Hispanic residents, mostly younger adults between the ages of 20 and 39, Harris said.

The number of people needing hospital-level care has steadily increased in the Charlotte area since late May — with an average of 165 people hospitalized in acute care facilities in the past week. The single-highest day for hospitalizations so far was recorded on July 2, when 182 needed care, Mecklenburg data released Tuesday shows.

Another crucial coronavirus trend — the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests — has “slightly increased” in the past two weeks, after officials said the metric appeared stable. The rate was 11.6% over the last seven days, Harris said.

“I hope that our community is looking at this,” Rodriguez-McDowell said. “It’s not just about deaths — it’s about hospitalizations and severe illness.”

This story was originally published July 7, 2020 at 10:26 PM.