Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on July 13
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We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases top 87,000
At least 87,528 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 1,510 have died, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday reported 1,827 new cases of the virus, down from 1,908 Sunday.
The daily case totals were lower than the 2,462 reported Saturday, the most since the start of the pandemic.
Officials also reported seven additional deaths.
On Monday, health officials reported completing about 20,900 new coronavirus tests, for a total of more than 1.2 million. About 10% of tests completed on Sunday came back positive. That number should be closer to 5%, health officials have said.
Hospitalizations remain above 1,000
At least 1,040 North Carolinians were hospitalized with COVID-19 on Monday, down from 1,070 reported the day before.
Monday marked the fifth consecutive day in which daily hospitalizations topped 1,000.
The totals neared the record high of 1,093 reported Saturday.
Requests for mail-in ballots surge
North Carolina has seen a “striking surge” in requests for mail-in ballots amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report.
Election officials say as many as four in 10 voters could cast mail-in ballots in the fall — meaning more than 1.5 million, which is 10 times the usual number.
Michael Bitzer, a political scientist at Catawba College, analyzed more than 65,000 requests for the ballots made through Friday — a four-fold increase compared to this time in 2016.
“We all were expecting a run-up in mail-in ballots,” Bitzer told The News & Observer on Monday. “I don’t think anybody would have expected that rate at this point.”
Lawmakers have made it easier to cast absentee ballots because of the pandemic. Last month Gov. Roy Cooper signed a law allowing voters to request absentee ballots online and cutting the number of required witnesses to one, among other things. By Sept. 1, the state elections board will have a portal at www.ncsbe.gov.
Ballots for the November election will be mailed to voters by Sept. 4.
New York travel rules tighten
Travelers from North Carolina will be required to provide their contact information if they visit New York.
The state is requiring that all visitors from states with significant spread of COVID-19, which includes North Carolina, give officials their contact information upon arrival in New York for the purpose of enforcing the state’s mandatory 14-day quarantine for these travelers, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday.
Those who don’t give their information will receive a summons and fine of $2,000.
Travelers from the designated states will be required to give authorities a location form before they leave the airport. The form will include information about where the person is traveling from and where they are going.
Airlines will hand out the form on the plane, and it will be available online.
State lacks plan for regular nursing home testing
North Carolina still lacks a plan for regular testing in nursing homes.
Nursing home have been hit especially hard by the coronavirus pandemic. In North Carolina, nursing home residents make up almost half of all coronavirus deaths in the state. Outbreaks have been reported at 40% of the state’s 400 nursing homes.
Experts have said routine testing at these facilities is key to controlling the spread of COVID-19 in them, but North Carolina doesn’t have a plan to do so.
State officials recommend nursing homes test staff every other week and announced last month a plan to test about 70,000 nursing home staff and residents by the end of August. But it’s unclear how often nursing home staff in North Carolina have been tested.
Case at Insurance Department
An employee at the North Carolina Department of Insurance tested positive for the coronavirus last week.
Other workers in the department now have the option to work from home. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey told The News & Observer he didn’t know if they employee was symptomatic while at work but other workers were tested and the office was cleaned.i
This is the third case in the department. One employee tested positive in June and another in “the last week or two,” Causey said.
State hopes for more federal relief
Gov. Roy Cooper may call a special legislative session if federal coronavirus relief money needs to be allocated or budget adjustments need to be made before Sept. 2.
The General Assembly isn’t scheduled to return until after Labor Day but actions from Congress could change that. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said Congress will “likely” approve another coronavirus relief package when lawmakers return July 20.
State leaders hope the federal government will help make up for a multi-billion-dollar budget shortage. Currently, federal coronavirus money can only be used for pandemic-related government functions.
Outbreaks at Raleigh care centers
Coronavirus outbreaks were reported at three long-term care facilities in Raleigh.
Eight people have tested positive across the facilities: Universal Healthcare, Raleigh Rehabilitation Center at and Wake Assisted Living.
The state considers an outbreak two or more infected people.
Statewide, 140 nursing homes and 87 residential care facilities have had COVID-19 outbreaks. More than 4,900 cases and 696 deaths have been reported at nursing homes in the state and 1,500 cases and 122 deaths have been reported at residential care facilities.
This story was originally published July 13, 2020 at 6:47 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on July 13."
