Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Aug. 16

We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.

Cases top 144,952

At least 144,952 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 2,347 have died, according to state health officials.

There were 934 people hospitalized with the virus on Sunday, the state reported.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Saturday reported an additional 1,246 cases of COVID-19, down for 1,536 on Saturday. The record remains 2,481 new cases reported in mid-July.

An additional four deaths were also reported Sunday.

The health department said Wednesday the number of total tests it previously reported is inaccurate due to errors in lab reporting. Officials now say 1.9 million COVID-19 tests have been completed in North Carolina, about 141,300 less than originally reported.

The error, however, does not change the percentage of positive tests or the number of cases reported, officials said.

The health department on Saturday reported a positive test rate of 7%, up from 6% Friday. Health officials have long said that rate should be 5% or lower.

Hospitalizations drop

At least 1,032 people in North Carolina were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 on Saturday, down from 1,049 on Friday.

Saturday’s count is based on data from 90% of hospitals in the state.

Daily hospitalizations have remained above 1,000 since early July, data show.

UNC reports COVID clusters

Two residence halls at UNC-Chapel Hill reported clusters of COVID-19 on Friday — one at Ehringhaus Community and the other at Granville Towers.

State health officials define a cluster as five or more cases, The News & Observer reported.

“The individuals in these clusters have been identified and are isolating and receiving medical monitoring,” a campus alert said. “We have also notified the Orange County Health Department and are working with them to identify additional potential exposures.”

About 5,800 students are living on campus at UNC, which resumed classes on Monday.

With family by her side, jail officer dies of COVID-19 complications

With her family by her side, a longtime Mecklenburg County jail officer died at a Charlotte hospital this week due to complications from COVID-19.

Officer Coretta Jean Downing had been hospitalized since July 30, four days past her last day at work. She told her supervisor on July 29 she wasn’t feeling well and wouldn’t be at work that day, Sheriff Garry McFadden said in a news release.

Downing had worked at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center since 2000. She was 51 years old, the sheriff said.

“Our hearts, prayers and condolences go out to her grieving family,” McFadden said in a statement. “This came as quite a surprise to our organization as we all are dealing with the grief of the passing of one of our own.”

97-year-old woman beats COVID-19

A 97-year-old Greenville woman defeated COVID-19 after three weeks in the hospital, NBC News reported.

Rosa Tyson was diagnosed with the virus in June, according to the network. Now, “I feel good,” she said.

Her 69-year-old son, Daniel Haddock, told the network his mom is a fighter, “and I knew how strong she was.”

Catawba County investigates 10th outbreak at a care center

Catawba County Public Health on Saturday reported its 10th COVID-19 outbreak at a residential care center.

Four residents at Brian Center East have tested positive for the virus, health officials said.

The center has done additional testing and is working closely with Public Health “to ensure control measures are in place to help prevent further spread of the disease,” according to a county health department news release.

Virtual charter schools can’t expand

The North Carolina State Board of Education will not let two virtual charter schools expand enrollment as the coronavirus pandemic forces more students online.

The schools had sought to add up to 3,800 more students, The News & Observer reported.

Several board members had argued in favor of a one-year pandemic-related enrollment cap exemption. But the majority voted against it, citing the schools’ poor performance.

“I want to be sure that in order to provide some options for some students who don’t have them right now that we make sure we don’t send negative ripples all the way across the state and end up affecting a large number of students negatively by trying to help the students that we’re talking about,” board member Jill Camnitz said.

Demand for virtual learning has soared as some schools opt to reopen in spite of COVID-19 concerns, The N&O reported.

The two virtual charter schools currently have close to 9,500 students on their waiting list.

Election officials urge early request for mail-in ballots

The U.S. Postal Service sent a letter Friday to North Carolina’s Secretary of State Elaine Marshall urging voters to request absentee by-mail ballots sooner rather than later, citing potential delays.

Election Day is Nov. 3, and the state deadline to request a ballot is 5 p.m. on Oct. 27, The News & Observer reported.

But state election officials said that date could be too late.

“We’re encouraging folks to put it in the mail at least a week before Election Day,” said Patrick Gannon, spokesman for the state board of elections.

Mecklenburg wants more COVID-19 testing

Mecklenburg County, home to Charlotte, is hoping to ramp up testing efforts to help stop coronavirus outbreaks, according to Public Health Director Gibbie Harris.

The county is also hoping to test asymptomatic people, as it’s possible up to 40% of those who have COVID-19 may not show signs of infection, The Charlotte Observer reported Friday.

“We really need more testing of individuals that are not just feeling ill or know that they’ve been exposed but are in environments where they may have been exposed,” Harris said at a news conference.

Testing volume doubled from May to June and went up again last month, but not by as much. The number of tests seems to hover at about 3,500 to 3,800 per day, the Observer’s data analysis shows.

This story was originally published August 16, 2020 at 1:20 PM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Aug. 16."