Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Aug. 29
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases top 165,000
At least 165,076 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 2,683 have died, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Saturday reported 2,585 new COVID-19 cases, up from 1,415
the day before.
In a statement on its COVID-19 Data Dashboard, the DHHS said the total new lab-confirmed cases for Saturday “reflects an increase caused, in part, by approximately 1,000 positive tests from dates in the first half of the month that were reported to NCDHHS by LabCorp in the past 24 hours.
“The Department is working with LabCorp to understand the cause of the delayed reporting; however, LabCorp confirmed that individuals were not delayed in receiving their results.”
The health department also reported 31 additional deaths.
On Saturday, officials reported a positive test rate of 8.4% — up from 7% on Friday. State health officials are aiming for a positive test percentage of 5% or lower.
At least 965 people in North Carolina were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 on Saturday, down from 970 on Friday and considerably fewer than Wednesday’s 1,004.
GOP lawmakers negotiating stimulus checks for parents
Republicans in the state legislature plan to propose COVID-19 stimulus checks for North Carolina parents.
Budget writers in the Senate and the House will be negotiating the proposal over the next week, which could provide parents hundreds of dollars to offset the cost of child care and virtual learning, sources in the legislature told The News & Observer.
The amount hasn’t been finalized, but sources told the N&O legislators plan for at least $200, funded by what’s left of the federal CARES Act money the state is mandated to spend by Dec. 30.
The vote is expected next week.
Cases climb at NC universities
N.C. State announced two new coronavirus clusters on Friday, bringing the university’s total clusters to 31.
The new clusters were found in the Sullivan residence hall and in an off-campus apartment complex, The News & Observer reported. The announcement comes after university officials reported five clusters Thursday — two in residence halls and three in Greek life housing.
Most of the 6,600 students living on campus started moving out Thursday.
The number of coronavirus cases at UNC-Chapel Hill topped 1,000 on Friday after officials reported another 26 cases. It’s the lowest daily total reported since Aug. 13.
The university has reported 11 COVID-19 clusters on campus and university-affiliated properties, including Greek life houses, in the first two weeks of classes.
Chapel Hill police said they cited four UNC students who violated statewide coronavirus orders last week.
The reported increases come after schools started their fall semesters on Aug. 10. N.C. State, UNC-Chapel Hill and East Carolina University have since switched to online-only learning for undergraduates. UNC-Chapel Hill also announced Friday students will have the option to pass/fail any of their classes during the fall semester.
‘Grand Daddy of NC BBQs’ canceled due to COVID 19
A 90-year-old tradition known as the “Grand Daddy of North Carolina BBQs” has been canceled due to health and safety concerns from the novel coronavirus.
Leaders of Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church in Charlotte voted unanimously Thursday to cancel the 91st annual gathering that draws thousands on the fourth Thursday in October.
“Unfortunately, the time-honored tradition of slow roasted pork over hickory wood and making our Brunswick stew and cole slaw from scratch requires very close contact of our church volunteers for a week,” officials posted on Facebook.
“We saw no way to accomplish this, and have our folks remain safe. Finally, we would never want to endanger our customers on BBQ Day.”
The next gathering is scheduled for Oct. 28, 2021.
COVID cancels Great Smoky Mountains biker rally and fest
A biker rally billed as the oldest and largest in the North Carolina part of the Great Smoky Mountains has canceled its upcoming annual festival and ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway due to government COVID-19 orders.
“Thunder in the Smokies” draws thousands of riders to its three rallies each year in Maggie Valley, a town along Interstate 40 about 35 miles west of Asheville and 150 miles from Charlotte.
“We regretfully announce that all of our 2020 Thunder in the Smokies Rallies in Maggie Valley, NC are canceled due to COVID-19,” the event’s organizers posted on Facebook Aug. 24. “Current state guidelines are preventing us from holding all 2020 events.”
The rallies in May and June were canceled due to the virus and now the one scheduled for Sept. 11-13 will not be held.
“We look forward to seeing you in 2021 because we will be back bigger than ever!” the event’s organizers posted. “Those dates are April 20-May 2, June 25-27, and Sept. 10-12, 2021. Until then ride free and safe.”
Tillis didn’t wear mask at Trump speech
U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican up for re-election in November, did not wear a face covering while attending President Donald Trump’s acceptance speech during the final night of the Republican National Convention on the White House’s South Lawn.
Tillis has been a strong advocate for wearing masks and following social distancing protocols throughout the pandemic, The News & Observer reported.
“I’ve stressed the importance of mask wearing throughout this pandemic and have tried to lead by example on this issue, but last night I fell short of my own standard,” he said in a statement Friday.
More than 1,000 people attended Trump’s speech “sitting shoulder to shoulder with few wearing face coverings,” according to The N&O. A photo Tillis posted early on at the event showed him wearing a mask, but later an image showed him maskless in the middle of a crowd.
The senator has repeatedly urged people to wear a mask during campaign and telephone style town-hall events, even polling those on the line about how often they wear one.
“I don’t think it’s an imposition or impolite to be very forceful on the idea of people wearing a mask when they go out in public,” Tillis said during a call in April.
Davidson College reports COVID-19 cluster involving baseball team
Davidson College reported a COVID-19 cluster on campus involving members of its baseball team.
The cluster involves five positive test results, according to a statement by the college Friday night. The college reported a total of 13 known coronavirus cases out of more than 1,600 tests administered in recent days.
“The students in the cluster are members of the baseball team, but any transmission among them likely was from social settings,” college officials said in the statement.
The students are isolating, “and while they are currently asymptomatic, their health is being monitored,” campus officials said. “Contact tracing has been completed, and students identified as requiring quarantine have been sent there.
“Fortunately, the number of students requiring quarantine is low, which is a reflection of when our community adheres to our health and safety guidelines.”
Wake principals warn of possible teacher layoffs
Principals in the Triangle area said teachers and other school workers could face layoffs this year unless North Carolina lawmakers take action to stop budget cuts.
Wake County Division of Principals And Assistant Principals in a letter Wednesday asked Gov. Roy Cooper to spare districts from getting lower funding if COVID-19 pushes enrollment down. State funding is linked to school enrollment figures.
“We operate in fear of losing critical instructional and support positions due to unanticipated changes in student enrollment in our public schools,” the letter said.
It’s not clear if state lawmakers will address school funding and enrollment in Raleigh next week, The News & Observer reported Friday.
“It’s not just a straight cut, meaning that if the numbers go down it’s not as draconian as it seems,” GOP Rep. Jeffrey Elmore, a House education leader, said Tuesday during a committee meeting.
RNC attendees, staff test positive for COVID-19
At least four people at the Republican National Convention in Charlotte tested positive for the coronavirus, according to Mecklenburg County officials.
Two attendees and two staff members have been asked to “isolate immediately, and close contacts were also told to quarantine,” The Charlotte Observer reported Friday.
County health officials had raised concerns after people at the convention’s business meeting Monday were seen without masks. Everyone at the RNC was expected to adhere to coronavirus-related protocols.
More data about cases linked to the RNC could be made public weeks from now, officials said.
UNC to play with no fans, NC State still pauses football
UNC-Chapel Hill will play fall sports without live fans through at least September due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Friday.
At N.C. State University, activities were allowed to resume for 12 sports, but not football. The Wolfpack team will undergo testing again after 27 coronavirus cases were reported in the school’s athletics department.
These announcements come after East Carolina University in Greenville postponed its Sept. 12 football season opener due to COVID-19.
The Pirates were scheduled to play Marshall at home, but now their first game will be at home Sept. 26 against Central Florida, the school said Thursday.
The postponement comes the day after N.C. State announced its football season is getting pushed back due to coronavirus infections within the school’s athletics department. The game against Virginia Tech is moved from Sept. 12 to Sept. 26, according to the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The change means the Wolfpack’s first competition is now a Sept. 19 home game against Wake Forest.
Meanwhile, UNC football coach Mack Brown said Wednesday he’s “more optimistic than ever” that games will go on, The News & Observer reported. He cited N.C. State moving the Virginia Tech game, among other things, as signs of progress. He was also excited the entire team tested negative Monday.
The Tar Heels’ first game is Sept. 12 against Syracuse.
This story was originally published August 29, 2020 at 8:17 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Aug. 29."
