Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Oct. 30
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
New cases drop from record high
At least 271,830 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 4,332 have died, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday reported 2,809 new COVID-19 cases — down from 2,885 the day before. Thursday’s single-day total had been the highest since the start of the pandemic, surpassing the previous record of 2,716 on Oct. 23.
Forty-nine deaths were reported Friday.
About 6.2% of tests were reported positive on Wednesday, the latest day for which data were available. That’s higher than the 5% target set by health officials.
At least 1,196 people in North Carolina were reportedly hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Friday, up from 1,179 the day before. Thursday’s preliminary hospitalization total had been listed as 1,181.
Charlotte church cleared to reopen
Health officials in Mecklenburg County announced Friday they are easing an abatement order that shut down a Charlotte church following a coronavirus outbreak.
More than 180 COVID-19 cases and at least six deaths have been linked to United House of Prayer for All People.
Under the modified order, the Charlotte Observer reported the church will be able to reopen nearly a dozen locations in Mecklenburg County with certain capacity limits in place. Those limits range from 25 people at one location to nearly 300 in the sanctuary at its local flagship location, 2321 Beatties Ford Road.
Emails obtained by the Observer on Thursday indicated loosened restrictions were coming.
Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio told officials they were considering easing the order if the church agrees to cooperate, saying a legal team representing the church has been in touch.
“UHOP holds services seven days per week and they believe that the order is an overreach,” Diorio wrote to county commissioners.
Company agrees to settle mask price gouging claims
A company that sells N95 masks said it will pay $150,000 to settle claims of price gouging in North Carolina.
In August, N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein sued Stephen Gould Corporation, saying the New Jersey-based company offered to sell personal protective equipment for up to 15 times the market price.
The state said the offers to “Duke Health, UNC Health, the state Division of Emergency Management and the Charlotte chapter of the American Red Cross” were in March, the same month North Carolina reported its first coronavirus case, The News & Observer reported Friday.
At the time, the state’s health care providers were looking for equipment to keep their employees from getting sick. N95 masks are often used in medical settings and are known for filtering out most particles.
Stephen Gould agreed to a settlement but didn’t admit wrongdoing.
“It is clear from the news that the market for personal protective equipment during the initial stages of the pandemic was volatile,” company attorneys said Thursday in a statement. “Stephen Gould Corporation regrets that it became involved in that volatility by attempting to connect sources of masks with businesses in North Carolina.”
Wake County schools report cases
At least seven coronavirus cases have been reported at Wake County schools this week, the first time students have had in-person classes since mid-March.
New infections were linked to “West Millbrook Middle in Raleigh and Alston Ridge Elementary in Cary,” The News & Observer reported.
Other cases on the Wake County school district’s new coronavirus dashboard include “two at Fuquay-Varina High School and one apiece at Heritage High School in Wake Forest, Panther Creek High School in Cary and Forest Pines Drive Elementary in Raleigh.”
While thousands of elementary students returned to campuses this week, high schoolers are learning remotely for the rest of the semester.
At least three infections at the high schools are tied to athletic programs, though the schools didn’t reveal whether the cases were among students. The campuses say they are working with Wake County health officials and that those who may have come into contact with the infected people will be notified.
NC reaches new business record despite COVID-19
While the pandemic has upended daily routines, North Carolina is seeing a record for new businesses.
In the third quarter, the state saw a record of nearly 14,000 applications for “high-propensity business” — those that have the highest chance of eventually hiring workers.
Across the United States, the number of applications also recently rose to an all-time high for a single quarter, The News & Observer reported Friday. Experts say some may be looking for opportunities during the uncertainty of the pandemic.
“Entrepreneurs are the economic agents in our economy that take risk to try novel solutions to existing problems,” said David T. Robinson, a Duke University finance professor. “We have a whole slew of new problems we face. This (surge in applications) is a reflection of a natural entrepreneurial reaction.”
Ted Zoller, an entrepreneurship professor at UNC, said more factors could be behind the surging applications, including small businesses that want loans from the Paycheck Protection Program.
Two attendees at Trump rally test positive
The Gaston County Health Department on Thursday confirmed two people who attended President Donald Trump’s rally at the Gastonia Municipal Airport on Oct. 21 have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Officials said “the cases are believed to be independent from one another, and not an indication of spread at the rally,” The Charlotte Observer reported.
Gaston County said it made the announcement public “because of the large number of potential contacts from the rally, and the inability to alert them directly.” Officials are trying to conduct contact tracing for the two infected people.
About 1,500 people attended Trump’s rally, many of whom wore masks to enter but took them off once inside, according to The Observer.
COVID-19 case possibly tied to Dan Forest event
A person who may have attended Lt. Gov. Dan Forest’s campaign rally in Burnsville on Oct. 15 has tested positive for COVID-19, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday. Forest is running for governor.
Officials did not identify the political event the person attended, but Forest’s rally was held the same day the health department said the person attended a rally, The News & Observer reported.
The state health department releases information in a weekly report about the general location of coronavirus outbreaks and clusters, including rallies under the heading “community event.”
Forest’s campaign spokesperson said they hoped the person infected has a speedy recovery but objected to the release of the contact tracing information.
“We have had no communication from DHHS on this and only learned of it from what they leaked to the media,” spokesperson Andrew Dunn said. “Dr. Mandy Cohen has repeatedly stated that all tracing and tracking is confidential and pandemics are not political, but I guess that does not apply to us six days before an election.”
NC company that does COVID-19 testing to add jobs
A North Carolina-based firm that offers testing for the coronavirus is bringing hundreds of new jobs to Durham.
BioAgilytix is poised to add 878 jobs from 2023 to 2027, the N.C. Department of Commerce said Thursday. The company’s plans also include investing $61 million in a facility expansion.
The firm, which already has 350 North Carolina workers, gets $18.9 million in state incentives if it reaches employment goals, The News & Observer reported.
Second COVID-19 cluster hits UNC Charlotte
UNC Charlotte reported a second coronavirus cluster on Thursday among five students who live off campus together.
The university returned to in-person classes Oct. 1 after starting the school year virtually on Sept. 7, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Officials quarantined residents of an undisclosed dorm for the second time this semester on Oct. 28 after traces of the novel coronavirus were found in the building’s wastewater. Another residence hall was quarantined after something similar happened during the first week of in-person learning.
UNC Charlotte has reported a total of 485 COVID-19 cases among employees and students as of Oct. 29. At least 59 of those are active on campus.
An updated list of schools in Mecklenburg County and the surrounding area where coronavirus cases have been reported can be found here.
This story was originally published October 30, 2020 at 6:59 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Oct. 30."
