How has North Carolina been hit by COVID-19? Let’s look at the numbers.
The last month has changed life in North Carolina in unprecedented ways. From declining gas prices to fewer incidents reported by local police departments, COVID-19 — the disease caused by the novel coronavirus — has touched nearly every aspect of life.
In an effort to track the ways the virus has changed our state, we’re compiling and analyzing data from local, state and federal agencies, tech companies and more. Here’s what we’ve found so far.
If you think there’s data we should include in this story, let us know. Email us at goff@charlotteobserver.com and lsherman@newsobserver.com.
Unemployment claims
Two weeks ago, Gov. Roy Cooper said he would lift some restrictions on state unemployment benefits to reduce cost to businesses and make qualifying for benefits easier, The News & Observer previously reported. On the same day, Cooper ordered bars and restaurants across the state to close, though he made exceptions for takeout and delivery.
“I recognize that this decision will cost people their jobs,” Cooper said at the time of the announcement. “So this order also brings some relief.”
Since then, more than 300,000 people have filed claims for unemployment insurance, according to the most recent numbers from the North Carolina Division of Employment Security. Nearly 90% of those claims were related to COVID-19.
The U.S. Department of Labor, which publishes unemployment insurance data weekly, reported a drastic increase in claims filed following the governor’s order. More than 93,000 people filed for unemployment in the week ending March 21, up from 3,500 the previous week. The department has not yet released data for the last week of March.
Real estate
North Carolina’s real estate market has also taken a hit.
In the Triangle, the third week of March saw a 656% increase in homes withdrawn from the market, according to residential market analyst Stacey Anfindsen, who runs the Triangle Area Residential Report.
Anfindsen also told the N&O the number of withdrawn listings increased by 288% in the first week of March and 293% in the second week.
Numbers obtained from Attom Data Solutions show a 40% decrease in home sales in February of this year compared to the same month last year. Foreclosures across the state also decreased by 23% between January and February.
The company has not yet released numbers for March.
The recently issued statewide stay-at-home order has limited real estate to only appraisals and titles, according to previous News & Observer reporting.
Travel
Both air travel and gasoline prices have seen large decreases in recent weeks. Both airlines and gas stations are considered essential under the governor’s stay-at-home order, which is in effect until April 29.
Flights out of both Charlotte and Raleigh airports have decreased by one-third, and gas averaged $1.80 per gallon on March 30, compared to $2.24 one month earlier.
Concealed carry permits
North Carolina issued more than 7,300 concealed carry permits in March, up from just over 6,000 in February and more than 5,600 in January.
In response to the surge in demand, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office suspended pistol and concealed-carry permit applications until April 30. That decision was overturned in court after three gun-rights groups sued Sheriff Gerald Baker, according to previous News & Observer reporting.
Crime
In both Charlotte and Raleigh, incidents reported by police declined significantly.
In Raleigh, some 2,600 incidents were reported between March 1 and 29, compared to 4,210 in March 2019.
In Charlotte, just under 7,000 incidents were reported, compared to more than 8,600 in the same month last year. Burglaries in the area have also plummeted in recent months.
The number of speeding tickets written by the N.C. Highway Patrol has plummeted in recent months. In fact, the number of speeding violations dropped by a third since January.
Entertainment
Lottery ticket sales - at least compared to other aspects of society - have remained relatively stable since the coronavirus outbreak. Sales actually increased in March, records show.
This story will be updated.
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 5:23 PM with the headline "How has North Carolina been hit by COVID-19? Let’s look at the numbers.."
