Coronavirus in NC: Live updates for May 30, 2020: NC cases rise during weekend protests

Here are the latest updates on the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in North Carolina and across the globe.

Posted 10:28 a.m. May 30, 2020 — Updated 12:54 p.m. Jun 1, 2020

RALEIGH, N.C. — Here are the latest updates on the coronavirus from North Carolina and across the globe showing the pandemic’s impact on health, jobs, schools and more:

At least 27,785 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, at least 914 people have died and another 638 or so remain in the hospital. State officials estimate 14,954 people have recovered from coronavirus infections.

Why WRAL shows more cases than others

Latest updates

8:19 p.m.: N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said 10,000 respirator masks have been obtained as personal protective equipment for firefighters.

“Our firefighters need to be protected as they perform the important duty of ensuring our COVID-19 patients get the proper care needed, “said Commissioner Causey. “These masks will go a long way towards keeping the virus at bay as our heroes across the state join the fight against this unprecedented virus.”

The masks were KN95 at a cost of $50,000. The Office of State Fire Marshall is sending the masks to fire marshals in all 100 counties.

4:25 p.m.: Cumberland County health officials have announced 17 new COVID-19 cases. That brings the total in the county to 697.

4:08 p.m.: Brigs on Creedmoor Road in Raleigh will close for a week after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. Owner David Brigham said they will monitor other employees to see if they have symptoms or if anyone else will test positive.

1:17 p.m.: Gov. Roy Cooper signed Executive Order No. 142 on Saturday to extend the prohibition of utility shut-offs and implement a moratorium on evictions. The Order goes into effect with the Governor’s signature.

“North Carolinians need relief to help make ends meet during the pandemic,” said Governor Cooper. “Extending housing and utility protections will mean more people can stay in their homes and stay safe as we all work to slow the spread of this virus.”

“North Carolinians want to pay their rent, but for far too many people – through no fault of their own – that’s just not possible right now,” said Attorney General Josh Stein. “We are in unprecedented times that call for unprecedented action. I support Gov. Roy Cooper's extension of the moratorium on evictions to ensure that people do not face homelessness in the midst of this health and economic crisis.”

The Council of State concurred on this Executive Order with no objections.

12:30 p.m.: A person who partied in the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, area on Memorial Day weekend has tested positive for coronavirus -- and was possibly infectious over the holiday weekend.

The Boone County resident visited multiple bars on May 24 and 25, according to the Camden County Health Department. They "developed illness" on Sunday and were possibly infectious before then.

Video from that weekend went viral -- and shows partiers crowded together in a pool at Backwater Jacks Bar and Grill in Osage Beach on Saturday, according to Scott Pasmore, an anchor for CNN affiliate KTVK, who shot the footage.

The partiers went to Backwater Jacks between approximately 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. local time and again shortly before 10 p.m. local, according to health officials.

The person -- who was not identified by officials -- also went to Shady Gators and Lazy Gators and Buffalo Wild Wings, officials said.

12 p.m.: SiembraNC in partnership with two other nonprofits will distribute over 5,000 woven masks in Durham, Raleigh, High Point and Asheboro. Latinos have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Some lawmakers say the affects are "catastrophic."

The nonprofit will also be conducting a "drive-thru" voter registration sign up during the mask distribution.

11:45 a.m.: Raleigh Rescue Mission's Thrift store reopens this morning on 4700 Capital Boulevard. The mission is a nonprofit serving the homeless.

A press release from the mission said: "Raleigh Rescue Mission has created a safe environment following recommended guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety and comfort while shopping."

10:30 a.m.: Breweries reopened in North Carolina on Friday -- but with a handful of safety measures in place.

Breweries, wineries, cideries, and distilleries are able to open under Phase 2 because they are "principally engaged in the business of producing alcoholic beverages for commercial sale off-premises," according to an FAQ about the executive order.

Limiting capacity to 50% or no more than 12 customers per 1,000 square feet.
Tables should be 6 feet apart
Where people are seated at bars or counters, they should be spaced at least 6 feet apart.
It is recommended that employees wear face coverings any time they will be within 6 feet of another person.
Signage must be placed so that 6 feet of spacing can be maintained at cash registers and other places people might gather.

Lawmakers vote to reopen NC bars despite governor's order

9:30 a.m.: Adults between ages 18 and 44 have the highest number of infections, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of late May:

4% of patients with coronavirus in the US were younger than 17
39% were 18 to 44 years old
35% were 45 to 64 years old
10% were 65 to 74 years old
12% were 75+ years old

One in 10 coronavirus patients with diabetes died within the first seven days of hospitalization, according to a study by French researchers, and one in five needed a ventilator to breathe. Most -- 89% -- had Type 2 diabetes; 3% had Type 1 diabetes; and the rest had other forms of the disease.

Coronavirus cases: U.S. and world

Health experts believe diabetes represents an underlying health condition that places people at greater risk of developing Covid-19. The study seems to confirm this.

8:30 a.m.: New York City is expected to open in two weeks -- which means 400,000 people could be returning back to work. In the city, nearly 900,000 jobs vanished almost overnight, over 20,000 people died and more than 200,000 were infected as ambulances howled through empty streets.

“Remember, reopening does not mean we’re going back to the way things were,” Mr. Cuomo said. “It is reopening to a new normal. It’s a safer normal. People will be wearing masks. People will be socially distant.”

8 a.m.: Everyone over the age of 10 is required to wear a mask inside stores, hair salons and restaurants in Virginia. There are exceptions for people with certain medical conditions while exercising, eating and drinking.

6 a.m.: Duke University plans to bring students back to campus over several days in early August so the fall semester can begin Aug. 17, officials said. Fall break will be canceled, and final exams will finish before Thanksgiving.

The spring semester will begin a week later than normal, on Jan. 19, 2021, and final exams will be held the week of April 26. Commencement for the Class of 2021 will take place on May 9. There will be no spring break in 2021.

"Our goal is to enable as many of our students who are able and who choose to participate in an on-campus experience for the fall semester to do so, but only if it can be done safely," president Vincent Price said in a statement. "To do all this safely and successfully, we all must make significant changes to the way we live, study and work, and we are reconfiguring residential, classroom and office facilities to make it possible."

Some of the changes include the following:

All faculty, students, staff and visitors will be required to wear masks in public on campus and practice physical distancing.
All students living on campus will be tested for coronavirus before they are permitted to begin classes.
All students will complete daily health checks through a monitoring app and report concerning symptoms to the Student Health and Wellness.
All students living in on-campus or off-campus housing will be expected to remain in the Durham area during the semester.
On-campus dining centers will provide expanded take-out options and limited in-person service using reservation systems.

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