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 16,317 people in 99 North Carolina counties have tested positive for the coronavirus, at least 626 people have died and another 520 or so remain in the hospital. More than 9,100 have reportedly recovered from COVID-19, the illness associated with the virus.
Latest updates
8:50 p.m.: Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp has joined Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell in saying that he won't cite any churches that violate the statewide stay-at-home order and hold indoor services this Sunday with more than 10 people.
7:25 p.m.: Villari Foods has reported a coronavirus outbreak at its Warsaw pork processing plant, but neither the company nor Duplin County health officials disclosed how many workers were infected.
7 p.m.: Conservative activist group Return America plans to file a lawsuit Thursday to pressure Gov. Roy Cooper into allowing churches across North Carolina hold services indoors during the coronavirus pandemic.
"We are not asking for special favors, but a minimum of free exercise of our religious liberties. In our churches, we will provide sanitary conditions even beyond the recommendations of the CDC," Return America said in a news release.
6:15 p.m.: Robeson County continues to demonstrate that anyone can be infected by coronavirus. The county is one of the few locations to note its youngest and oldest victims in its daily updates, and on Wednesday, officials said 6-, 7-, 8- and 10-year-olds were among some of the latest to be infected.
5:40 p.m.: North Carolina has topped 16,000 coronavirus cases, doubling the number of infections in less than three weeks. State officials note that the rate of infections has remained fairly flat in recent weeks.
More than 600 people have died statewide from the virus, with three Wake County residents and one each in Durham, Johnston and Lee counties among the most recent deaths.
5:35 p.m.: Within hours of Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell declaring that his office wouldn't stop churches from holding indoor services in violation of the statewide stay-at-home order, Rev. Steve Grice, pastor of New Life Baptist Church in Smithfield, said his congregation will worship indoors on Sunday.
4:30 p.m.: President Donald Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, the Republican National Convention, scheduled for Charlotte in August, is full steam ahead, according to NBC affiliate WCNC.
"Listen, we're still planning on having it," Lara Trump told former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory on his radio talk show. "It's still going to go forward. We're trying to plan an epic, epic convention. You probably know, I worked really hard to make sure it was in my home state. I was really excited when we got that solidified."
The RNC is expected to bring an estimated 50,000 visitors to Charlotte, leaving some city leaders wondering how they can host the event safely.
On Tuesday, the Democratic National Convention announced their rules committee voted to allow virtual voting as talks of taking their convention totally virtual continue to arise.
4:25 p.m.: A Wake County judge has denied a preliminary injunction requested by the state NAACP, the state ACLU and other groups to order state prison officials to release inmates to limit the spread of the coronavirus in North Carolina prisons.
4 p.m.: The three major U.S. stock indexes fell sharply Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said a painful recession would be in store if policymakers don't infuse more money into the economic system to counter the coronavirus pandemic. The Dow Jones average dropped by more than 500 points.
3:50 p.m.: Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper told CNBC that fans might be able to attend NFL games this fall.
"You won’t have full stadiums, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fans in the stadium either," Tepper said. "If you’re comfortable being in a closed airplane on a cross-country trip, 18 inches apart, you might be comfortable in an open-air stadium? Maybe. Are you going to a restaurant 6 feet apart? Are you OK with 6 feet apart in an open-air stadium?"
3:35 p.m.: Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville will receive 50,000 masks, courtesy of Lowe's Home Improvement. Republican 8th District Congressman Richard Hudson, whose district includes Fayetteville, worked with Lowe's to secure 100,000 masks. The other 50,000 will go to Cabarrus Health Alliance in Kannapolis.
3:15 p.m.: Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell said his deputies won't "interfere or prevent churchgoers to peaceably assemble and exercise their constitutional right to freely worship."
The state plan to resume business and social activities during the pandemic limits churches to outdoor worship services or only 10 people at an indoor service for now, but law enforcement officials, ministers and others have been pushing back against that restriction in recent days, noting retailers can have dozens and sometimes hundreds of people inside their stores.
3:05 p.m.: Coronavirus outbreaks have been reported in meat processing plants in Hoke, Wayne and Randolph counties, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.
Statewide, 1,565 workers at 26 plants have been infected, a 60 percent increase from a week ago. The plants are in 17 counties, including Bertie, Bladen, Burke, Chatham, Duplin, Lee, Lenoir, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Surry, Union, Wilkes and Wilson.
3 p.m.: The UNC system and the state Department of Public Instruction are working together to ensure students' college dreams aren't adversely affected by the pandemic.
The UNC Board of Governors recently modified the minimum eligibility standards for admission to one of its 16 schools. A student who earns at least a 2.5 weighted high school grade-point average or a minimum score of 19 on the ACT or 1010 on the SAT will be eligible for admissions review. A student must still take either the ACT or the SAT to be considered for admission, and all applicants must submit a valid score as part of their application to any individual institution.
2:50 p.m.: Yellowstone National Park will begin to reopen on a limited basis on May 18, almost two months after it closed to visitors amid the pandemic, according to a statement from the National Park Service.
2:30 p.m.: Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and the Wright Brothers National Memorial will be increasing recreational opportunities on May 22, officials said. Public restrooms will reopen, and a limited amount of camping will be allowed at Cape Hatteras.
Lifeguard services at Coquina Beach, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach, Frisco Beach and Ocracoke Beach will resume on May 23.
The Cape Hatteras and Bodie Island lighthouses remain closed, as do visitor centers, Avon Pier, The Lost Colony at Fort Raleigh and Ocracoke Island boat slips.
2:25 p.m.: Even though it can't yet open during the pandemic, the Rialto Theatre in Raleigh is taking steps to get ready for people returning to watch movies:
- Marks have been painted on the sidewalk outside the box office to encourage social distancing.
- The theater will limit the number of people in the lobby.
- Employees will wear masks and gloves, and moviegoers will have to wear masks when not in their seats.
- Every other row of seating in the theater will be blocked off.
- Plexiglass shields have been installed on the concessions counter between staff and patrons, and new cups will be provided for refills.
- Hand sanitizer and sanitation wipes will be available.
- Showings will be spaced out more so staff can take time for extra cleaning.
2:20 p.m.: North Carolina is close to doubling its force of contact tracers from 250 to 500 and could add another 250 eventually, said Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services.
2:05 p.m.: State officials are working to set up local distribution areas where staff from nursing homes and other long-term care facilities can pick up a two-week supply of masks, face shields, gloves and other protective gear, according to state Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry.
2 p.m.: Families with children who receive free or reduced-price school lunches will receive an extra $370 per child in food stamps under a federal program now in effect, said Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services. The money, to help the families buy food during the pandemic, will be loaded directly onto EBT cars, and families who don't have a card already will get one in the mail in the coming weeks, she said.
1:25 p.m.: Hotel tax collections in Wake County were down by 64 percent in March from the same month last year, while food and beverage tax collections from restaurants and bars were down by 39 percent, according to the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. The $1.7 million in food and beverage tax revenue was the lowest amount for March since 2011.
The pandemic also has forced 130 conventions and sporting events scheduled in Wake County to be canceled or postponed, costing the county an estimated $59.3 million in economic activity. Twenty of the more than 160 hotel properties in the county have temporarily closed.
"The March tax collection data shows just how impactful COVID-19 has been on the tourism sector across Wake County," Dennis Edwards, CVB president and CEO, said in a statement. "The last week of April brought some much-needed optimism with the first increase in occupancy countywide since February. We hope this trend will continue, but know it will be a very slow, gradual road to recovery."
1 p.m.: Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger called on Gov. Roy Cooper to grant counties local flexibility to reopen hair salons and barbershops, noting 25 states have reopened these businesses in some capacity, with three more to follow in the coming days.
"It's time to follow the lead of the majority of states in our region and the country. Hair salon owners and employees can't work, and many of them still can't get unemployment assistance from the Cooper administration," Berger, R-Rockingham, said in a statement. "The majority of states in our region and the country have reviewed the science, facts and data and reached a different conclusion than Gov. Cooper's. What is his strategic endgame in choosing a different path based on similar facts and data?"
Berger said salons and barbershops could schedule customers by appointment only, making sure that none is sick, require customers and employees to wear masks, disinfect equipment after each use and remove magazines and other material that could be passed around.
12:40 p.m.: The United Nations has forecast that the COVID-19 pandemic will shrink the world economy by 3.2 percent this year, according to The Associated Press.
12:30 p.m.: Adam Schechter, chief executive at Burlington-based LabCorp, said the current capacity for coronavirus testing is sufficient to support a reopening of the U.S. economy.
In an
interview with CNBC on Wednesday, Schechter said, "I'm not convinced that we need to have 2 million to 3 million tests per day. I believe that we are ready to start to open up states with the testing that’s available today, and that’s only going to increase over the coming weeks."
LabCorp is among a number of firms marketing virus-related tests.
12:15 p.m.: Children in France are resuming classes gradually this week as the country begins lifting some of the confinement measures imposed two months ago.
Only preschools and elementary schools are set to start up now, with preschool classes capped at 10 students and elementary school classes limited to 15 students. Distancing measures are in effect, and parents and their children will have to follow marked paths.
A target for reopening high schools hasn't been scheduled yet.
12:10 p.m.: England tentatively began easing its coronavirus lockdown Wednesday, as London commuters went back to work, taking to the roads and riding commuter trains and subways. The government is allowing some people who cannot do their jobs at home to return to their offices and other workplaces.
But other parts of the U.K., Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, are sticking with a stay-at-home message for now.
11:20 a.m.: Coronavirus outbreaks have been reported at several produce farms across the state, including Porter farms Produce, on Ten-Ten Road in southern Wake County, and Harrington & Sons Produce, on San-Lee Drive near Sanford, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services.
Porter Farms has 14 infections, while Harrington & Sons has 19. Farms in Cabarrus and Guilford counties reported smaller outbreaks, according to DHHS.
11:05 a.m.: Best Buy, which has provided curbside pick-up in recent weeks because of the pandemic, is opening area stores for people to shop by appointment. The appointments provide customers with a one-on-one consultation with a Best Buy or Geek Squad employee to help with their tech needs.
Appointments will be limited to ensure social distancing, and all surfaces are sanitized before and after each appointment. Best Buy workers are screened for health problems before each shift and are required to wear masks and gloves.
11 a.m.: The percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive continues to drop in North Carolina. On Tuesday, it was down to 7.5 percent, the lowest daily level since April 12. The precentage has been trending downward since May 2.
The seven-day rolling average of new infections and virus-related deaths remain fairly flat, with 437 infections per day and 17 deaths per day over the last week.
10:45 a.m.: The North Carolina Democratic Party will hold its state convention online next month rather than in person, keeping with social distancing rules from the coronavirus pandemic.
The virtual convention is set for June 6 and will feature appearances by statewide candidates and other special guests. The North Carolina Republican Party had planned to hold its convention in Greenville this weekend, but it's been pushed back to July.
10:30 a.m.: The state Department of Transportation is suspending its Piedmont passenger train service due to financial impacts from the pandemic. Starting Monday, people traveling between Raleigh and Charlotte will need to use Carolinian trains 79 and 80. Amtrak is waiving change fees on all existing reservations until Aug. 31.
10:05 a.m.: Six residents at a NCVA Fayetteville, a state veterans home in Cumberland County, have tested positive for coronavirus, according to PruittHealth. At least 133 of the 142 residents at the facility tested negative.
10 a.m.: O2 Fitness gyms in South Carolina will reopen May 18 with new safety guidelines, including a hands-free check-in, regular disinfecting and social distancing. All employees will wear face masks. In North Carolina, gyms, salons and spas can't reopen until at least May 22.
9:45 a.m.: As businesses work toward reopening amid the pandemic, some are already putting dates on the calendar. The Pour House Music Hall in Raleigh said June 12 will be the date for its first post-COVID-19 show. The owner says there will be a limit to the number of people inside and that guests will have to wear face masks.
9:30 a.m.: Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's onetime presidential campaign chairman who was convicted as part of the special counsel's Russia investigation, has been released from federal prison to serve the rest of his sentence in home confinement due to concerns about the coronavirus, his lawyer says.
9:15 a.m.: Democrats are taking the first steps that could lead to virtual voting at their presidential convention. The Democratic National Convention's chairman said the event could still take place in person, but it may be modified. As of right now, it is set to be held in Milwaukee, Wis., in August.
Republicans say their convention in Charlotte is moving ahead as planned, but they could re-evaluate those plans at a later date.
8:30 a.m.: There are now 1,340 confirmed coronavirus cases at 23 meat processing facilities in Bertie, Bladen, Burke, Chatham, Duplin, Lee, Lenoir, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Surry, Union, Wilkes and Wilson counties. On Friday, 1,088 cases were reported at 22 facilities in the same 14 counties. The new number represents a 23% increase in four days.
8 a.m.: House Democrats want to send Americans a second round of stimulus checks as part of a new COVID-19 relief bill totaling more than $3 trillion. The proposal extends unemployment benefits and provides funding for coronavirus testing, state and local governments and hazard pay for workers.
The House is expected to vote on what is being called the largest relief package in history on Friday. It is not expected to be passed in the Senate.
7:45 a.m.: The Robeson County Department of Public Health will offer drive-thru coronavirus testing Wednesday. Testing will operate Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. At least three children have tested positive for coronavirus in Robeson County, including a 6-month-old baby.
7:15 a.m.: A stay-at-home order in Los Angeles County will likely stay in place through August, according to the county's health director. Los Angeles' mayor says restrictions on businesses and public places will continue to be lifted while the order remains in place. Beaches reopen there Wednesday for runners, swimmers and surfers.
6:45 a.m.: More people are now eligible to take a coronavirus test at home. At first, LabCorp made the at-home test kit available to only first responders and health care workers. Now anyone who meets "eligibility criteria" will be able to take the test. When you log on to LabCorp's website, you will be asked a series of questions to determine if you are able to get the test sent to you.
6:30 a.m.: Starting May 15, some Harris Teeter stores in North Carolina will offer drive-thru coronavirus testing. Tests will be available to people who qualify and by appointment only. The state will publish a list of testing sites on Friday.
6:15 a.m.: Wake County recently released its grading guidelines for the pandemic. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade will not be graded for the 4th quarter, and students taking high school courses can choose either a passing or a numeric grade. They can also choose to withdraw with no penalty, and no final exams will be given.
Students can only be held back if there was written documentation that the process was already underway before schools closed.
6 a.m.: Wednesday is the last day people can enter bank information on the IRS website to have a stimulus check deposited directly into their accounts. After noon, the IRS will begin preparing millions of files for paper checks that will begin arriving through late May and into June.
5 a.m.: In Mexico, sanitizing tunnels are being used to disinfect people crossing the U.S. border. Migrants coming from Arizona must exit their vehicles and step into an inflatable tunnel that sprays them with a cleansing solution. Mexico has confirmed more than 36,000 COVID-19 cases.
4:30 a.m.: The Junior Women’s League of Smithfield has installed two new "blessing boxes," bringing the total number in Johnston County to six. Blessing boxes are mini cabinets installed in public that hold non-perishable and canned food and personal care items. Anyone who needs something can take something, and members of the public are encouraged to add to the box.
4:15 a.m.: Authorities in Wuhan, the Chinese city where the coronavirus pandemic began, are moving forward with efforts to test all 11 million residents for the virus within 10 days after a handful of fresh infections were found there.
The first cases of the new coronavirus were found in Wuhan in December, and by the end of January, the government had placed the entire city and the surrounding region, home to more than 50 million people, under a strict lockdown.
Worldwide, the virus has infected more than 4.2 million people and killed more than 291,000 — with more than 82,000 deaths in the U.S. alone, the world’s highest toll. Experts say the actual numbers are likely far higher.
The White House has recommended that all residents and staff in long term care facilities be tested in the next two weeks.
