Opinion Roundup: President approves N.C. disaster declaration; better plan for tracking spread of coronavirus; free doughnuts for healthcare workers; and more.

Thursday, Mar. 26, 2020 -- A round up of opinion, commentary and analysis on: More counties issue stay-at-home orders; state health officials have a better idea for determining how coronavirus is spreading; campaigning during a pandemic; agriculture industry sweats how to handle upcoming growing/harvesting season; symphony offers free music lessons; and more.

BRIAN MURPHY & AMES ALEXANDER: Top N.C. health official: Coronavirus test results ‘very imperfect’ indicator of spread (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- Each morning, N.C.’s health department publishes an official number of confirmed coronavirus cases across the state. County health departments release their own numbers throughout the day, and the media relentlessly compiles, tracks and reports on the latest totals. But those numbers don’t tell the complete story of how widespread the disease is in N.C., the state’s epidemiologist said. “The case counts that we get are not a great marker for how fast this is accelerating or what the true burden of COVID-19 is out there in the community,” Zack Moore said. “That’s true not just here in N.C., but everywhere.”

ROSE HOBAN: Will N.C. have enough hospital beds to handle the surge of coronavirus patients? The answer remains unclear (N.C. Health News reports) -- Health care officials, hospital leaders, academics and others are all trying to determine how much “surge capacity” the state needs and where it should go. But there are almost endless variables to consider.

First N.C. virus deaths reported; more home orders issued (AP reports) -- N.C. reported its first two COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday as local governments in several higher-populated areas ordered their residents to stay at home. Gov. Roy Cooper says additional state directives are coming to slow the virus spread.

President Trump approves N.C.'s disaster declaration request; death toll in U.S. tops 1,000 (WRAL-TV reports) -- President Trump has approved N.C.'s disaster declaration, the White House announced. Federal assistance has been ordered "to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by the coronavirus disease." The request was submitted Monday by Gov. Roy Cooper. Johns Hopkins University's tally shows the U.S. death toll from coronavirus has surpassed 1,000.  At least 590 people in N.C. have tested positive for the coronavirus. Two deaths have been reported in the state.

FALSE: Did Trump say he'd order a 'mandatory quarantine?' (PolitiFact/WRAL-TV reports) -- Social media users are misinterpreting a federal disaster relief law to promote a hoax about a nationwide quarantine. A Facebook post published March 16 includes a screenshot of another post from a page called Ninety Degree Turns. It claims that President Donald Trump will soon lock down the entire country to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the illness associated with the coronavirus, which had infected 4,226 people in the U.S. as of March 17.

N.C. Treasurer Folwell tests positive for virus (AP reports) -- State Treasurer Dale Folwell said on Wednesday he's been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus. Folwell, a Republican elected to the post in 2016, said he learned late Tuesday that he had tested positive.

NCSU, other veterinary hospitals donate vital supplies to coronavirus fight (WRAL-TV reports) -- Veterinary hospitals are donating breathing machines, masks, gowns and other vital equipment and supplies purchased with Fido in mind, but now being redeployed to help doctors fight the spread of COVID-19 among humans.

Legislative response (The Insider reports) -- House Speaker Tim Moore and others on Wednesday outlined potential avenues for the legislature to address the coronavirus crisis. “This is an unprecedented time in our state and an unprecedented time in our legislature,” Moore told the first meeting of a special House committee on the issue. He said the economic support working group will need to tackle issues like offering tax relief to businesses through extensions, possible deferments or moving dates for filing to match those of the federal government. The goal is to make sure small businesses are not burdened unnecessarily. He also said he wanted to move deadlines for DMV matters and continuing education to keep people from standing in lines or worrying about deadlines. He also suggested funding economic support for businesses.

Lawmakers could hold special session for virus response (WRAL-TV reports) -- State House lawmakers are working on changes to unemployment benefits and other laws in response to the coronavirus crisis. Some say they shouldn't wait until April 28 to meet to vote on them.

Online legislating (The Insider reports) -- The N.C. House kicked off legislating in the coronavirus era on Wednesday, holding its first-ever online committee meeting. Much like every other workplace’s effort to figure out videoconferencing technology, the usual meeting format had plenty of hiccups and technical difficulties. But with lawmakers eager to follow social distancing guidelines, it’s likely to be the norm for awhile as legislators chart state government’s response to the crisis.

House COVID-19 committee economic support work group weighs challenges, responses (N.C. Policy Watch reports)House COVID-19 committee economic support work group weighs challenges, responses (N.C. Policy Watch reports) -- The N.C. House Select Committee on COVID-19’s Economic Support working group held its first meeting Wednesday as the state saw a record number of unemployment applications and lawmakers scrambled to find solutions for people and businesses financially devastated by the pandemic. More than 166,000 unemployment claims have been since March 16, lawmakers heard in a report from the N.C. Div. of Employment Security — including 26,822 in the last 24 hours.

N.C. House Remotely Considers Relief For Workers Impacted By Coronavirus Pandemic (WUNC-FM reports) -- State legislators have gathered remotely this week as they consider ways to help North Carolinians affected by the coronavirus crisis. The first telemeeting was held Wednesday, as lawmakers convened for the first time – from a distance – in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

Unemployment call center worker sick with corona-like symptoms (WRAL-TV reports) -- State call center, slammed by COVID-19 layoffs, may have exposure.

State pharmacy board intervenes to stop run on lupus drug amid virus outbreak (WRAL-TV reports) -- Pharmacies have seen a run on several drugs, including one President Donald Trump recently name-dropped as a coronavirus treatment, and patients who need them to suppress auto-immune diseases are worried they won't be able to get them.

Guns and ammo sales, pistol permit applications soar in N.C. amid coronavirus anxiety (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- Firearms store owners said they were too busy to calculate just how much sales have increased, but Triangle sheriff’s departments say they have seen handgun-related permit applications jump in recent weeks. The Wake County Sheriff’s Office experienced a nearly 500% increase in pistol purchase permits last week compared to the same time in 2018. In North Carolina, a concealed carry or pistol purchase permit is required in order to a buy a handgun. Those permits are obtained through residents’ sheriffs’ offices.

N.C. prisons could a tinderbox for COVID-19. Move now to protect inmates and workers. (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- The COVID-19 outbreak has driven many North Carolinians into voluntary confinement at home to lower their chance of getting or spreading the infection, but state officials need to pay urgent attention to those whose confinement may actually put them at greater risk — the more than 50,000 people who are locked up in county jails and the state’s prisons. So far, there has not been a confirmed case of the virus among the inmate population, but an infection is all but inevitable and an outbreak in a jail or prison setting could move quickly. A COVID-19 outbreak among inmates living in close quarters would overwhelm the already inadequate jail and prison health care systems and also put deputies and corrections officers at risk.

Grocery store workers 'putting their life on the line' during coronavirus outbreak (WRAL-TV reports) -- Most of the country is home and businesses closed. Not grocery stores.

A judge’s wife has COVID-19. He awaits his test results. ‘I’m scared to death,’ he says (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- On March 13, Mecklenburg Superior Court Judge Donnie Hoover gaveled a week-long jury trial to a close. Three days later, he rushed his wife, Josephine, to an uptown emergency room. Judge Donnie Hoover's wife tested positive for COVID-19 last week. Now the veteran Mecklenburg jurist self-quarantines while he awaits the results of his own test. Hoover’s high school sweetheart, with whom he is scheduled to celebrate his 50th anniversary in August, remains hospitalized Wednesday after testing positive for COVID-19, her husband says

Mental health providers need flexibility during COVID-19, the state’s making it happen (N.C. Health News reports) -- During this unusually stressful time, mental health providers need to support their patients in nontraditional ways and get paid for it. State health officials are responding with emergency policies and funds.

Durham orders residents to stay at home because of virus; Wake, Orange counties to follow (WRAL-TV reports) -- Mayor Steve Schewel issued a stay-at-home order for Durham residents on Wednesday, saying limiting public activity as much as possible is the best way to control the growing coronavirus outbreak.

It's been a tough road for truckers to keep stores stocked during coronavirus outbreak (WRAL-TV reports) -- The trucking industry is critical to America's supply chain. And as consumers stock up, demand continues to increase for truckers.

Krispy Kreme: Free dozens to healthcare workers on Mondays and BOGO for everyone on Saturdays (WRAL-TV reports) -- Krispy Kreme is offering totally free doughnut dozens to healthcare workers every Monday starting March 30. And on Saturdays beginning March 28, they are offering a BOGO dozen deal for everyone.

Protecting the homeless population, busy shelters during coronavirus pandemic (WRAL-TV reports) -- How do you 'shelter-in-place' when you don't have a permanent home or residence? The homeless shelter at South Wilmington Street Center is working to protect their guests during the coronavirus pandemic.

First coronavirus deaths in N.C. are 2 people older than 60 (WRAL-TV reports) -- On Tuesday, two people in N.C. - one over 70 and another over 60 - died of complications from COVID-19, the illness associated with the coronavirus.

N.C. scores a B in social distancing (WRAL-TV reports) -- A "Social Distancing Dashboard" produced by a company specializing in analyzing location data from smartphones shows more North Carolinians are staying home.

N.C. Restaurateurs of the Year face latest challenge with coronavirus (WRAL-TV reports) -- Whiskey Kitchen's owners have gone from being named the N.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association's Restaurateurs of the Year to fighting to keep their business alive amid the coronavirus pandemic.

‘On a war footing:’ N.C. candidates learn how to campaign in the time of a pandemic (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- Gone are the rallies and fundraisers. Gone, too, are the public forums, speeches and bustling headquarters. The coronavirus has infected one of N.C.’s busiest election years, altering the rhythms of politics and campaigns. It’s also changing what candidates say and how they say it. “This is fundamentally going to reshape the election in ways that we can’t even comprehend yet,” said Morgan Jackson, a Raleigh-based Democratic consultant.

LISA SORG: As growing season commences, health pandemic raises big concerns for N.C. ag industry, farmworkers​​​​​​​ (N.C. Policy Watch reports) -- The fields, rested over the winter and moistened by recent rains, are waiting and ready. Thousands of farmworkers, many on H2A visas from Mexico, have begun to arrive by bus, shoulder to shoulder, 40 at a time, to eastern N.C., like they do every year, to take on the backbreaking jobs that few other people want to do. In the spring, they plant crops, such as tobacco and sweet potatoes, work in greenhouses and nurseries, where they are often exposed to pesticides. At summer’s peak, they begin harvesting in the relentless heat before retreating to crowded, unair-conditioned barracks. But 2020 is not like every other year, and this will not be like every other season. The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns among farmworker advocates that these employees — who could have underlying health conditions, who are not entitled to workers’ compensation, who are easily exploited, who live in close quarters where sanitation is unpredictable — could become ill with the new coronavirus. Growers, too, are worried that the virus could take hold and race through the camps.

Report: Internet speeds down 20% in Raleigh, 22% in Fayetteville, stable in Durham (TechWire/WRAL-TV) -- Demand for internet services from streaming to telecommuting as the coronavirus continues to spread is driving down internet speeds by a significant margin in Raleigh, Fayetteville, Charlotte and Winston-Salem, according to a new broadband analysis site.

Talking reading and policy with President Pro Tem Senator Phil Berger (EdNC reports) -- As of last year, $150 million had been set aside under the law but reading scores, cumulatively, had dropped slightly. NC State’s Friday Institute even did a study in which it concluded Read To Achieve was not effectively producing its intended outcome. Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, was the architect of that law. In spring 2019, in response to the continued lag in reading scores, Berger assembled a team to explore changes to Read To Achieve and he ultimately introduced a new bill — Senate Bill 438 — which would have considerably revised it. That bill was vetoed by Gov. Roy Cooper. On a rainy Thursday that saw Wake County Public School Systems close early due to threat of flood, EdNC sat down to talk with Berger in his office for over an hour — about education policy, reading, and what his grades were like when he was a kid.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools superintendent takes unexpected medical leave (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- The superintendent of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools is taking time off for medical leave, according to an email sent Wednesday to parents. Superintendent Pam Baldwin did not elaborate on the nature of the leave in the email.

THEODEN JANES: Riley Howell is getting a Congressional award. His parents are proud — but also angry​​​​​​​ (Durham Herald-Sun reports) -- Though it was just made public on Wednesday morning, the parents of Riley Howell have known for awhile that their son would receive the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Citizen Honors Award, so they’ve had some time to let it sink in. Thomas and Natalie Howell say they are of course extremely proud; it’s one of the nation’s highest civilian honors. They’re also still extremely sad. Nearly 11 months have passed since Riley Howell was killed while thwarting an attack by a student who opened fire in his UNC Charlotte classroom. But there’s another emotion that keeps bubbling up, too — anger — and his parents feel it especially when they consider those who are being honored alongside Riley in a quiet ceremony (crowdless due to the coronavirus) consisting of a wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery that will be streamed online.

ANN DOSS HELMS: Virus Closing Could Lead To More Class Time This Summer (WFAE-FM reports) -- Even if N.C.'s schools can reopen in mid-May, families and school employees may see their summer plans disrupted by the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, a key legislator said Wednesday. There’s talk of revising the state’s calendar law and extending the school year two weeks, through the end of June, says state Rep. Craig Horn, who co-chairs a House working group on education and COVID-19.

N.C. Symphony offers free music education materials for at-home instruction (WRAL-TV reports) -- The N.C. Symphony is sharing free music education materials to teachers and families as we're all hunkered down during the coronavirus pandemic.

Looking for virtual science for your kids? Check out WRAL Weather Lessons (WRAL-TV reports) -- Not only does the WRAL Severe Weather team know all about forecasts. they also understand the science that explains our atmosphere and the weather we experience.

Duke joins first national effort to test potential COVID-19 therapy (TechWire/WRAL-TV reports) -- Adults in the Triangle with severe symptoms of the novel illness will have the opportunity to participate in Duke University Hospital's test of an investigational treatment with an antiviral agent known as remdesivir.

What it's like to go to the doctor during the coronavirus pandemic (WRAL-TV reports) -- If you MUST go to the doctor, be ready to go through a very thorough screening process.

14 miles of Blue Ridge Parkway closed in N.C. (AP reports) -- Fourteen miles (23 kilometers) of the Blue Ridge Parkway through southwestern N.C. were closed to the public Tuesday in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the National Park Service announced.

ELIZABETH OUZTS: Duke Energy rewards, punishes N.C. lawmakers over ratemaking bill (Energy News Network reports) -- It was August of last year, and N.C. Rep. Elmer Floyd was the last to defend a controversial ratemaking bill backed by Duke Energy. An amendment gutting the measure’s most contentious section was on the verge of passage on the House floor. Floyd rose to argue it should have been offered in the public utilities committee first. “I can’t support this amendment when it had the opportunity to be [run] in utility,” the sixth-term lawmaker told his colleagues. With four other members of the Legislative Black Caucus, one other Democrat, and 45 Republicans, Floyd pressed the red button. It was a faint attempt to salvage the widely panned legislation that permitted Duke to seek upfront, multi-year rate increases. It failed: The amendment passed, and lawmakers later approved just the first section of Senate Bill 559, which allowed Duke to recoup storm-repair costs with bonds backed by ratepayers, a mechanism called securitization. Filings with election officials show the company’s PAC spent over $300,000 on 77 legislative candidates this year, including 13 Democrats. The PAC contributions were “Duke Energy showing people they had their backs,” said Dan Crawford, the director of government relations at the N.C. League of Conservation Voters.

Need help now? N.C. startup offers everything from labor to virtual tutoring (TechWire/WRAL-TV reports) -- Stuck at home? Need help with some odd jobs? Tutoring? This local startup has got you covered. Sweeps, founded by UNC-Chapel Hill grad Morris Gelblum, is a network of college students in cities across N.C. ready to be put to work. Basically, name the job and they’ll work to get it done – from moving and cleaning to tech, tutoring and more.vAnd with hundreds of people out of school or getting furloughed due to coronavirus, availability is high.

Restaurants shift focus to grocery offerings amid pandemic (WRAL-TV reports) -- With dine-in restaurant services shut down for the foreseeable future amid the coronavirus pandemic, some eateries are changing their focus to offer grocery items.