RALEIGH, N.C. — Here are the latest updates on the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in North Carolina and across the globe, for Wednesday, March 18, 2020:
What you need to know:
- North Carolina has 92 people who have tested positive for the new coronavirus. Nearly half of the cases are in Wake and Durham counties.
- More than 8,500 people in the U.S. are infected, and more than 110 people have died across the country.
- President Trump has signed a relief package that calls for paid leave for some workers, expands unemployment assistance and provides more resources for testing.
- Gov. Roy Cooper mandated all bars and restaurants in North Carolina close to encourage social distancing. Takeout, delivery and drive-thru options may still be available.
- Numerous events have been canceled across the region, including business conferences, festivals, concerts and more.
- A toll-free Hope Line has been established for older adults experiencing isolation from social distancing. Call 1-866-578-4673 or 1-866-578-HOPE.
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Get details on NC cases:
Latest updates:
Wednesday, March 18
11:11 p.m.: A Pinehurst OB/GYN with FirstHealth of the Carolinas has tested positive for coronavirus, hospital officials said in a press release on Wednesday. The doctor learned of his positive test on Wednesday, officials said, and first exhibited symptoms on Tuesday.
The doctor last had contact with patients on March 13, and officials said it is believed the infection was acquired during a trip to Germany. After learning that Germany was added to the CDC list of high-alert countries, the doctor began self-quarantine, officials said.
A Pinehurst OB/GYN with FirstHealth of the Carolinas has tested positive for coronavirus, hospital officials said in a press release on Wednesday.
The doctor learned of his positive test on Wednesday, officials said, and first exhibited symptoms on Tuesday.
The doctor last had contact with patients on March 13, and officials said it is believed the infection was acquired during a trip to Germany. After learning that Germany was added to the CDC list of high-alert countries, the doctor began self-quarantine, officials said.
FirstHealth also stated it has consulted with the North Carolina Division of Public Health state epidemiologist, who provided additional guidance regarding possible risk to patients and staff.
“The state epidemiologist says there was minimal exposure risk to patients who had contact with (the doctor),” Jayne Lee, FirstHealth’s director of infection control and prevention and a registered nurse, said. “Out of an abundance of caution, we are informing all patients and staff who had potential contact with (the doctor) during the week of March 9.”
Earlier Wednesday, State Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Tilson said that pregnant women have been added to the high-risk categories for contracting COVID-19.
11:07 p.m.: Attorney General Josh Stein will host a virtual town hall on Thursday to answer questions about coronavirus scams. The town hall will start at 2 p.m. and can be seen on NC Department of Justice Facebook page or Josh Stein's Instagram page. You can also tweet your questions to @NCAGO.
10:31 p.m.: China's health ministry says the virus epicenter of Wuhan and surrounding Hubei province have reported no new cases.
7:40 p.m.: Duke University has postponed its 2020 graduation ceremonies amid the coronavirus outbreak.
"In light of the rapid spread of COVID-19 and the latest public health advisories on travel and large gatherings, we have made the very difficult but necessary decision to postpone commencement for the Class of 2020," Duke President Vincent Price said in a statement. "I share your disappointment – and sadness – that our campus will remain quiet this spring, without the joyful celebration that marks the passage of another year. For all of these reasons, I am resolutely committed to an in-person recognition of the Class of 2020. Commencement will surely take place and here on campus."
7:35 p.m.: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will temporarily halt most of its enforcement work to focus on criminals during the coronavirus outbreak, according to the Washington Post. The change in enforcement status aims to limit the spread of the virus and to encourage those who need treatment to seek medical help.
7:30 p.m.: Republican Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida has become the first member of Congress to test positive for coronavirus, according to CNN.
"On Saturday evening, Congressman Diaz-Balart developed symptoms including a fever and headache. Just a short while ago, he was notified that he has tested positive for COVID-19," his office said in a news release.
Diaz-Balart said in a statement that he is "feeling much better" but urged the public to take the virus "extremely seriously."
6:30 p.m.: Eleven more Duke University students who were on a trip overseas have tested positive for the new coronavirus, officials said.
Fifteen others on the trip tested positive on Tuesday, and four others are recovering overseas after they tested positive. All of the Durham cases have been quarantined in off-campus housing since they returned to the U.S., officials said.
6 p.m.: A petition has been started by University of North Carolina students seeking certain changes in courses now that the system is switching to online teaching amid the coronavirus outbreak. The petition, which already has more than 8,000 signatures, calls for all lessons to be posted online, more time to withdraw from courses, a pass/fail option for courses, plans to assist students who lack internet at home, among other demands.
Meanwhile, a union that represents UNC workers is calling for paid leave until the crisis ends, double time "hazard pay" for those required to work on campus, personal protective equipment for workers and staggered shifts to avoid congregations of people, among other demands.
5:50 p.m.: Wake County public health officials report five more people have tested positive for the new coronavirus, bringing the county total to 22. No details about the cases were released.
"We aren’t surprised that the number of positive test results in Wake County is increasing," Wake County Medical Director Dr. Kim McDonald said in a statement.
Eighty-two more people who were exposed to the virus and have developed symptoms are under investigation. Of those, 70 test results are pending, and 12 people are in the process of being tested, officials said.
Through contact tracing, Wake County has identified another 221 people who are being monitored because they may have been exposed to the virus through close contact. The county will monitor them for two weeks to see if they develop symptoms.
5:15 p.m.: The Art of Cool Festival in Durham, scheduled for Sept. 26-28, has been canceled because of the coronavirus outbreak, organizers said.
"Take this time of uncertainty to create, innovate and connect with friends and family," an online statement said. "We appreciate the love and support and will see you in 2021."
4:50 p.m.: The New York Stock Exchange will close its trading floor on Monday and shift to electronic trading to limit the spread of the coronavirus, according to CNBC. The move comes after two people screened at the entry to the exchange tested positive for the virus.
4:45 p.m.: Cases in Gaston, Iredell, Union and Watauga counties have pushed the state's coronavirus case count up to 76, officials said.
4:40 p.m.: State Employees’ Credit Union branches statewide will transition Thursday to drive-thru only for the majority of its services to reduce the possibilities of transmission of the coronavirus to members, their families and SECU employees. Members who need to access safe deposit boxes, drop off tax return information or inquire about a loan should call an SECU branch to schedule an appointment, officials said.
4:25 p.m.: A person in New Hanover County has tested positive for the new coronavirus, becoming the first case in that county and the 72nd in North Carolina. The person was tested on Monday and has been isolation since then, officials said. Initial contact tracing indicates that it's a travel-related case, they said.
4:20 p.m.: The Hyde County Board of Commissioners has approved an emergency declaration in response to the coronavirus outbreak. As part of that declaration, visitors will not be allowed access to Ocracoke Island, beginning at 5 a.m. Thursday.
Visitors with reservations for the Swan Quarter-Ocracoke and Cedar Island-Ocracoke ferry routes will have their reservations canceled and will be issued refunds. Only residents, property owners, workers, vendors and service providers will be allowed to board.
4:10 p.m.: The Senate has passed a second relief bill to help American families and industries dealing with the economic disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. President Donald Trump signed the package hours later.
The measure provides paid sick and family leave for some workers impacted by the illness, expands unemployment assistance and includes more resources for testing for the virus and nutrition assistance.
4 p.m.: Dow Jones industrials sank 1,300 points, or 6.3 percent, on Wednesday. The cumulative losses in recent weeks have erased nearly all of their gains made since President Donald Trump's inauguration three years ago.
3:45 p.m.: A person in Moore County has tested positive for the coronavirus, No other details were released.
3:30 p.m.: Schools that remain closed during the coronavirus outbreak could soon become emergency childcare centers, according to guidance from the state Department of Public Instruction and the Department of Health and Human Services.
"Superintendents should consider designating public schools as emergency out-of-school child care sites to meet specific community needs," a statement from the two departments reads.
The centers would be open for children ages 5 (they must be in kindergarten) to 12, and no more than 50 children per area in each school would be allowed. Priority would be given to children of first responders, hospital staff, front-line health care providers and nursing and adult group home staff.
Schools near hospitals, that have served as shelters in other emergencies, that have student health facilities and that have before- and after-school operations are the likeliest to be used, according to the guidance.
3:25 p.m.: Crabtree Valley Mall is shortening its hours, starting Wednesday. The mall will be open during the coronavirus outbreak from 12 to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 12 to 6 p.m. on Sundays. The hours of anchor department stores and restaurants aren't affected by the change.
3:10 p.m.: State House Speaker Tim Moore is forming crisis-response legislative groups to work remotely on policy measures addressing the coronavirus outbreak and is seeking input from North Carolina residents on reforms that will support families and businesses during the unprecedented emergency.
"Our focus now is deploying the resources we saved for this crisis effectively through emergency actions that keep our economy moving, help education communities learn collaboratively and address all the issues that are facing North Carolinians with this massive disruption in their daily lives," Moore, R-Cleveland, said in a statement.
3 p.m.: State Treasurer Dale Folwell said North Carolina's government is well positioned to withstand the economic disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
"As keepers of the public purse, we feel that it’s important to let the people know the state is financially secure,” Folwell said in a statement. “Because of the conservative management of the state’s finances by this General Assembly and others before it, we are in a good position to withstand economic headwinds."
The state’s "rainy day" reserve fund has $1.2 billion in it, while the state also has a $2 billion surplus and the Unemployment Trust Fund has nearly $3.9 billion.
2:30 p.m.: North Carolina currently has no plans to close hair or nail salons during the coronavirus outbreak, State Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Tilson said, adding that position could change as the situation evolves.
2:25 p.m.: The United Soccer League has extended the suspension of its season through May 10, according to North Carolina FC.
2:20 p.m.: Pregnant women have been added to the high-risk categories for contracting COVID-19, the illness associated with the new coronavirus, State Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Tilson said.
2:15 p.m.: Duke Health, UNC Health and WakeMed say they are rescheduling some non-emergency and non-critical surgeries, procedures and appointments to free up resources for possible coronavirus patients. Emergency and other essential services will not be affected, the three hospital systems say.
"This approach is allowing our teams to provide the most appropriate and timely care for our patients, while at the same time enabling our response to the evolving COVID-19 outbreak in our community," a statement from the three systems reads.
Affected patients will be contacted by their individual health care providers regarding any changes to planned surgeries, procedures or appointments. If patients don't hear from their providers prior to scheduled appointments, they should contact those providers.
2:15 p.m.: State Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry urged people not to call 911 for coronavirus concerns. Instead, he said, people can call 211 for the latest information or text covidnc to 898211.
There are no plans to order grocery stores in North Carolina to close, Sprayberry said, so there is no reason for panic buying or hoarding of food and supplies.
2:10 p.m.: North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein said his office has received 136 price-gouging complaints since a state of emergency was declared last week, most dealing with groceries, hand sanitizer and cleaning products. Stein also urged people to beware of scams during the coronavirus crisis, such as people promising cures or soliciting money.
Anyone who wants to report a scam or suspected price gouging can call 877-5-NO SCAM.
"We will not tolerate criminals trying to exploit people's fears to make a quick buck," Stein said.
2:05 p.m.: Testing for coronavirus is ramping up in North Carolina, with more than 1,800 tests done to date, State Health Director Dr. Elizabeth Tilson said.
1:10 p.m.: The 2020 Southern Women's Show Raleigh, originally scheduled for April 17-19, has been rescheduled for June 19-21. Tickets already purchased will be honored at the June show, organizers said.
"The show is such an incredible event that brings the community together, and we are grateful for the opportunity to reschedule the 35th annual show in June," show manager Katie Cronin said in a statement. "We look forward to seeing everyone in just a few months for a fun weekend filled with shopping, celebrity guests, fashion shows, makeovers and more."
1 p.m.: Stock trading has been halted for the fourth time this month, as the S&P 500 index dropped by 7 percent. Trading will resume in 15 minutes.
12:55 p.m.: Burlington-based LabCorp says it is rapidly expanding its coronavirus testing capacity and expects to be able to complete more than 10,000 tests per day by the end of the week and 20,000 tests per day by the end of March.
12:50 p.m.: A Hoke County resident has tested positive for the new coronavirus and is isolated at home. The person was tested Monday after going to a primary care clinic on the Raeford campus of FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital with symptoms of the virus.
12: 45 p.m.: President Donald Trump said he plans to invoke a U.S. statute to send everyone crossing the southern border, including asylum seekers, back to Mexico.
12:45 p.m.: Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said the U.S. is catching up with a backlog of samples needed to be tested for the coronavirus, which will likely spike national numbers in the coming week.
"We'll see numbers dramatically increase over the next four or five days," Birx said. "We'll have five to six days [of tests] run in 24 to 48 hours."
12:40 p.m.: The state Division of Employment Security, which processes unemployment claims, had 4,721 claims related to the coronavirus outbreak as of 7 a.m. Wednesday, according to the division’s spokesman. The online system for jobless benefit applications had issues Tuesday, he said, but it wasn't due to high volume and the problem has been addressed. Anyone who had trouble submitting a claim should sign in again to complete a claim, he said.
12:35 p.m.: Vice President Mike Pence said industries are increasing production of ventilators, masks and protective gear to meet projected demand amid the coronavirus pandemic.
12:30 p.m.: President Donald Trump said details of a planned economic stimulus package, including how much money would be sent to American families and when, are still being worked out.
"We're playing with a lot of big numbers," he said. "We have to help everyone."
12:20 p.m.: A New York resident who has tested positive for the new coronavirus is in isolation in Macon County in western North Carolina, officials said.
The person had traveled to Buncombe County, began feeling sick and was tested before traveling to Macon County. The Macon County and Buncombe County health departments are working to identify any close contacts the person had.
12:10 p.m.: President Donald Trump has invoked the Defense Production Act to expedite and expand the supply of resources from U.S. industries to fight the coronavirus pandemic.
"It's a wartime situation," he said during a news conference.
Two U.S. hospital ships, the Mercy and the Comfort, are being prepared to respond to the outbreak, Trump said. Also, the Department of Housing and Urban Development will suspend all foreclosure and eviction actions through April.
12:05 p.m.: Raleigh is setting up temporary curbside pickup zones to support local restaurants as they shift to takeout and delivery service amid the coronavirus outbreak. Pickup zones are planned for the Hillsborough Street corridor, Glenwood South and downtown, as well as other areas with limited storefront access and on-street metered or time-restricted parking.
12:00 p.m.: The Umstead Hotel & Spa in Cary closed at noon, according to a statement on its website.
"Due the rapidly evolving circumstances surrounding COVID-19 virus, we feel it is in the best interest of our team and the greater community to close our doors temporarily," the statement reads. "Our team will continuously re-evaluate based on the current factors at play and will update the community as to future state as time progresses."
11:30 a.m.: UNC Interim President Dr. Bill Roper discusses in a new video the restrictions on campuses in the University of North Carolina system and the role the UNC Medical Center is playing in handling the coronavirus outbreak.
"This effort exemplifies how the UNC system’s work isn’t just good for our students," Roper says, "it benefits all North Carolinians."
11:00 a.m.: Smithfield has become the latest area municipality to declare a state of emergency over the coronavirus.
10:50 a.m.: Special Olympics North Carolina has canceled its spring events and the 2020 Summer Games that feature more than 1,300 athletes because of the coronavirus outbreak.
10:45 a.m.: North Carolina State University experts and Chinese health experts said it's important to protect pets if you or a family member or sick, especially if you suspect or have confirmed coronavirus. Chinese health experts said a dog in China tested "weakly positive" for the virus.
10:30 a.m.: Duke University will transition courses to a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) grading option but allow students the opportunity of receiving a letter grade. Duke will also include a designation on students' transcripts, indicating the extraordinary circumstances encountered in the spring semester.
10.00 a.m.: President Donald Trump announced that the U.S and Canada have agreed to close the border between the countries to "non-essential traffic." He said trade will not be effected.
9:30 a.m.: Stocks opened sharply lower on Wall Street Wednesday morning as fears spread of a global recession from the coronavirus pandemic. The Dow Jones industrials fell 1,200 points.
9:00 a.m.: Wake County Libraries offer an array of digital services that could help with home education. They offer audio books, young adult titles, children's eBooks and read-a-longs. They also offer online story times with talking, singing, reading and writing. Many curriculum-focused content, streaming video how-to's and documentaries can be found online as well.
8:45 a.m.: Global cases of coronavirus break 200,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.
8:30 a.m.: Marriott, the world's largest hotel chain, said it would have to lay off tens of thousands of workers without pay due to financial losses from the coronavirus outbreak. The company could lay off anyone from housekeepers to general managers – but not corporate executives. Marriott said it plans to rehire some furloughed employees once the outbreak is over, but some hotels will shut down all together.
8:15 a.m: Angie’s restaurant in Garner is doing “carhop” orders. Angie's is a casual-dining restaurant that serves traditional Southern breakfast and lunch from 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The carhop service allows their servers to work and get tips like normal.
8:00 a.m.: United Airlines announced a 60 percent flight reduction in April, including international and domestic flights.
7:40 a.m.: President Trump tweeted he will be having a news conference today to discuss "very important news from the FDA" concerning coronavirus.
7:30 a.m.: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has suspended all in-person interviews and naturalization ceremonies.
7:00 a.m.: Wake County Public School System bus drivers are returning to work in order to
clean and sanitize dozens of buses. Several bus drivers have shared concerns that returning to work could increase their chances of catching the coronavirus.
6:30 a.m.: Duke University Hospital has multiple medical tents outside the ER in preparation for a possible surge of patients. Durham's coronavirus cases have increased sharply after 15 Duke students tested positive for coronavirus after an overseas trip.
5:45 a.m.: Savannah Guthrie will anchor TODAY from a remote studio in her home Wednesday morning after coming down with a mild sore throat and runny nose, according to the TODAY show.
5:15 a.m.: President Donald Trump has enlisted the military to help hospitals and urged people, especially socially active millennials, to do their part by staying home to stop the spread of the coronavirus. A proposed economic package alone could approach $1 trillion, a rescue initiative not seen since the Great Recession.
5 a.m.: A hockey player for the Ottawa Senators tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the NHL. The player was not identified, but a statement from the team said the player was experiencing mild symptoms and was in isolation.
All 30 MLB teams are donating $1 million each to help thousands of seasonal ballpark employees left without income during the coronavirus outbreak.
4:30 a.m.: The air traffic control tower in Chicago is temporarily closed after three FAA technicians tested positive for COVID-19, and the airline industry said most planes are less than 1/3 full. A handful of flights set to arrive in Chicago from RDU have been canceled.
On Tuesday night, United Airlines said it would cut its number of flights by 60% during coronavirus.
4:05 a.m.: It will be more than a week before school is back in session, possibly longer, but school bus drivers in Wake County are headed back to work on Wednesday to clean their buses.
According to Wake County Public Schools, transportation employees will be cleaning buses because they are being used to deliver meals and instructional materials to students. Some drivers said they are worried about being exposed to the virus.
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