Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Nov. 20
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Daily hospitalizations hit another record
At least 328,846 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 4,979 have died, according to health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday reported 3,688 new COVID-19 cases, down from 4,296 the day before. Thursday’s case count was an all-time high, breaking the previous record of 3,885 cases reported Nov. 14.
At least 1,571 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Friday, a new record. State officials last week said patient counts would be higher due to a change in how the federal government reports hospital stays.
About 8.3% of tests were reported positive on Wednesday, the latest day for which data are available. That’s above the 5% target set by health officials.
Health officials, chefs offer Thanksgiving safety tips
Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, said there is reason to worry going into the holiday season as coronavirus metrics continue to climb.
“We may be seeing more hospitalization increase because we are seeing these record high case rates across North Carolina, so we do have unfortunately a lot of reasons to be concerned as we head into this holiday season,” Cohen said during a Friday news conference.
She said the higher percentage of positive test results is indicative of the virus spreading — not more testing.
A Thanksgiving nears, chefs Cheetie Kumar of Garland and Jason Smith of Cantina 18 and Harvest 18 in Raleigh urged North Carolinians to wear masks, wash their hands and keep gatherings below 10 people. Cohen and the chefs also said people should try to eat outside and keep windows open and fans on.
Everyone should keep their masks on when they aren’t eating and drinking, they said, and people who are handling food and utensils should wear gloves.
“We want to spread holiday cheer, not the virus,” Kumar said. “Do a gut check. Try to act like you are contagious. That really changes how you do everything. It makes you think twice about taking risks. Limit hugs and handshakes. ... A hello and smile will have to do.”
NCCU pauses basketball practice
N.C. Central University put its men’s basketball program on hold after the team reported a positive COVID-19 test.
But the university’s sports information director Kyle Serba told The News & Observer the team is expecting to play two games in Iowa starting Wednesday.
“We have paused team activities due to a positive test and will resume practice on Monday morning prior to departing later that day for a tournament in Iowa,” Serba said.
It wasn’t immediately clear Friday if it was a player, coach or staff member who tested positive for the virus. Serba said the university is “following all safety protocols and reporting guidelines as outlined by appropriate governing bodies.”
Household celebrations urged amid COVID-19 spread in Charlotte
A Charlotte-area health official urged people to only gather with people in their households for Thanksgiving as the spread of COVID-19 speeds up in the region.
“We understand fully that this is a big sacrifice that we all have to make ourselves,” Raynard Washington, deputy public health director for Mecklenburg County, said Friday at a news conference.
The advice comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged people to avoid traveling for Thanksgiving and skip going to crowded stores for Black Friday shopping.
In Charlotte, public health workers are still handling the COVID-19 caseload that emerged after Halloween. Officials say Mecklenburg County on Friday was expected to reach 40,000 cases, six weeks after it hit 30,000.
“For context, it took us just about 10 weeks to get from 20,000 cases to 30,000 cases,” Washington said.
Thousands sign petition to stop prayer walk over COVID-19 worries
More than 100,000 people signed a petition calling for an end to a prayer walk expected to take place outside a Charlotte abortion clinic.
Reiley Baker, a clinic volunteer, said she created the petition on Change.org because she was concerned the planned event could contribute to the transmission of COVID-19.
“They’ll travel back to their communities across North Carolina and possibly spread COVID-19,” Baker said.
The Observer reached out to local event organizers and received a response from the national nonprofit Love Life. While the organization in a statement didn’t say how many people would attend, it said hand sanitizer and masks would be available at its events across the country.
“We encourage all participating to wear face coverings, especially in states and cities where they are mandated,” Josh Kappes said in the statement.
Dozens of COVID-19 cases reported at Wake schools
The Wake County school district in its weekly update reported it had 42 new coronavirus cases.
The additional case count announced Thursday was higher than the 26 infections reported last week and brought Wake’s total number of infections to 93 since Oct. 26, The News & Observer reported.
Officials say the latest cases are spread across 30 schools. Among the hardest hit schools this month was Broughton High School, which reported eight cases as employees and athletes are allowed on campus.
The news comes after the district on Monday welcomed elementary school students at all grade levels for in-person instruction. It was the first time thousands of students had daily face-to-face classes since COVID-19 forced buildings to close in March.
Also this week, the school board approved a plan allowing students in all grades to have some form of in-person classes starting in January.
College student dies two months after COVID-19 diagnosis
A 23-year-old senior at Livingstone College in Rowan County died Thursday of COVID-19 complications, the school said.
Jamesha Waddell was diagnosed in September and had been self-isolating at home, according to the historically black college in Salisbury.
“Jamesha’s condition worsened and she required hospitalization and intensive care,” the school said in a news release.
According to Waddell’s Facebook page, she lived in Charlotte and aspired to be a homicide detective.
The school said it is offering grief counseling for students.
Cooper urges NC to follow coronavirus orders
Gov. Roy Cooper said North Carolinians need to follow the COVID-19 restrictions in place to slow the spread of the virus.
Cooper on Thursday visited Bright View Technologies, a company that makes plastic light filters but has also been making face shields since the pandemic hit. He met with company officials and toured the plant where the face shields are made, The News & Observer reported.
Bright View has manufactured more than 75,000 face shields since March — more than half of which have gone to state and local governments in North Carolina.
Under Cooper’s current executive order, the state will stay in Phase 3 until Dec. 4. The governor said North Carolina could revisit the guidelines before then.
“We will do what we need to do in order to protect the health and safety of North Carolinians,” he said, responding to a question about stricter safety measures.
Death toll rises at NC church with COVID-19 outbreak
At least three more people have died from complications of the coronavirus linked to an outbreak at United House of Prayer for All People in Charlotte, bringing the death toll to 12.
The church held convocation events in October that became the source of Mecklenburg County’s largest COVID-19 outbreak to date.
At least 213 confirmed coronavirus cases have been tied to the events, the Charlotte Observer reported.
The county has reported just five new infections from the church over the last week, indicating cases have slowed. Most cases have been among Mecklenburg County residents, with an additional four in Iredell County, five in Gaston County and one in Cabarrus County. The number of close contacts has stopped at 294.
NC virtual students required to take in-person exams
Some high school students in North Carolina will be required to take state end-of-course exams and state career and technical education post assessment exams in person despite being enrolled in the virtual academy.
The exams are scheduled for December and January and will count for at least 20% of a student’s final grade.
The exams were waived last school year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Parents and educators are pushing for that to happen again as the fall semester comes to a close. But school districts say the onus lies with the state, which requires students take the exams in front of a proctor to protect the integrity of the test.
They are trying to make it easier on students by holding the tests in smaller group sizes and making sure health and safety guidelines are followed, The N&O reported.
Exam makeup dates and medical exemptions will also be offered, though it’s rare they are approved, said Nathanael Shelton, a spokesman for the Johnston County school system.
Charlotte court case backlog could stretch years
Mecklenburg County faces a case backlog as it holds a criminal jury trial for the first time in months due to coronavirus concerns.
“Without a substantial change in our course of action after months of court closures, we are facing the very real possibility that it could take more than three years before some violent crimes make their way to trial, and even longer for homicide cases,” Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather said in a statement.
The prosecutor on Wednesday said there are hundreds of felony cases waiting for justice and announced reorganization within his office. People accused of nonviolent crimes may get referrals to drug treatment centers or Recovery Courts so staff can focus on other cases, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Also, jury trials for murder and other violent charges won’t get underway until new courthouse coronavirus procedures are deemed effective, officials say.
Company adding NC jobs to produce vaccine syringes
A company that makes an “experimental injection device” for vaccines could add hundreds of jobs as part of its plan to expand in North Carolina.
ApiJect said it is planning to build a Research Triangle Park center where the devices can be manufactured. About 650 people could work there, The News & Observer reported Thursday.
Though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration hadn’t approved ApiJect’s devices, it said the company was reportedly approved for a $590 million loan to cover construction costs.
“The loan was billed as a way to help the U.S. deliver vaccines and medicines more quickly during national emergencies — in this case the COVID-19 pandemic,” The N&O reported.
First international flight since spring leaves RDU
An international flight that took off Thursday was the first since spring to leave from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
The JetBlue flight carrying 38 passengers was heading to Cancun, Mexico. Before that, the last plane from a foreign destination arrived at the airport on March 31, The News & Observer reported.
“We lost all international connections when passenger traffic dropped to 3% last spring,” said airport spokesperson Crystal Feldman. “So it’s an exciting development to have international routes returning to RDU. It’s an indication that traffic is starting to pick up.”
The news comes as health officials have warned of the risks of traveling during the coronavirus pandemic.
This story was originally published November 20, 2020 at 7:08 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Nov. 20."
