Coronavirus in NC: Live updates for May 27, 2020: US coronavirus cases top 100,000
Here are the latest updates on the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in North Carolina and across the globe.
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The U.S. has by far the highest number of deaths and infections in the world. The U.K. has the second-highest number of deaths at 37,000, while Brazil trails the U.S. in infections, 1.7 million to 412,000, according to Johns Hopkins.
In North Carolina, nearly 25,000 people have been infected with the virus, and 835 have died. Residents in Durham, Orange and Wayne (two) counties are among some of the latest deaths.
Orange County recommends wearing masks in business settings and in public to keep the community safe. Masks are required only for employees of businesses in close contact with customers.
"By wearing a mask or face covering, each of us is taking care of one another so we can all stay as healthy as possible," Hemminger said in a statement.
Chapel Hill is designing a plan to share face masks to any community members in need, officials said.
Some people are upset by the sign, saying that wearing a mask can protect both you and other people from spreading the virus.
Experts say some hospitals may have to cut back on services such as maternity care.
With nearly 1 million people statewide filing for unemployment, searches for payday loans, home equity loans and other types are rising, WalletHub says, noting that taking out a loan right now could be a risk.
Casinos across the Vegas strip were closed 10 weeks ago because of the pandemic, and tourists returning to the gambling mecca will see some changes. Dice will be disinfected between shooters, chips cleaned periodically and card decks changed frequently.
DHHS spokeswoman Kelly Haight Connor said provided two sets of proposed rules that the agency supplied to county and racetrack officials. The first one was based on rules created for Hickory Motor Speedway to run a race without fans. It states at the top that the rules are tentative and contingent on any executive order spelling out Phase 2 regulations.
"Limits on participant capacity have yet to be determined. When determined, ACE is expected to adhere to the capacity limitation set by the Governor," the proposal states.
The second set of rules was provided to Alamance County and Ace Speedway officials on May 20, when Cooper announced his Phase 2 plan, according to Haight Connor. Rule No. 1 states: "Per Governor Executive Order 141, spectator attendance cannot exceed 25 participants."
DHHS officials also spoke with local officials on Saturday and "repeatedly said that Ace Speedway needed to adhere to the 25 spectator limit," Haight Connor said in an email.
"With our essential school nutrition and transportation employees utilizing our state’s leave benefits as concerns about COVID-19 accelerated, Durham FEAST stepped up to fill a crucial gap in services," DPS Superintendent Pascal Mubenga said in a statement. "This has been a historic partnership in Durham County."
The Durham Public Schools Foundation, Food Insight Group, restaurateurs led by Chef Andrea Reusing of The Durham Hotel and Durham County government assisted the district with the effort.
The program will end with the close of the 2019-20 school year, but the school district will start its summer feeding program June, and it will run through July 31. All children in Durham County up to age 18 are eligible.
Most restaurants on the property are open with limited seating, as well as carryout options. Other amenities will also open in phases as determined by the state and local guidelines.
Casino employee undergo daily health checks and are required to wear masks. Guests will undergo temperature checks before entering the casinos and are also required to wear masks. The casino gaming areas will temporarily be non-smoking.
Although the judge's order doesn't allow the clubs to reopen immediately, their lawsuit against the state proceeds.
An attorney for the Bowling Proprietors Association of the Carolinas & Georgia said many bowling alleys "face imminent insolvency" because of the two-month shutdown during the pandemic. Anthony Biller said the bowling alleys can operate under the same guidelines that restaurants and personal care businesses are now working under: 50 percent capacity, social distancing guidelines in place and strict cleaning protocols.
"[P]ublic health and allowing our bowling facilities the opportunity to resume operations should not be viewed as mutually exclusive," Biller wrote in a letter to Cooper on Tuesday. "Further, we see no rational let alone compelling reason to close our client’s bowling lanes, but allow their retail shops and restaurant facilities to function. It is an arbitrary distinction that is imposing ongoing irreparable harm to family owned lanes across our state."
"This phased reopening will demonstrate a deliberate approach, with limits on attendance and controlled guest density that aligns with guidance on physical distancing. That means certain experiences we know draw large group gatherings – such as parades and nighttime spectaculars – will return at a later date," Disney officials said. "In addition, 'high-touch' experiences such as makeover opportunities, playgrounds and character meet and greets will remain temporarily unavailable, but characters will still be in our parks to entertain and delight our guests."
Attendance will be managed through a new advance reservation system. Existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders will be able to make reservation requests in phases before new tickets are sold.
"A document entitled 'Precaution Requirements for ACE Speedway' was developed through collaboration between [the state Depatrment of Health and Human Services], the Alamance County Health Department and ACE Speedway. [Track owner] Jason Turner assured Alamance County on multiple occasions that he intended to follow the recommended protocols at ACE Speedway," county officials said in a news release.
After Cooper announced a week ago that the state would move into the second stage of its pandemic recovery plan, county and track officials asked questions of DHHS Assistant Secretary for Government Affairs Matt Gross, who "promised to forward the county’s concerns to the governor’s staff and that someone would get back to the county. Alamance County has yet to hear directly from anyone with the governor’s staff, NCDHHS or anyone else in state government," the county news release states.
Ace Speedway took various safety measures, county officials said, including spacing out cars and crews in the pit area, installing hand sanitizer stations and plexiglass barriers as needed, marking 6-foot spaces in high-traffic areas for social distancing and creating one-way traffic through restrooms. The raceway also limited its crowd to 2,550 spectators, which was 50 percent of capacity, officials said.
According to the lawsuit, A1 and Satterfield allegedly booted or towed trucks that were delivering food, water, bleach or needed medical supplies during the pandemic, despite the trucks’ drivers having the permission of property owners to park their trucks on the property. After towing or booting the trucks, A1 and Satterfield allegedly forced drivers to pay up to $4,400 for their release and allegedly engaged in other illegal practices that resulted in the delay of delivery of critical supplies, Stein said in a news release.
For residents who had a regular yard waste collection day on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, it will now be every other Friday beginning June 5. For people who had a regular yard waste collection day on Thursdays or Fridays, it will now be every other Friday beginning June 12.
Statewide, more than 24,750 people have been infected by coronavirus, and 833 have died. State officials estimate about 15,000 people have recovered from their infections.
The Red Cross is thanking those who step up to help by providing donors with a special T-shirt through the end of the month and a $5 Amazon gift card during June.
With limited exceptions, state inmates have remained in place since April 6 to limit the spread of coronavirus.
"The majority of the prison offender population has, in effect, been quarantined for almost two months," Commissioner of Prisons Todd Ishee said in a statement. "Our staff has worked hard to contain the spread, to implement virus-safety protocols, and we must remain vigilant as we prepare for the next phase of loosened restrictions using all necessary security and medical safety precautions."
"Though other facets of life may be opening up, we are in no way out of the danger zone in our prisons," Jimmy Davis, president of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, said in a statement. "Moving inmates now will lead directly to more outbreaks and unnecessary deaths in our inmate populations, among our staff and in the community at large. Now is not the time to return to normal in our crowded and short-staffed prison system."
African-Americans and Latino communities make up a disproportionate number of North Carolina’s coronavirus cases and deaths. African-Americans make up an estimated 22% percent of North Carolina’s population, 31% of infections and 35% of deaths. Latino populations account for 9.6% of North Carolina's population and 35% of virus cases.
Lockhart Taylor, a career employee at DES, will move into a different role at the Department of Commerce. Pryor Gibson is the new assistant secretary, effective immediately, the department said.
The bill, filed Wednesday, proposes $1.5 billion in bond funding for the state Department of Transportation, $800 million for K-12 public schools, $600 million for the University of North Carolina system and $200 million for the state's community colleges.
"This bond proposal builds on North Carolina's substantial investments in every community to ensure our rapid population and job growth continue as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic," Moore, R-Cleveland, said in a jount statement with the bill's other sponsors, Reps. Jeff Elmore, R-Wilkes, John Torbett, R-Gaston, and Michael Wray, D-Northhampton.
On Thursday, two local nonprofits are teaming up to help distribute face masks to Latino, Asian and other minority community members. The Diamante Arts Cultural Center and the group Asian Focus are putting on the event in Durham at the Edison Johnson Aquatics Center from 5 to 7 p.m.
Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, anyone who has had close contact with a person who has tested positive or anyone at a higher risk of exposure can be tested. The drive-thru is open to the general public, but appointments are requested. Results will be available in three days, and positive tests will be reported to the state.
The poll, released Wednesday, found 31% simply weren’t sure if they’d get vaccinated. Another 1 in 5 said they’d refuse.
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