COVID-19 Update from North Carolina

There have been a lot of media reports about outbreaks in both corrections facilities and nursing homes. According to DHHS, there are 851 confirmed COVID-19 cases in nursing homes (with 47 deaths), and nearly 500 cases in correctional facilities (with 5 deaths).  We also still have several ongoing outbreaks in residential settings, with the majority being in nursing homes.

By the Numbers: 

• 6,605 known cases in NC (as of 9:38 a.m.)
• 6,493 positive casesconfirmed by NCDHHS
• 760,245 cases in the U.S. (as of 9:38 a.m.)
• 78,772 completedtests reported to DHHS
• 3,423,034 tests completedin the U.S.
• 465 people currently hospitalized due to COVID-19
• 200 deaths in North Carolina
• 40,690 deaths in the U.S. (as of 9:38 a.m.)

Latest Developments

• An employee at the Smithfield Tar Heel plant tested positive for COVID-19. The plant has already put in place proactive measures to prevent it spreading. It will remain open. Smithfield has previously closed three plants in the Midwest due to COVID-19 outbreaks.
• Late last week the N.C. Supreme Court turned down a case seeking early release of at-risk inmatesbecause of the COVID-19 outbreak. It could still be taken up by the Superior Court.
• ReOpenNC plans to hold a rally on Tuesday near the Governor’s Mansionin downtown Raleigh.
• ICYMI: Yesterday Sens. Ford, Harrington, Johnson, Newton and Sawyerurged Gov. Cooper to amend the state stay-at-home order to allow NASCAR to host races without fans at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
• Food pantries across the state are facing record demands amid the COVID-19 pandemic. One pantry in Greensboro is putting out30% more than what it normally does and still isn’t meeting community needs.
• The S. Department of Agriculture approvedNorth Carolina’s requests to allow SNAP beneficiaries to use their benefits to purchase food online and allowed the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program to begin, which allows SNAP participants and other households to offset the costs of meals that would have otherwise been consumed at school.

 Quick Hits

• In Washington, D.C. the Trump administration and Democratic leaders are hammering out details to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program. The agreement comes after the $350 billion program ran out of money last week. The new package could include $75 billion for hospitals and $25 billion to expand testing for COVID-19 nationwide.
• States are beginning to expand their contact-tracing teams.
  • From The Wall Street Journal: “In lieu of a vaccine, which might not be widely available for at least a year, and mass testing, public health experts say tracking down sick people and those they might have exposed to the virus will be critical in allowing the public to work, shop and gather in groups again without sparking more outbreaks.”