NC Coronavirus Updates

A composite coronavirus forecast from UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University suggests strict social distancing measures may need to stay in place through May. 

Researchers used various models to predict the strain on North Carolina's health care system under two scenarios: keeping current social distancing measures in place through June first, or lifting them entirely when the statewide stay-at-home order expires on April 29th.

UNC Health is planning for a surge of COVID-19 patients in the coming weeks.

Emergency services director Christian Lawson said UNC hospitals have an adequate amount of personal protective equipment available for nurses and doctors right now.

Among all the milestones, the key rituals of life being cancelled or postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic — weddings, baby showers, birthdays — is that iconic last one for military veterans, burial with military honors.

Members of the North Carolina Coronavirus Task Force will hold a briefing on COVID-19 updates. Watch live here starting at 4 p.m.

This post will be updated periodically with the latest information on how the coronavirus is affecting North Carolina. Scroll down for older updates. For a recap of last week's news, check out Coronavirus Live Updates: Week Of March 30.

12:45 p.m. - Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill are helping test a new anti-viral drug for treatment of COVID-19. The university says it's trying to determine the effectiveness of the drug, which was discovered at Emory University in Atlanta. Scientists say it's had promising results in tests on mice at preventing lung injury from COVID-19. The disease can cause secondary complications like pneumonia, especially in high-risk individuals. Clinical trials on humans are expected to begin later this spring. - Will Michaels, WUNC

Three residents of a central North Carolina nursing home have tested positive for COVID-19, public health officials announced on Saturday as overall cases statewide exceeded 2,400.

North Carolina's chief justice has pushed most court proceedings back to at least June in order to promote social distancing to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley announced on Friday that she had issued an order that state superior and district court proceedings be rescheduled until June 1 or later unless they meet certain exceptions. Beasley had previously postponed most court proceedings until mid-April.

North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell has been released from the hospital after what his office said was five days of treatment for symptoms related to the COVID-19 virus.

A statement from Folwell's office on Friday said he will continue his recovery from home, following protocols described in his discharge as well as those required by local and state health officials.

North Carolina health officials say they are still prioritizing masks for health care workers as President Trump prepares to release new guidelines that suggest people should wear face coverings whenever they go out in public.

Like many graduating college students across the United States, UNC-Chapel Hill senior Samara Bie experienced her last moments on campus without even knowing it.

Gov. Cooper and members of the Coronavirus Task Force will hold a briefing on COVID-19 updates. Watch live here starting at 2 p.m.

Under the governor's statewide stay-at-home order, religious entities are considered essential, but gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited.

As a result, many places of worship are now live streaming their services online.
Duke University Rabbi Elana Friedman says that so far, her student congregants seem to like it.

"There's some excitement to being able to join a service in your pajamas and have your pets with you," she said. "There's some time efficiency that some people have noted that has been helpful."

North Carolina's COVID-19 task force is asking FEMA to provide quarantine shelters as part of the effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

At a press conference Thursday afternoon, state Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry said FEMA's approval would provide thousands of rooms for people who could be infected with COVID-19.

State leaders have not given estimates about how many people across North Carolina they suspect have contracted COVID-19, and instead have focused on the number of positive cases due to the illness.

WUNC is compiling the following list of organizations asking for support during this unprecedented time. This post will be updated periodically with new information. Are we missing important efforts underway around the state? Please email bbustwebber@wunc.org and we will be happy to review your submission and update this list.

Around the Triangle, streets and restaurants, businesses and college campuses have remained largely empty this week, after Gov. Roy Cooper issued an Executive Order directing North Carolinians to shelter in place for a month. The order went into effect at 5 p.m. Monday, March 30 and will last until April 29.

Photographers Chuck Liddy and Ben McKeown captured some of the empty spaces around our community.

Farmers in North Carolina are finding new ways to get produce to customers amid the coronavirus outbreak.

While there's still a large demand for fresh food, the typical ways of distributing it have been disrupted. Restaurants operating under social distancing restrictions need significantly less produce. Some farmers markets have closed temporarily.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen and Director of NC Emergency Management Mike Sprayberry will hold a briefing on COVID-19 updates. Watch live here starting at 2 p.m.

Governor Roy Cooper will issue a proclamation today declaring it National Census Day in North Carolina. There is an extra push to get the state’s more than 10 million residents counted while also dealing with COVID-19.

North Carolina has seen more than 50 times the typical number of people applying for unemployment in the past two weeks. Nearly 90% say they're jobless because of the coronavirus pandemic.

North Carolina's restaurant and hotel operators pleaded Tuesday for state financial aid and tax relief as closings and travel restrictions from the new coronavirus have thrown more than 370,000 of their employees out of work.

Speaking to a state House committee on the virus-induced economic contraction, hospitality industry leaders said expanded unemployment benefits and assistance approved in Washington won't come soon enough.