Coronavirus Death Tally Rises To 477 In North Carolina

NORTH CAROLINA — The statewide death toll from novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, rose by 25 since Tuesday, bringing the total number of North Carolina residents who have lost their lives to the disease to 477, according to the latest data released by state public health officials Wednesday morning.

As of Wednesday morning, 12,758 people in North Carolina were confirmed positive for COVID-19. The tally represents an increase of 502 new confirmed cases in the state since Tuesday, according to data provided by North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services.

Hospitalizations dipped overnight by 18, bringing the total number of COVID-19 patients to 516, NC DHHS said.

COVID-19 is present in every one of North Carolina's 100 counties except Avery County.

The new batch of data released May 6 by state public health officials shows that laboratories in the state completed at least 164,482 tests by Wednesday morning. The total indicates the labs processed 12,682 tests since Tuesday morning.

The number of outbreaks confirmed in congregate living facilities in the state, such as nursing homes and correctional facilities, continues to rise. As of Wednesday morning, at least 282 coronavirus-related deaths were reported in congregate living settings, representing about 59 percent of the state's death toll.

As of Wednesday morning, at least 3,435 people had tested positive at North Carolina congregate living facilities as COVID-19 outbreaks were reported in 62 nursing homes, 23 residential care facilities and at least 15 correctional facilities, DHHS said.

According to the state agency, a survey of about 92 percent of the state's hospitals shows that 648 of the available 3,267 ventilators in North Carolina are in use as of Wednesday morning. That represents about 19 percent of the state's ventilators currently in use. When it comes to intensive care unit beds, 713 beds, or about 22 percent, of 3,223 beds are filled.

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Globally, nearly 3.7 million have been infected by COVID-19, and nearly 260,000 people have lost their lives, Johns Hopkins University reported Wednesday afternoon. In the U.S., more than 1.2 million people have been infected and at least 71,220 people have died from COVID-19.

In an attempt to provide as much information to our readers as possible, Patch is publishing a county-by-county breakdown of the coronavirus cases reported in 99 of North Carolina's 100 counties, along with the number of cases by county and the number of deaths:

Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday evening that current statewide stay-at-home restrictions would begin to loosen Friday May 8 at 5 p.m. with a modified order that allows more businesses to re-open.

"We have flattened the curve, but we haven't eliminated COVID-19," Cooper said. "We'll continue the stay-at-home order because its best for people stay at home, especially those with underlying health conditions."

More than half of the state's population — 51.1 percent — is considered at higher risk for severe COVID-19 related illness because they are 65 or older, have at least one underlying health condition or both, DHHS said Tuesday. Underlying health conditions include chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, severe obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease and immunosuppressive conditions, including cancer treatment, smoking and other immune disorders.

As of May 4, 31 percent of all people confirmed to have COVID-19 in North Carolina and 75 percent of all the COVID-19 deaths had at least one underlying condition, the health agency said.

Under the new order, most businesses will be allowed to reopen, however some businesses, such as bars, gyms, salons and movie theaters, will remain closed. The "Phase One" order will also:

• Allow most businesses to open
• Allow retail businesses to reopen at 50 percent capacity with frequent cleaning and social distancing
• Encourage parks and trains to re-open
• Continued restrictions on restaurants as take out and delivery only
• Continued limitations of gatherings to 10 people, but outdoor gatherings are allowed
• Encourages employers to continue telework when possible
• Allow the reopening of childcare centers that follow strict cleaning requirements
• Allow worship services of more than 10 people outdoors if socially distanced

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