Coronavirus Update In Mecklenburg: 19 Dead, 1,052 Cases

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — There are now at least 1,052 novel coronavirus cases in Mecklenburg County, and at least 19 related deaths, county and state health officials said Wednesday. The development comes as the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, continues to rise throughout the state, with cases present in 94 of the state's 100 counties.

Three CMPD officers and one CMPD employee have tested positive for COVID-19, and about 30 CMPD employees who are out due to precautionary measures, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Deputy Chief Jeff Estes said Wednesday afternoon.

Since Mecklenburg County enacted a stay-at-home order in late March, CMPD has made eight arrests, and issued 12 citations to individuals and four citations to businesses for non- compliance, Estes said.

Since that time, CMPD has also seen a 20 percent increase in domestic violence calls, or about 350 more cases than one year ago, according to Jennifer Bumgarner, a detective with CMPD's special victims' division.

"We can't say that it's because of the stay-at-home order, but we can't say that it's not, either," she said.

SEE ALSO: What's Open, Closed In Huntersville During Coronavirus Shutdowns

North Carolina health officials reported 5,465 positive cases of COVID-19 Thursday morning, an increase of 342 cases from Wednesday.

The death toll for the state increased by 14 new deaths by Thursday morning, putting the statewide total at 131, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The number of people hospitalized with the coronavirus also to 452, up from 431 reported Wednesday, health officials said. The number of hospitalizations reflects patients with COVID-19 who are currently hospitalized in reporting hospitals, the department said.

Mecklenburg County continues to be the hardest hit in North Carolina, followed by Wake County, which has seen 552 cases and one death.

Other North Carolina counties surpassing 100 cases include Durham County (350 cases, two deaths), Rowan County (214 cases, four deaths), Cabarrus County (198 cases, three deaths), Orange County (172 cases, two deaths), Guilford County, (154 cases, 10 deaths), Union County (129 cases, three deaths), Forsyth County (122 cases, five deaths), Johnston County (109 cases, eight deaths), Henderson County (106 cases, five deaths), Granville County (104 cases, four deaths) and Wayne County (103 cases, four deaths).

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Compliance with stay-at-home orders in the Mecklenburg region led Atrium Health and Novant Health to temporarily shelve plans for a field hospital in Mecklenburg County, the hospital systems announced Wednesday. The news came as state public health officials said stay-at-home policies are beginning to pay off in North Carolina by "flattening the curve" in the number of cases throughout the state.

"We appreciate the proactive steps taken by the County to enact stay-at-home policies," CEOs for the hospital systems said in a joint April 15 letter to Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio. "In short, it is clear they are beginning to work."

Projections for peak hospital needs are declining, with the current trajectory showing positive cases doubling every six days instead of previous projections of every 2.85 days, they said.

"As a result of our combined efforts, we believe we are now in a position to meet the 600 medical bed need that was previously requested for a field hospital, assuming the effects of social distancing trend continues the current trajectory," the CEOs said, adding, "It is important to note this trend could reverse quickly if social distancing is eased prematurely without supporting data."

In the past month, Gov. Roy Cooper has put in place a number of executive orders that encourage social distancing, from limiting gatherings to 10 or fewer, closing schools and restaurant dining, limiting capacity in stores, to issuing a statewide stay-at-home order, which is set to expire April 29.

"We're flattening the curve and fewer people are getting sick," DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen said Wednesday afternoon.

Compliance with the executive orders means "our hospitals are not overwhelmed right now," Cooper said. "North Carolina has the capacity."

Cooper said decisions on new executive orders regarding social distancing policy will be made at the end of April, and that his intention is to reopen the state's economy incrementally based on progress in COVID-19 testing, tracing and seeing overall trends move in the right direction.

"We can't stay home forever," he said.

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