Coronavirus Live Local Updates: Fund to help Charlotte through coronavirus pandemic raises $5M in 1 day

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The U.S. has more than 6,300 cases and businesses, education, sports and more are being impacted as leaders continue to move to stricter measures to contain the coronavirus.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper declared a State of Emergency. Following the statewide declaration, Mecklenburg County declared a state of emergency on Sunday.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster declared a State of Emergency for the state on Friday.

President Donald Trump declared a national emergency Friday, opening up more avenues to battle the outbreak.

Live local updates for Tuesday:

10:48 p.m.

A community-wide fund that will help those affected by the coronavirus crisis in Charlotte has raised more than $5 million in one day.

The Howard R. Levine Foundation donated $1 million, Truist donated another $1 million and the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners donated $1.3 million.

The COVID-19 Response Fund overseen by the Foundation For the Carolinas and United Way of Central Carolinas was announced Monday.

8:03: p.m.

Mecklenburg County may have to move toward a shelter-in-place situation more quickly than officials would’ve liked, county health director Gibbie Harris said.

7:30 p.m.

The Mecklenburg County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board changed its operating hours. They are now from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Customers will be met by an employee at the door and be required to tell the employee what item(s) they want to purchase. The employee will get the item(s) and tell the customer to go to the checkout to pay.

Customers will not be allowed to shop in the aisles.

Jason Hughes, CEO, said, “We are committed to providing our customers with access to the products they need, while taking prudent measures to increase social distancing when choosing and making a purchase, and, to allow for additional time for preventative cleaning and restocking.”

7:21 p.m.

N.C. Department of Motor Vehicles driver license offices will be closed starting Wednesday, March 18.

The open offices will be transitioned to handle appointment-only visits and will limit the number of customers allowed inside at the same time, depending on the office size. ​

Before visiting an office, please check to see if it is open and what its operating hours are.

CLICK HERE for more information.

5:36 p.m.

The PGA Tour canceled the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow, which was scheduled from April 27 to May 3.

Other additional cancellations announced Tuesday were RBC Heritage (April 13-19); Zurich Classic of New Orleans (April 20-26); and AT&T Byron Nelson (May 4-10).

More info here.

5 p.m.

A resident of the Enclave Apartments on East Seventh Street in uptown tested positive for the virus.

Management notified residents Monday afternoon and told them that facilities, such as the business and fitness centers and the dog park would be closed temporarily.

4:45 p.m.

S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster ordered all bars and restaurants to close as of Wednesday and said they can stay open for takeout and delivery.

Health officials said there are 47 known cases of the coronavirus in 13 South Carolina counties.

There have been 457 coronavirus tests conducted. There is ongoing transmission in only one county -- Kershaw County. The majority of the symptoms are relatively mild, officials said.

He mandated that DHEC will waive regulations so hospitals can call on medical “students” to help with providing care. All elective surgeries were ordered to be halted within the next 72 hours.

The governor urged doctors to tell all noncoronavirus patients to use telemedicine whenever possible.

McMaster requests stores have specific “senior hours” when older people can come in so they can shop. He asked all private employers to allow employees to work remotely.

SC schools Superintendent Molly Spearman said there are 6,000 feeding sites set up.

SC representatives said that e-learning is going well for students. Education officials said they sent a request to the federal government for approval to delay certain academic testing.

2:40 p.m.

Atrium Health, Wake Forest Baptist Health and Novant Health are rescheduling non-essential surgeries, procedures and ambulatory appointments effective Wednesday, March 18.

Clinics will contact patients if their appointment needs reschedule. Patients do not need to call the helpline or the clinic to change their appointment at this time.

2:00 p.m.

Gov. Roy Cooper said there is likely community spread of coronavirus in the state which has yet to show up in testing.

He announced an executive order that will close restaurants and bars to sit-down service and limit them to take-out and delivery starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The order also removes barriers to unemployment benefits in five ways:

1. It removes the one-week waiting period to apply for unemployment benefits for those workers who lose their jobs.
2. It removes the requirement that a person must look for another job during this time when many potential employers are closed and social distancing guidelines are in effect.
3. It allows employees who lose their jobs or, in certain cases, have their hours reduced due to coronavirus issues to apply for unemployment benefits.
4. It waives the requirement that part of the application process be in person.
5. It directs that these unemployment losses won’t be counted against employers.

You can find updates on North Carolina’s response here.

NC governor orders restaurants, bars to stop all dine-in service NC governor orders restaurants, bars to stop all dine-in service

12:34 p.m.

The University of North Carolina Charlotte has announced all on-campus students are required to leave residence halls by Friday at 5 p.m.

Officials said they believe it is important to leave as soon as possible so only take essential belongings. Residence halls will be secured and students will have the opportunity to get the rest of their belongings later.

“We are in historic and unprecedented circumstances as the world grapples with responding to COVID-19,” Chancellor Phillip Dubois said. “Every day brings new information about how to best combat the spread of the virus, and with that comes new and changing directives.”

In addition, the school said all classes and lab sections will be online, effective March 23 and for the rest of the semester.

In a statement, the school said the UNC System has indicated decisions about refunds for housing and dining fees will not be made until at least April or beyond.

The school has also not made any decisions about spring commencement, but school leaders are monitoring the situation closely and will continue to update students with the latest information.

“While I cannot say with certainty what the days ahead will bring, I do know this: There is no doubt about who we are as Niner Nation: We are strong, we are innovative, and we are resilient," Dubois said. “We will come together, as we always have, to ensure the needs of our community are met.”

12:04 p.m.

OrthoCarolina in Charlotte said one of its physicians has tested positive for coronavirus.

The physician, who works at OrthoCarolina inside Mercy Hospital on Vail Avenue, is at home in quarantine.

All employees who may have had contact with the physician are self-quarantining at home while the clinic is cleaned.

“At OrthoCarolina, the safety and wellbeing of our patients, team members and the communities we serve is paramount,” the company said. “In response to our providers’ confirmed exposure to the COVID-19 virus, we have proceeded with the utmost caution.”

Officials said OrthoCarolina’s Hip and Knee Center will be closed until further notice.

10:45 a.m.

Mecklenburg County health officials have reported four additional presumptive positive cases in Mecklenburg County, bringing the total to 11. Officials said all four people are self-isolating at home.

This number jumped from 7 cases as of Monday afternoon.

The state’s total now sits at 44.

10:31 a.m.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is set to announce all restaurants and bars will close for dine-in customers.

Officials said takeout and delivery orders will continue. The executive order will also include unemployment benefits to help workers affected by COVID-19.

This will go into effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Cooper plans to speak about the executive order as well as the state’s response to the coronavirus at 2 p.m.

10:25 a.m.

The North Carolina Zoo will suspend public operations starting Tuesday because of ongoing coronavirus concerns.

Officials said the zoo staff will continue to provide the animals the care they need every day and they are taking steps to make sure food and medical supplies will be available for all animals.

It is not known when the zoo will reopen.

9 a.m.

A Campbell University student is the third person to test presumptive positive for coronavirus in Harnett County. According to the university, the student started to show symptoms around March 11 and was asked to remain in self-quarantine.

Later Monday evening, a fourth person in Harnett County tested positive for coronavirus. Officials said this person is in isolation at home.

Wake County also reported its 15th presumptive positive case on Monday.

• Wake - 15
• Mecklenburg - 7
• Harnett - 4
• Forsyth - 2
• Johnston - 2
• Brunswick - 1
• Cabarrus - 1
• Chatham - 1
• Craven - 1
• Durham - 1
• Wayne - 1
• Onslow - 1
• Watauga - 1
• Wilson - 1
• Iredell - 1
• Sampson County - 1

According to our news partner WTVD, health officials said Wake County has submitted 65 tests and has received 44 back. Of those, 15 were positive and 29 were negative for COVID-19. The county is waiting on the results of 21 tests.

In North Carolina, there is now a total of at least 40 presumptive positive or confirmed positive by the CDC.

In South Carolina, there are 33 coronavirus cases, including one death.

12:40 a.m.

All Charlotte-area YMCA locations will be closed for at least 15 days because of the coronavirus.

This affects 19 branches and two overnight camps.

Officials said they will close Tuesday night and will not reopen until at least April 2, but they are going to have free online exercise classes available over the next 60 days so you can stay active.

The YMCA suspended its youth programs last week.

Important Links & Updates:

• CDC: Tracking Cases in the U.S. here
• NC Dept. of Health & Human Service
• WSOC Special Section: Tracking Coronavirus
• WHO: Advice for the Public
• WHO: Q&A

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