Coronavirus local updates: USC to cancel fall break, transition to remote learning after Thanksgiving

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More than 4.6 million people worldwide -- including at least 1.4 million people in the United States – have been infected with the new coronavirus, and the number of deaths from the outbreak continues to rise. Officials are attempting to contain the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. as hospitals manage unprecedented patient surges.

>> Scroll below for live, local real-time minute-by-minute updates

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>> Here are the latest updates about COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in North Carolina and South Carolina. Scroll below for real-time updates.

• The number of cases across North Carolina reached 18,512 Sunday. North Carolina is now reporting 659 deaths, 248,944 completed tests and 493 people currently in the hospital.
• Gov. Roy Cooper and the state’s coronavirus task force announced a statewide stay-at-home order which is currently in effect.
• Gov. Henry McMaster lifted the home or work order in South Carolina on May 1.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking cases in the United States here.

Important Links:

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

Live, local updates from Sunday:

10:58 p.m.

The University of South Carolina announced it is canceling fall break and having in-person instruction until Thanksgiving.

After Thanksgiving break, the university said it will transition to remote learning because it is predicting a spike in COVID-19 cases in December.

9:11 p.m.

Brooks’ Sandwich Shop in NoDa announced it will temporarily be raising its prices due to the shortage and increased price of meat.

6:28 p.m.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 163 new cases of COVID-19 and 5 additional deaths.

This brings the total number of positive cases in South Carolina to 8,816 and those who have died to 385.

Officials said four of those deaths were elderly people from Dillon (1), Horry (1), Richland (1) and Sumter (1) counties, and one death was a middle-aged person from Florence County (1).

5:03 p.m.

Mecklenburg County is reporting 27 additional positive coronavirus cases. This brings the total to 2,589 cases.

11 a.m.

NCDHHS has released updated data on COVID-19 for the state:

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting 18,512 cases of COVID-19 in 99 counties. That is up 530 from Saturday. Avery County is the only county in North Carolina to not see any cases of coronavirus so far.

There have been 7 new deaths attributed to COVID-19 since Saturday, bringing the state’s total to 659.

NCDHHS reported that 493 people remain hospitalized and 248,944 tests have been completed.

The state reported 10,358 total tests were done in the past 24 hours, exceeding the benchmark to test between 5,000 and 7,000 people every day.

Mecklenburg County continues to lead the state in both cases and deaths with at least 2,591 and 63 respectively.

Confirmed cases by age:

0-17 (4%)

18-24 (8%)

25-49 (43%)

50-64 (24%)

65 or older (20%)

COVID-19 deaths by age:

25-49 (3%)

50-64 (12%)

65 or older (85%)

Cases by race:

White: 54%

Black: 33%

Cases by gender:

Women: 50%

Men: 48%

(Men account for 52% of deaths)

Cases and deaths in congregate living settings:

There have been 76 outbreaks in nursing homes across the state, resulting in 2,515 cases and 350 deaths (Anson, Burke (2); Cabarrus (2); Catawba; Cleveland; Iredell; Mecklenburg (8); Rowan (4); Union (2))

There have been 28 outbreaks at residential care facilities across the state, resulting in 463 cases and 47 deaths (Cabarrus (2); Mecklenburg (6); Stanly; Union).

Highlights about the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Mecklenburg County as of May 13, 2020 include:

• About 3 in 4 reported cases were adults ages 20 to 59 years old.
• About 1 in 7 reported cases were hospitalized due to their COVID-19 infection. While everyone is at risk for severe COVID-19 complications, reported cases who were older adults (≥ 60 years) were more likely to be hospitalized compared to younger individuals.
• About 2 in 3 reported cases have met CDC criteria to be released from isolation.
• During the past week, an average of 54 individuals with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infections were hospitalized at acute care facilities in Mecklenburg County. This represents a decrease over the last 14-days. These data are based on daily census counts from acute care facilities in Mecklenburg County reporting to MCPH.
• During the past week, an average of 7% of individuals who were tested were positive for COVID-19. This represents a slight decrease over the last 14-days. These data only include tests conducted by Atrium Health and Novant Health.
• Sixty-three deaths due to COVID-19 occurred among reported cases.
• Almost all deaths were among older adults (≥ 60 years), 4 deaths were adults ages 50 to 59.
• All deaths occurred among adults with underlying chronic illnesses.
• Nearly 2 out of 3 were non-Hispanic Whites. The disparities in COVID-19 deaths among non-Hispanic Whites is related to differences in race/ethnicity of residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities actively experiencing an outbreak.
• More than half of the deaths were connected to active outbreaks at long-term care (LTC) facilities.
• Based on publicly available mobility tracking data, there has been a slight decrease in social distancing in Mecklenburg County over the last 14-days. Despite this downward trend, social distancing remains significantly higher than before the Stay at Home Order became effective on March 26, 2020.

7:45 a.m.

There was positive news out of South Carolina Saturday as the state prepares to enter into its next phase -- the state did not report any new deaths from COVID-19. The number stayed at 380.

The state also reported 276 cases Saturday, which is a new daily high, up from 218 on Friday.

More South Carolina businesses are getting ready to reopen Monday, including salons and gyms. Channel 9 went to the Rock Hill YMCA on Charlotte Avenue to see how they are getting ready to protect people while they work out.

Workers scrubbed and repainted, gym equipment is 10 feet apartment, aerobic workouts will be limited, treadmills are wrapped in caution tape and you will find disinfectant at every station.

“If you have pre-existing conditions, if you’re at risk, I would encourage you probably not to come to the Y right now, and that’s a tough thing to say, but its the right thing to say,” YMCA CEO Kirk Eich said.

Other close-contact businesses that can open Monday in South Carolina include nail salons and spas, tanning salons, massage therapy, and tattoo parlors.

5:33 p.m. (Saturday)

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 276 new cases of COVID-19 and no additional deaths.

This brings the total number of confirmed cases in South Carolina to 8,661 and those who have died remains 380.

4:43 p.m. (Saturday)

Mecklenburg County is reporting 123 additional positive coronavirus cases.

This brings the total in the county to 2,562 cases.

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