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Coronavirus local updates: Midtown Target employee tests positive for COVID-19

By WSOCTV.com News Staff
By WSOCTV.com News Staff

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nearly 1.5 million people worldwide -- including more than 400,000 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 brace for unprecedented patient surges.

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

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***Possible news conferences scheduled for today***

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CMPD: 10:30 a.m.

Mecklenburg County: 2 p.m.

North Carolina Task Force: 3 p.m.

South Carolina Task Force (TBA)

White House Task Force (TBA)

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[SPECIAL SECTION: TRACKING CORONAVIRUS]

[CLICK HERE FOR TODAY’S NATIONAL UPDATES]

[COUNTY-BY-COUNTY COVID-19 RESOURCE GUIDE]

>> We’ll bring you LIVE updates on Channel 9 Eyewitness News. Get extended coverage on the free WSOC Now app on Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV.

[FAQ: N.C. Gov. Cooper’s Stay-at-Home Order]

[FAQ: S.C. Gov. McMaster’s Work-or-Home Order]

[Everything you need to know about the stimulus payments, unemployment]

[Food banks, soup kitchens helping people affected by COVID-19 outbreak]

[Local virtual learning resources across NC, SC for students at home]

[Who’s hiring during a pandemic? Here’s a list of job opportunities]

[Charlotte restaurants, breweries offering curbside pickup, delivery, discounts]

>> 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 3,426 Wednesday. North Carolina is now reporting 53 deaths, 42,987 completed tests and 386 people currently in the hospital.
  • Several counties have a stay-at-home order already in effect. A stay-at-home order had already been issued for Mecklenburg County, Gaston County and Cabarrus County.
  • 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 has ordered a home or work order in South Carolina.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking cases in the United States here.

Important Links & Updates:

Live local updates from Wednesday:

9:39 p.m.

Amazon said an employee at the CLT4 facility on Tuckaseegee Road in Charlotte has tested positive for COVID-19.

This is the third local Amazon employee to test positive for the virus.

8:32 p.m.

A Target employee at the Midtown store in Charlotte has tested positive for COVID-19, the department store confirms.

Store officials said all the employees have been notified.

“We’ve communicated directly with the impacted team member, who is in quarantine and following all health department guidelines, and we’ll pay them while they’re on leave. We’ve also worked quickly to deep clean and sanitize the store, which is the recommendation of public health experts,” store officials said in a statement.

7:30 p.m.

Officials said a third Ashe County resident, who is also an Appalachian State University student, has tested positive for the coronavirus.

According to officials, the person is in isolation at home.

5:20 p.m.

Clemson University announced today the transition of all undergraduate and graduate summer academic courses to online instruction through Aug. 7, the completion of the summer term.

5:05 p.m.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has two new mental health resources to support North Carolinians throughout the COVID-19 crisis.

The Hope4NC Helpline (1-855-587-3463) connects North Carolinians to additional mental health and resilience supports that help them cope and build resilience during times of crisis. As part of the state’s recent hurricane recovery efforts it served over 4,400 people in the most impacted counties, and now it is being made available to everyone in North Carolina’s 100 counties during the COVID-19 crisis. This initiative is in partnership with all seven of the state’s LME/MCOs and REAL Crisis Intervention Inc. in Greenville. Hope4NC is now available 24 hours per day, seven days a week to speak to a live person.

The Hope4Healers Helpline (919-226-2002) is a new initiative in partnership with the North Carolina Psychological Foundation. It provides mental health and resilience supports for health care professionals, emergency medical specialists, first responders, other staff who work in health care settings and their families throughout the state who are experiencing stress from being on the front lines of the state’s COVID-19 response. Hope4Healers is also available 24 hours per day, seven days a week for people to reach out for support; they will be contacted quickly by a licensed mental health professional for follow-up.

“These are challenging and uncertain times for everyone. We want to connect people to the mental health and resilience supports that they may need during this crisis to alleviate some of the anxiety and stressors that they are feeling,” said NCDHHS Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Kody Kinsley.

Hope4Healers is also recruiting and onboarding additional licensed behavioral health professional volunteers to support this helpline. Volunteers must register though the NC Training, Exercise, and Response Management System (NC TERMS). That system can be accessed through: www.terms.ncem.org/TRS. Volunteers must follow these steps:

  • Create a personal profile in NC TERMS
  • In NC TERMS, click "Join a Team;" select "ESF8 – Public Health and Medical Services;" then select "COVID 19 Medical Response Volunteers."
  • From there select "Mental/Behavioral Health Personnel" and click "Request Membership."
  • Volunteers will be contacted for follow-up once their licenses have been validated.

Additional resources and information on staying physically and mentally healthy can be found on the “Managing your Overall Health” page on the NCHHS COVID-19 website at ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus. You can also visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov/coronavirus.

5 p.m.

A resident at the Monroe Rehabilitation Center has tested positive for COVID-19.

4:55 p.m.

Several additional cases of COVID-19 reported at Grace Heights Health and Rehabilitation in Morganton. The health department is now confirming 20 positive cases of the virus.

4:45 p.m.

A third death is being reported in Gaston County. A person in their 70s with underlying health conditions died earlier today, officials said.

4:20 p.m.

Gov. Henry McMaster Orders that Furloughed Employees Qualify for Unemployment Benefits

Governor Henry McMaster today issued Executive Order 2020-22, which allows furloughed employees to receive “COVID-19 Support Payments” from their employers and still qualify for unemployment benefits.

“Every day, our primary objective is to protect South Carolinians, but we also must act to protect the state’s economy,” said Gov. Henry McMaster. “This order does both. It allows our businesses to take care of their employees as best as they can and will help our economy recover from this unprecedented time.”

The governor’s executive order specifically directs the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce to consider “a voluntary payment, or series of payments, made by an employer to an employee in response to furloughing the employee” as a form of severance pay. This means that the furloughed employee will not lose eligibility for unemployment benefits.

“Our state’s workforce and employers have never faced a crisis of this magnitude,” said Sara Hazzard, President & CEO of the S.C. Manufacturers Alliance. “On behalf of our state’s manufacturing community and the more than 250,000 South Carolinians they employ, I want to thank Governor McMaster for issuing this Executive Order to provide flexibility for businesses to assist employees during this time of need.”

3:30 p.m.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) today announced 139 new cases of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, including 12 additional deaths.

This brings the total number of people confirmed to have COVID-19 in South Carolina to 2,552, and those who have died to 63.

The additional deaths occurred in 10 elderly and two middle-aged patients with underlying health conditions. The elderly individuals were residents from Horry (1), Kershaw (1), Laurens (1), McCormick (1), Newberry (1), Richland (2), and Spartanburg (3) counties. The middle-aged individuals were residents from Clarendon (1) and Richland (1) counties.

Testing in South Carolina

As of April 7, DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory has conducted 8,523 tests for COVID-19. Of these tests, 1,000 were positive and 7,523 were negative. A total of 24,634 tests by both DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory and private labs have been conducted in the state. DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory is operating extended hours and is testing specimens seven days a week. The Public Health Laboratory’s current timeframe for providing results to health care providers is 24-48 hours.

Hospital Bed Capacity

As of this morning, 5,634 hospital beds are available and 6,279 are utilized, which is a 52.7 percent statewide hospital bed utilization rate. The overall trend this week has been in greater hospital bed availability, specifically a 5.6 percent decrease in hospital bed utilization since March 23.

3:05 p.m.

Rock Hill police have charged a 17-year-old girl after they say she intentionally coughed on officers when they showed up for a call of a fight.

A doctor’s note showed she was supposed to be quarantined. Now, those officers are quarantined and the teen is charged with breach of peace.

3 p.m. NC Task Force update

Gov. Cooper:

As of today, North Carolina has 3,426 confirmed positive cases and, sadly, 53 deaths.

Overnight, test results revealed a hot spot of transmission in Orange County. A series of tests for COVID-19 has revealed at least 60 positive results in a skilled nursing facility in Orange County with more likely to come. Of those, 7 are hospitalized and 2 have died.

These are shockingly large numbers, and I wanted to share information about what the state is doing to control and combat outbreaks at long-term care facilities to protect the residents and staff.

First, we must do everything possible to prevent an outbreak. My earlier executive order has restricted visitors to these facilities, and DHHS guidance suggests that workers wear protective gear and monitor their own health. Direct guidance on closing shared living spaces and sanitation are also in effect.

Second, we have accumulated enough testing supplies to respond quickly and aggressively to test and assess patients and staff.

This is important because we know that this virus can spread even before a person is showing symptoms like a fever or cough. This increased testing will tell us which employees or residents may have the virus but aren’t showing symptoms so they can be isolated.

Third, we must take immediate action to stop the spread of COVID-19 in this facility and others.

In coordination with local & state health departments, facilities that have residents with the virus will group them in a separate area to make sure they are cared for by a separate group of staff. This will prevent interactions with residents and staff that are not COVID-19 positive.

Yesterday, I mentioned several upcoming executive orders. One of those will be signed today.

That order allows more health care providers into the system, puts to use the equipment and other resources that otherwise would lie dormant, and transfers medical resources where they can be most effective and save the most lives.

The order also increases the number of hospital beds that may be needed for this crisis.

In addition, the order streamlines guidelines on child care facilities and staff to make sure the children of our most essential workers can be cared for while these brave parents work.

Going out for a non-essential reason may feel harmless to you if you’re not having symptoms, but if you have the virus, you could set off a chain reaction unknowingly by passing the virus off to even just a handful of people. They will pass it on to more people.

And so on. Or if you go out and don’t have the virus, you could easily pick it up.

NCDHHS Sec. Dr. Mandy Cohen:

As the Governor shared, we’ve seen a number of outbreaks in congregate settings. Currently, there are 21 outbreaks across the state, meaning two or more people have tested positive in a congregate setting. 18 of those outbreaks are in long-term care settings.

We have been working with our partners – the industry associations, our local health departments & the facilities – on their prevention and response actions.

We already issued an earlier executive order which limited all visitors except in extreme end-of-life situations.

We will also codify additional directives to help prevent further outbreaks.

I know this is particularly hard this week as folks look forward to Easter. This year has to be different to protect one another. Please keep your families and loved ones safe by staying home and finding new ways to connect. It’s my sincerest hope that all who celebrate have a meaningful holiday.

Please stay home to save lives.

NC Director of Emergency Management Mike Sprayberry:

Today is day 30 of the State Emergency Operations Center activation for the COVID-19 response. 65 counties have activated local emergency operations centers. All 100 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have declared states of emergency.

We are continuing our work to source and order personal protective equipment. We are seeing some small signs that the supply chain is improving, but the market remains extremely difficult.

Yesterday, we received word that the costs of activating National Guard resources to support our state’s COVID-19 response will be covered by the federal government. That’s good news.

We currently have about 240 National Guard airmen and soldiers working a variety of missions, including planning, warehousing, and shipping, cyber-security, and engineering.

We have National Guard liaisons deploying to local emergency operations centers in 10 counties to help with supply management and information sharing.

Engineers from the North Carolina National Guard and US Army Corps of Engineers continue to assess facilities around the state for possible use as overflow hospital space.

I want to say a word about food again today. Shelves at many of the state’s food banks are close to bare. Many people have lost work and lost income, and are relying on food banks to get groceries. Please consider a financial contribution or a donation of shelf-stable foods to your local food bank. You can donate money online. Visit http://feedingthecarolinas.org to find the website of a food bank near you.

2:50 p.m.

The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office has had a deputy test positive for the coronavirus.

The Sheriff’s Office and health officials were quick to respond to the situation to ensure those who had contact with the deputy were quarantined.

The Sheriff’s Office wants to remind everyone of the importance of social distancing and following guideline set out by the CDC.

2:30 p.m.

Update from Mecklenburg County leaders:

County Manager Dena Diorio says Mecklenburg County is extending its stay-at-home order from April 16 to April 29, to match the governor’s statewide order.

Diorio says police will be making sure people aren’t parking on side streets or in neighborhoods to access parks.

County Health Director Gibbie Harris says there have been 848 cases and 10 deaths in the county. Two local nursing homes are dealing with outbreaks (2 or more people diagnosed with COVID-19) and another facility is under investigation.

Harris says they have not yet seen the surge that was expected and “it looks like our curve is beginning to flatten.” She credits social distancing compliance.

Harris says over 70% of cases are between the ages of 20-59. She says this is why the county is working with influencers and radio hosts to get social distancing messages out.

Harris says she is hoping the entire community has been listening that everyone is vulnerable to COVID-19.

CMPD Deputy Chief Jeff Estes says just because the curve is starting to flatten, it’s not a time to celebrate. He says now is the time to double down efforts to stay at home.

Gibbie Harris said the county is working with a firm that provides social media influencers. The posts will start rolling out this week. The price is still being negotiated. Harris doesn’t know who the 30 influencers are or which platforms they will use.

Field hospital details: The county identifies sites, the Army Corps of Engineers evaluates the sites and then the Army Corps sets it up after they make a recommendation. County/local leaders are then tasked with staffing and supplying it. Hospital systems manage it.

1:30 p.m.

Mecklenburg County is shutting down public boat ramps.

1:20 p.m.

ONE NEW CASE OF COVID-19 IDENTIFIED IN CATAWBA COUNTY

One new case of COVID-19 has been identified in Catawba County, bringing the county’s total number of residents who have tested positive to 28. We have received 446 negative test results.

The county’s total case number is based on COVID-19 test results. Not all cases of COVID-19 are tested, so this does not represent the total number of people who have or had COVID-19.

1:10 p.m.

Effective today at 5 p.m., Harris Teeter announced it will limit the number of customers to 50% of building code capacity to further support physical distancing in their stores.

READ MORE HERE.

12:15 p.m.

Burke County Public Health is reporting 34-positive COVID-19 cases in the county.

11:45 a.m.

The NCDHHS says there are now 3,426 COVID-19 cases across 90 of the state’s 100 counties, an increase of 205 from Tuesday.

53 people have died and 386 people are currently hospitalized.

830 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Mecklenburg County.

There have been 42,987 completed tests.

41% of the cases are between the ages of 25-49; 8% of the cases are ages 18-24; 29% of the cases are between the ages 50-64; 21% of the cases are older than 65.

79% of NC deaths are people 65 or older.

56% of the positive cases are white while 38% are black.

51% of positive cases are women and 48% are men, but men make up 74% of the deaths.

There have been outbreaks at 13 nursing homes across the state, four residential care facilities and three correctional facilities.

April 8 NC cases (NCDHHS)

11:10 a.m.

First Death in Iredell County Related to COVID-19

The Iredell County Health Department is reporting the first COVID-19 associated death in Iredell County.

The individual had underlying health conditions and died from complications associated with the novel strain of coronavirus, COVID-19. In order to protect the families’ privacy, no further information about this individual will be released.

Jane Hinson, Iredell County Health Director said, “We extend our deepest sympathies to the family during this difficult time. This first death of an Iredell County resident due to COVID-19 emphasizes the need to follow the Stay at Home order and all other public health recommendations to slow the spread of the virus in our community. It is extremely important for each of us to do our part to protect ourselves and those around us, especially those who are at an increased risk for severe illness.”

10:30 a.m.

CMPD updated the public this morning on their efforts surrounding COVID-19:

The department continues to ask for voluntary compliance during this national crisis so as to ensure the safety of everyone, including first responders. The community has stepped up with voluntary compliance during this national crisis.

“I know this community well, I was born and bred right here in Charlotte and know that when this community is faced with a challenge, we as a community meet it head-on,” said CMPD Deputy Chief Jeff Estes.

10 a.m.

Novant Health to begin COVID-19 clinical trials with CytoDyn’s Leronlimab

CytoDyn Inc. announced today that Novant Health is the first site in the southeastern United States to initiate its Phase 2 clinical trial for COVID-19 patients with mild-to-moderate indications. Novant Health is the second clinical trial site in the nation.

The Phase 2 clinical trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of leronlimab in patients with mild to moderate documented COVID-19 illness and calls for 75 planned patients in up to 10 centers in the United States.

The FDA has granted a “Fast Track” designation to CytoDyn for two potential indications of leronlimab for deadly diseases. The first as a combination therapy with HAART for HIV-infected patients and the second is for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.

For COVID-19: Leronlimab has been administered to a handful of severely ill patients with COVID-19 at a leading medical center in New York under an emergency IND recently granted by the FDA. On March 31, the FDA provided clearance for initiation of a Phase 2 trial to treat COVID-19 patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Patients enrolled in the Phase 2 clinical trial are expected to have a treatment window of approximately 6 weeks.

Background context: it typically takes a research site anywhere from 3 to 6 months to get a clinical trial up and running. In approximately 4 days, this clinical trial was able to open at Novant Health.

“Our research team’s partnership with CytoDyn has enabled us to enroll Novant Health patients in this trial just four days after our organizations first made contact,” said Mark King, vice president, research & innovation, Novant Health. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside CytoDyn’s team of professionals, who share our commitment to swiftly finding the treatment our patients and communities need.”

9:30 a.m.

Mayor Vi Lyles and Charlotte City Council has announced a Community Recovery Task Force, a group committed to supporting the Charlotte area as we plan to rebound from the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

The task force will focus on three areas -- small business, housing and the airport.

Here are their objectives:

  • Anticipate and plan for Charlotte’s post-recovery challenges, given the economic uncertainties in our city’s future
  • Listen to the community regarding the challenges people are facing as they navigate a changed working and living environment
  • Develop recommendations for how the City of Charlotte - specifically, City government - can pivot to support changes needed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Provide residents with a long-term vision for a healthy and stable economic and civic environment

Lyles and Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt will lead the task force, but each area will include city council members and community leaders. They will start holding weekly virtual meetings April 21.

Small Business

Julie Eiselt (coordinator)

James Mitchell (coordinator)

Tariq Bokhari

Dimple Ajmera

Housing

Malcolm Graham (coordinator)

Braxton Winston

Renee Johnson

Larken Egleston

Airport

Ed Driggs (coordinator)

Larken Egleston

Victoria Watlington

Matt Newton

7 a.m.

This week, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper is expected to issue new executive orders to strengthen the state’s social distancing guidelines.

It is one of the biggest concerns for the governor. He is concerned all stores that are open aren’t requiring customers to keep their social distance and some have too many people inside.

His new executive order could include a limit a number of people inside stores and required space between shoppers.

Cooper is getting input about what restrictions would best serve customers and workers. So far, it could include one-way aisles, mandatory plexiglass installations at checkout and limiting the number of people inside based on the store’s maximum occupancy.

A separate executive order would require businesses like grocery stores to install guardrails to help customers practice social distancing.

Cooper is expected to sign the new orders this week.

11 p.m. (Tuesday)

End of day update from Reporter Joe Bruno.

10:15 p.m. (Wednesday)

Hospital officials are projecting the surge to hit North Carolina in May not in mid-April due to successful social distancing.

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