CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More than 5.3 million people worldwide -- including more than 1.6 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 23,222 Sunday. North Carolina is now reporting 744 deaths, 336,656 completed tests and 587 people currently in the hospital.
- Gov. Roy Cooper and the state’s coronavirus task force announced the state will move into a “safer-at-home” plan on May 22.
- 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:
5:21 p.m.
Officials have reported an additional COVID-19 case in Caldwell County. This brings the total number of cases in the county to 105.
4:47 p.m.
Mecklenburg County is reporting 3,178 positive coronavirus cases and 74 deaths due to the virus.
3:30 p.m.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 209 new cases of COVID-19 and 10 additional deaths.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases in South Carolina to 10,096 and those who have died to 435.
Officials said nine deaths were elderly people from Clarendon (1), Greenville (2), Kershaw (1), Lexington (2), Spartanburg (1), Sumter (1), and Williamsburg (1) counties, and one death was a middle-aged person from Greenville County.
11:30 a.m.
NCDHHS has released updated data on COVID-19 for the state:
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting 23,222 cases of COVID-19 across the state, up 497 from Saturday.
There have been 7 new deaths attributed to COVID-19 since Saturday, bringing the state’s total to 744. NCDHHS reported that 587 people remain hospitalized and 336,656 tests have been completed. The state reported 7,074 total tests were done in the past 24 hours, which is just above the state’s 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 3,231 and 73 respectively.
COVID-like syndromic ER visits -- an early indicator of caseload in the state -- has been steadily decreasing. The percentage of positive tests out of total tests was decreasing and remains level.
Confirmed cases by age:
0-17 (5%)
18-24 (9%)
25-49 (43%)
50-64 (23%)
65-74 (9%)
75 or older (10%)
COVID-19 deaths by age:
25-49 (4%)
50-64 (12%)
65-74 (20%)
75 or older (64%)
Cases by race:
White: 54%
Black: 31%
Cases by gender:
Women: 51%
Men: 49%
(Men account for 52% of deaths)
Cases and deaths in congregate living settings:
There have been 83 outbreaks in nursing homes across the state, resulting in 2,939 cases and 395 deaths (Anson, Burke (2); Cabarrus (2); Catawba; Cleveland; Iredell; Mecklenburg (9); Rowan (4); Union (2))
There have been 36 outbreaks at residential care facilities across the state, resulting in 606 cases and 56 deaths (Cabarrus (2); Mecklenburg (6); Stanly; Union).
8:30 a.m.
Last night marked the first Saturday night of Phase Two in the reopening of North Carolina. It comes with some more freedom but also a new warning -- a record number of people tested positive for COVID-19.
The state reported more than 1,100 people tested positive from Friday to Saturday. The previous daily record was 853.
The concerning part of this number is the spike was not necessarily because of a big increase in testing. Tests were not at a record high, but the percentage of positive tests hit its highest level in more than three weeks at 10 percent.
Hospitalizations also reached a new high at 589.
Phase One only lasted for two weeks, but we are expecting a longer Phase Two. For Phase Three, we have to meet certain requirements including a downward trend of COVID-19 tests.
Right now, the state says Phase Two will last at least five weeks until June 26. In the past, Governor Roy Cooper said restaurants and churches would be able to increase capacity.
High-risk groups will still be encouraged to social distance and rigorous restrictions will continue at nursing homes and group care centers.
5:11 p.m. (Saturday)
The Charlotte Area Transit System announced it will increase the frequency on several bus routes and the LYNX Blue Line beginning June 8.
It also said fare collection would resume and people will have to have a valid pass, ticket or cash fare to ride.
CATS also said bus routes and the LYNX Blue Line will run its Sunday service schedule, but Express bus services will not operate on Memorial Day.
4:48 p.m. (Saturday)
Officials said 61 people have now recovered from the coronavirus in Caldwell County.
The county has not reported any new cases Saturday.