At WCNC Charlotte, we are focusing our coronavirus coverage on facts, not fear. We aim to give our viewers the information they need from officials to best protect themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key Facts:
- Cases in North Carolina: 2,585 with 31 deaths
- Cases in South Carolina: 2,049, with 44 deaths
- Cases in Mecklenburg County: 665, with 6 deaths
- New research suggests COVID-19 may spread easier than once thought
- How to file for unemployment benefits in the Carolinas
The number of U.S. deaths from COVID-19 was more than 8,000 at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, according to numbers from Johns Hopkins University. More than a quarter of those are in New York City.
The worldwide total of confirmed COVID-19 cases is just over 1.1 million with almost 65,000 deaths and 252,000 recoveries.
US Senator Ted Cruz comments on protesters getting arrested outside Charlotte abortion clinic
US Senator Ted Cruz took to Twitter in reference to eight people arrested in Charlotte on Saturday. The eight arrested were protesting in a group of around 50, violating North Carolina's Stay At Home order, according to CMPD.
CMPD says they asked those who exceeded the allowed amount of people to leave. Then, 12 who refused to leave were cited.
After the citations, eight people still refused to leave — those eight were arrested, charged with Violation of Emergency Prohibitions and Restrictions in response to the Stay at Home Order.
RELATED: 8 people arrested after mass gathering of protesters outside Charlotte abortion clinic broken up
Sen. Cruz shared a video posted by "Benham Brothers" of Charlotte on Twitter, showing the protesters speaking with CMPD.
"My friend David Benham was unconstitutionally arrested today in NC for peacefully providing pregnancy counseling outside an abortion clinic," Sen. Cruz said, in part, in a tweet. "If NC deems abortion “essential,” then pregnancy care services are as well. This is WRONG; Governor Cooper should be ashamed."
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has not publicly acknowledged the tweet from Sen. Cruz, or the Charlotte arrests.
Resident, staff member at Rock Hill assisted living center test positive for COVID-19
A resident at Chandler Place Assisted Living tested positive for COVID-19. The resident is not exhibiting symptoms. Additionally, a staff member at the assisted living facility in a non-caregiving role tested positive for COVID-19.
The staff member has not been in the Chandler Place community for at least two weeks. The resident who tested positive hasn't been out of their apartment since the professional deep cleaning was completed on all the assisted living common areas on April 1.
For the next 14 days, all residents at the assisted living center are under a shelter-in-place plan.
10 Mecklenburg County ABC stores to implement senior hours
Starting Tuesday, 10 ABC locations in Mecklenburg County will open one hour early, at 9 a.m., on Tuesdays and Thursdays to serve customers aged 65+.
The following stores are participating:
- 4706 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28213
- 7212 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28227
- 4315 Sunset Road, Charlotte, NC 28216
- 3904 Colony Road, Suite E, Charlotte, NC 28210
- 9500 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28273
- 3425 Pineville-Matthews Road, Charlotte, NC 28226
- 19701 Statesville Road, Cornelius, NC 28031
- 5715 Prosperity Church Rd, Charlotte, NC 28269
- 9737 Callabridge Court, Charlotte, NC 28216
- 6318 Providence Farm Lane, Charlotte, NC 28277
Second death related to COVID-19 confirmed in Gaston County
A second person in Gaston County has died due to complications related to the coronavirus.
Virgil Sutton has passed away due to issues related to COVID-19, according to his Gaston County pastor Austin Rammell.
"Tonight at 6:25 our dear friend and brother in Christ, Virgil Sutton, entered into the gloriest city of all - Heaven," Rammell said in part in a post on social media.
Sutton is pictured below with his wife Donna Sutton.
Mecklenburg County confirms two additional deaths related to COVID-19
Mecklenburg County confirmed that as of Sunday, there have been 665 Mecklenburg County residents that have tested positive for COVID-19 and 6 related deaths.
It marks two additional deaths related to the novel coronavirus in the county, up from 4 on Saturday. No additional information about the two new deaths has been released at this time.
Going into Holy Week, several churches offering alternative services
Churches across the Carolinas are closed. The New Life Church of Jesus Christ congregation in Concord showed up Sunday morning for a drive-through service, in recognition of Palm Sunday.
Additionally, several other churches are offering live-stream services, including the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte.
23 cases of COVID-19 linked to residents, staff at Henderson County assisted living community
The Henderson County Department of Public Health has confirmed that 23 positive cases of COVID-19 were linked to residents and staff at Cherry Springs Village, an assisted living community in Hendersonville, NC.
Health officials say additional testing was done at the facility after a single case was identified on April 1.
The staff, leadership and public health partners are working to care for those impacted while reducing risks for others. All staff, residents, and families of residents have been notified.
“I want to acknowledge the obvious concerns this will create for residents and their families," Steve Smith, Henderson County Health Director, said in a statement. "It is a very difficult situation for all involved."
RELATED: 23 cases of COVID-19 linked to residents, staff at Hendersonville assisted living community
SC DHEC announces 132 new cases of COVID-19
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 132 new cases of COVID-19, including four additional deaths.
It brings the total number of confirmed cases in SC to 2,049, and those who have died to 44.
Of the recently confirmed deaths, three individuals who were elderly -- two of those three had underlying health conditions, and one is under investigation. The fourth person was a middle-aged individual who had underlying health conditions.
The residents who have died were from Clarendon, Horry, Beaufort and Lee counties.
As of April 4, DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory has conducted 7,571 tests for COVID-19 -- 876 positives and 6,695 negatives. Between DHEC’s Public Health Laboratory and private labs, a total of 18,930 tests have been conducted in SC.
As of April 4, 5,917 hospital beds are available and 6,283 are utilized, which is a 51.5% statewide hospital bed utilization rate.
Dr. Anthony Fauci says there is a very good chance new coronavirus “will assume a seasonal nature”
According to Fauci, this is because it is unlikely to be under control globally.
Fauci is director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. He says the virus is unlikely to be completely eradicated from the planet this year. That means the U.S. could see the “beginning of a resurgence” during the next flu season.
Fauci says the prospect of a resurgence is the reason the U.S. is working so hard to get its preparedness “better than it was.” He says that includes working to develop a vaccine and conducting clinical trials on therapeutic interventions.
Fauci also says states that don’t have stay-at-home orders are not putting the rest of the country at risk as much as they are putting themselves at risk.
Fauci spoke on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
2 new cases of COVID-19 in Catawba County
Two new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Catawba County, bringing the county’s total number of residents who have tested positive to 24. County officials have received 339 negative test results.
Because community spread is occurring locally and across North Carolina, all residents are urged to stay home and avoid contact with others to the extent possible.
Pageland, SC police chief diagnosed with COVID-19
Pageland, South Carolina’s Police Chief Craig Greenlee was diagnosed with COVID-19. When he noticed symptoms, he self-quarantined on March 27.
Officers and town employees who have come in contact with him have been told to self-quarantine, pending evaluation by SC DHEC.
Chesterfield County Sheriff James Dixon will be providing deputies to help with Pageland Police Department operations.
"Pageland will weather this storm and I ask the public to shower the Chief and our community as a whole with its well wishes and blessings for a speedy recovery," Pageland Mayor Jason Evans said.
