Health & Safety

Live Updates: Coronavirus In North Carolina (April 2020)

by WFDD Staff

April 30, 2020

5:35 p.m.

Forsyth County reported 32 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday, many of which are due to an outbreak at the Tyson meat plant in Wilkesboro.

 

Infectious disease expert Dr. Christopher Ohl says containing the spread is a challenge.

“It's a little bit like playing a game of whack-a-mole, you know, [a] cluster comes up over here, boom, we try to get in and knock it down, and [then a] cluster over here," he says. 

Ohl did share some good news at a weekly update. He says testing capacity has improved and that numbers of hospital admissions in Forsyth County continue to go down.

3:45 p.m.

The Guilford County Division of Public Health is reporting a total of 372 cases of COVID-19 in Guilford County. GCDPH has verified 28 deaths, 99 hospitalizations and 156 recoveries to date.

2:30 p.m.

Governor Roy Cooper and members of the Coronavirus Task Force will hold a briefing on COVID-19 today at 3 p.m. Watch here, or listen live on 88.5 WFDD.

11:52 a.m.

Forsyth County is reporting an additional 32 cases of COVID-19, bringing its total case count to 242. 89 new cases have been reported since Sunday. County officials are attributing the spike to an outbreak at a Tyson Foods plant. 

”A majority of the cases reported this week continue to be connected to the outbreak at the Tyson plant in Wilkesboro and are either employees or close contacts to the employees," said Forsyth County Public Health Director Joshua Swift. "COVID-19 cases reported by the health department are Forsyth County residents."

123 county residents have already recovered from the disease.

 

April 29, 2020

4:45 p.m.

Winston-Salem's Mayor Allen Joines Wednesday rescinded the city's stay-at-home order to align with the statewide order, which is expected to expire on May 8th. According to a city press release, the move does not change which businesses are considered essential or non-essential. Joines says the intent is to eliminate confusion moving forward. 

“My goal has been and continues to be one of keeping our citizens as safe as possible while limiting the negative impact on the economy,” Joines said. “Governor Cooper has laid out a reasonable plan for reopening the economy based on science, data and guidance from our medical professionals.

 “I will be working in conjunction with Forsyth County officials and local businesses on a strategy to facilitate the reopening of the economy once the governor issues formal executive orders lifting his restrictions.”

Local governments cannot issue orders that are less restrictive than the governor's. But Joines said the measure does not preclude him for enacting more stringent restrictions in the future. 

 

4:33 p.m.

The leader of North Carolina's public university system says he plans to reopen campuses in the fall with precautions against COVID-19. University of North Carolina System Interim President Dr. Bill Roper issued an announcement Wednesday that he expects to reopen classrooms across the system's 17 public campuses for the fall semester, though with some limitations or modifications, as long as virus trends don't deteriorate.  Meanwhile, a county near Charlotte issued a symbolic order urging the governor to ease statewide business restrictions, while acknowledging its residents are still subject to the governor's stay-home order meant to fight the virus outbreak.

1:45 p.m.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D. and Director of NC Emergency Management Mike Sprayberry will hold a media briefing at 2 p.m. Watch live here or stream on 88.5 FM.

12:44 p.m. 

A spike in cases in Forsyth County is mostly connected to positive cases of COVID-19 at a Tyson Foods plant in Wilkesboro, according to the Forsyth County Health Department. Since Monday, there have been 57 cases of people with coronavirus. Health Director Jonathan Swift told the Winston-Salem Journal that most are related to the plant. Forsyth Assistant Health Director Tony Lo Guidice says the department is conducting contact tracing to find people who came into contact with the infected residents. He says it's not clear how many of the cases specifically are Tyson employees and how many workers there have tested positive. 

11:45 a.m.

Greensboro Transit Agency (GTA) is experiencing an immediate stoppage in transit services due to a temporary lack of bus operators and supporting staff. Until further notice, GTA is unable to provide fixed-route bus service and SCAT is providing limited service. Residents must consider other options for necessary travel.

On Monday, GTA was notified that a fixed-route operator tested positive for the coronavirus. The agency took precautionary steps to sanitize vehicles and workspaces. Staff were informed of the situation but not the identity of the individual who tested positive, with GTA citing HIPAA laws.

According to a press release, "Operators expressed concern with remaining unaware of the affected employee's identity and responded by choosing not to report for work on April 29. The walkout was repeated by supervisors and supporting staff. With insufficient staffing levels, GTA had no choice but to halt operations."  

April 28, 2020

5:15 p.m.

The Hope4Healers Helpline (919-226-2002) is being expanded to support those working in North Carolina's child care programs. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) set up Hope4Healers to provide mental health support for health care professionals, as well as first responders and their families who may be experiencing stress from being on the front lines of COVID-19 response.

3:20 p.m.

The Guilford County Division of Public Health is reporting 345 cases of COVID-19 in Guilford County, which is 14 more than on Monday. The county has verified 23 deaths. There are currently 79 hospitalizations and 100 recoveries. 

1:45 p.m.

Gov. Cooper and members of the Coronavirus Task Force will hold a briefing on COVID-19 updates at 2 p.m. Watch live or listen at 88.5 WFDD. 

 

11:30 a.m.

Five new cases have been reported in Forsyth County since yesterday's briefing bringing the total case count to 183. Of those cases, 118 have recovered.

April 27, 2020

7:30 p.m.

Four North Carolina nursing homes have each had at least 10 deaths of residents diagnosed with COVID-19. That comes from new detailed data released on Monday by the Department of Health and Human Services. It names more than 70 long-term facilities, rehabilitation centers or adult care homes where outbreaks have occurred. The department hadn't earlier identified the specific facilities, with officials saying it could break confidentiality rules on patient information. But some county health agencies had released those details anyway. Overall, North Carolina reported more than 9,100 positive cases statewide as of Monday and over 300 deaths.

5:45 p.m.

Twenty-three local agencies and other non-profit groups were selected to receive grants from the city's $1 million portion of the COVID-19 Response Fund for Forsyth County. The largest grant went to the Forsyth Backpack Program, which provides food for children suffering from food insecurity. Click here for a full list of recipients.    

4:30 p.m. 

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced the Carolina Community Tracing Collaborative today. The collaborative will build upon local health departments' current tracing efforts as testing increases. According to NCDHHS, "When a person tests positive for COVID-19, contact tracing identifies who that individual may have been in contact with so those people can take precautions to avoid infecting others." Up to 250 local staff will be hired, with the potential to add more. Those interested in applying can find more information here. NCDHHS says, "Special consideration will be given to those who are unemployed, have community engagement experience and live in the communities that they will serve. Successful contact tracers require excellent communication skills with an empathetic mindset."  

4:00 p.m.

North Carolina residents may be tiring of social distancing, as numbers show that more people are starting to venture out of the house.

 

Research from the University of Maryland indicates that North Carolinians left their homes more and traveled longer recently than in the first weeks of a statewide stay-at-home order, which went into effect March 30th. 

The results come from a formula that tracks privacy-protected data from cell phones, government agencies, health care systems, and other sources.

2:45 p.m.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D. and Director of NC Emergency Management Mike Sprayberry will conduct a live media briefing at 3 p.m. Watch live here or stream on 88.5 WFDD.

2:20 p.m.

Researchers at Duke University are adapting a rapid testing platform originally designed for Ebola to see whether it can be used to detect COVID-19. They've received a Rapid Response Research Grant from the National Science Foundation to try to detect antigens from a drop of blood or throat- or nose-swab sample. The hope is for a faster testing process.  

12:30 p.m.

 

The City of Greensboro is partnering with Cone Health and United Way of Greater Greensboro to provide free face coverings to Greensboro residents, beginning Wednesday, April 29. The Joseph M. Bryan Foundation is underwriting this initiative.

Residents can pick up one face covering for each member of their household while supplies last at the following locations:

·  Melvin Municipal Office Building, 300 W. Washington St., Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

·  United Way of Greater Greensboro, 1500 Yanceyville St., Wednesdays only from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The face coverings will be made of reusable fabric. The recommendation is to wear the face covering at all times when you're in public.

11:25 a.m.

Forsyth County is reporting 25 new cases of COVID-19 since yesterday's daily briefing was issued. The County's total case count is now 178. Of the 178, 114 have recovered. There have been five deaths from COVID-19 in Forsyth County.

April 26, 2020

7:15 p.m.

As of Sunday, April 26 at Noon, Guilford County Division of Public Health (GCDPH) has been notified of 314 cases of COVID-19 in Guilford County. GCDPH has verified 21 deaths.

The county's most recent COVID-19 data graphs:

1:00 p.m.

Forsyth County is reporting one additional case of COVID-19, bringing its total case count to 153. 108 county residents have already recovered from the disease.

April 25, 2020

11:50 a.m.

Forsyth County is reporting six additional cases of COVID-19, bringing its total case count to 152. 108 county residents have already recovered from the disease.

April 24, 2020

5:45 p.m.

In response to the announcement that public schools will remain closed through the remainder of the school year, Guilford County Schools Superintendent Sharon Contreras said in a press release, “While we are disappointed we won't be able to physically be with our students in the classroom for the remainder of this school year, we understand that keeping our students and staff healthy is a priority.”

She added, “The learning loss of the 2019-2020 school year will be the single greatest challenge educators across the country will face in the coming months and years. ... We must dedicate resources now to address the impact this loss is having on our students, particularly the most vulnerable. In fact, we have already started planning for this.” The district is expected to get approximately $21 million in K-12 Emergency Relief Funds, which are included in the superintendent's budget recommendations. 

5:00 p.m.

Continuum of Care, Forsyth County, and the City of Winston-Salem announced further measures to help protect those experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The partners plan to open a temporary shelter for the medically fragile. The shelter will be hotel-based and have on-site peer support and staff working to help with transition planning to permanent housing. 

4:15 p.m.

The City of Greensboro's Office of Equity and Inclusion is offering a free, online webinar from 10-11 a.m., Thursday, April 30, focused on funding relief options for small businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Registration is required by Wednesday, April 29.

3:15 p.m.

 

North Carolina's public school buildings, already shuttered for the past month due to COVID-19, won't reopen this school year, Gov. Roy Cooper announced Friday.

The decision was largely expected. Cooper originally closed K-12 schools in all 115 districts in mid-March for two weeks, then extended his executive order through May 15.

1:45 p.m.

Governor Cooper, education leaders and members of the Coronavirus Task Force will conduct a media briefing at 2 p.m. Watch live here or stream on 88.5 FM.

1:15 p.m.

Locally manufactured facemasks offered for purchase as part of Winston-Salem's Mask the City program have officially sold out at Lowes Foods locations throughout Forsyth County, just hours after they were first made available. In a press release earlier this week, officials said community organizations will distribute additional masks to low-income residents at no cost. 

11:45 a.m. 

Forsyth County is reporting three additional cases of COVID-19, bringing its total case count to 146. 108 county residents have already recovered from the disease. 

11:35 a.m.

 

Wake Forest Baptist Health is planning on furloughs for some leadership and administrative employees. There will also be temporary pay cuts for senior management.

Hospital employees were informed on Wednesday that the furloughs could begin next week or in early May. According to a memo sent to workers, the furlough period would last 16 weeks.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports that senior management and department chairs will take pay reductions of between 20 and 30 percent during this time.

Dr. Julie Ann Freischlag, the center's chief executive and medical school dean, says that while Wake Forest Baptist is at the center of the response to the outbreak, many of its main sources of income have essentially stopped.

 

April 23, 2020

5:20 p.m.

Governor Cooper has shared information about how North Carolina can gradually re-open. The three phases are designed to prevent hot spots of viral spread while bringing the economy back. Gov. Cooper says the phases could be altered as new information emerges. The state has also laid out the guidelines of what it would take to begin the phases.

Pictures from the April 23, 2020 Coronavirus Task Force media briefing. CREDIT/UNCTV

3:55 p.m.

 

Governor Roy Cooper has issued Executive Order No. 135 extending North Carolina's Stay At Home order through May 8. The orders extending the closure of restaurants for dine-in service and bars and closure of other close-contact businesses are also extended through May 8. 

Gov. Cooper plans to lift restrictions in three phases once the data show that key metrics are headed in the right direction. That means seeing sustained leveling or decreased trajectory in the following: COVID-like illness surveillance over 14 days, Lab-confirmed cases over 14 days, percent of tests returning positive over 14 days, and hospitalizations over 14 days.

Information about K-12 public schools will follow later this week. 

2:40 p.m.

Gov. Roy Cooper and members of the North Carolina Coronavirus Task Force will provide updates on COVID-19 during a press conference at 3 p.m. today. Watch live here or listen on 88.5 FM.

12:47 p.m.

Guilford County Public Health is reporting 9 more cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 242. GCDPH has verified 16 deaths, which has not changed since Wednesday report.

 

A second nursing home has been added to the list of Guilford County facilities with COVID-19 outbreaks.

State officials say Clapp's Nursing Center in Pleasant Garden has reported 21 residents and 12 employees testing positive for the coronavirus.

 

11:45 a.m.

Forsyth County is reporting 2 new cases of COVID-19 since yesterday. The County's total case count is 143. Of the 143, 107 have recovered.

April 22, 2020

2:40 p.m.

Members of North Carolina's Coronavirus Task Force will provide updates on COVID-19 during a press conference at 3 p.m. today. Watch live here or listen on 88.5 FM.

1:30 p.m.

An offender housed at Pender Correctional Institution who tested positive for COVID-19 has died at the hospital. This is the first coronavirus death of an individual in custody at a North Carolina state prison.

A statement from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety states that the offender exhibited symptoms of a viral infection on April 8, 2020. He was promptly isolated from the population, in keeping with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the NC Department of Health and Human Services, and tested for COVID-19. The test came back positive on April 10, 2020. He was hospitalized on April 13, 2020. His condition worsened, and the offender died at the hospital on April 21, 2020. 

The offender was a male in his late fifties and had underlying health conditions.

12:30 p.m.

Cone Health has launched a COVID-19 support fund to help patients and staff impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Money raised will go towards things such as iPads so that patients can stay connected with loved ones who are prohibited from visiting, personal protective equipment for staff, and perhaps meet future needs such as housing staff who may have been infected by coronavirus or who wish to self-isolate to protect their families.

11:45 a.m.

Forsyth County is reporting 10 new cases of COVID-19 since yesterday. The County's total case count is 141. Of the 141, 99 have recovered.

10:00 a.m.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has been awarded a $2 million grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to support the state's behavioral health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding will go towards strengthening the Hope4Healers Helpline (919-226-2002), Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) in areas of the state particularly hard hit economically by the COVID-19 pandemic, additional supports for individuals transitioning from jails and prisons who have existing substance use disorders, and to provide counseling and other supports for underserved populations at high risk for mental health disorders.

April 21, 2020

6:00 p.m.

 

U.S. health regulators on Tuesday OK'd the first coronavirus test that allows people to collect their own sample at home, a new approach that could help expand testing options in most states.

The test from Burlington-based LabCorp will initially only be available to health care workers and first responders under a doctor's orders. The sample will still have to be shipped for processing back to LabCorp, which operates diagnostic labs throughout the U.S.

5:40 p.m.

 

Hundreds of people angry and frustrated with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper's stay-at-home order designed to blunt COVID-19 marched on Tuesday around his home, demanding that he cancel it now to unleash the state's economy.

Carrying placards and banners and chanting, the crowd gathered in a parking lot before being escorted by Raleigh police motorcycles to walk through downtown Raleigh streets, including those surrounding the Executive Mansion. The final participants in the ReopenNC crowd, while raucous at times, ultimately dispersed peaceably after about three hours.

4:50 p.m.

 

An initiative in Winston-Salem has begun to combat COVID-19 with a goal of providing everyone access to facemasks. They'll be widely distributed throughout the community as part of a new program called Mask the City.

Mayor Allen Joines, local business leaders, healthcare professionals, and church organizers are urging residents to begin wearing the new masks and continue social distancing through May 31. The masks are designed and produced — up to 900,000 of them per week — locally. 

Mayor Joines says distribution efforts are already underway.

3:40 p.m.

There are currently outbreaks (two or more positive cases) of COVID-19 in five food processing facilities located in Bladen, Chatham Duplin, Lee and Robeson counties.

Food processing plants report that they are doing temperature and symptom checks, encouraging sick employees to stay home and implementing paid sick leave for those with COVID-19 or suspected of having COVID-19. They are also providing personal protective equipment and employing social distancing policies where possible.

The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDACS), local health departments, food plant managers and corporate owners, community health centers and local hospitals are working together to keep workers at food processing plants safe and to help ensure the world's food supply remains stable.

Interim guidelines for how to achieve this can be found here. 

1:50 p.m.

Governor Cooper and members of the Coronavirus Task Force will do a press briefing at 2 p.m.  Watch live here or listen on 88.5 FM. 

1:24 p.m.

According to Guilford County Public Health, as of Tuesday at noon, there were 201 cases of COVID-19 in reported, up from 191 the day before. GCDPH has also verified 2 more death, bringing the county's total to 15.

11:39 a.m.

One new case of COVID-19 has been reported in Forsyth County bring the total number of cases to 131. Of those, 97 have recovered.

April 20, 2020

5:00 p.m.

 

The Winston-Salem Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee will hold an online meeting Friday, April 24, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. to review applications and award grants from the city's $1 million contribution to the COVID-19 Response Fund for Forsyth County. The meeting will be conducted online to comply with social distancing recommendations for fighting the spread of COVID-19.

Residents who want to listen to the meeting can contact Meridith Martin by calling 336-747-7212 or emailing meridithm@cityofws.org.  

3:00 p.m.

 

North Carolina has been approved for the new Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program, to help families purchase food for children impacted by school closings due to COVID-19. NCDHHS is working to operationalize the program and families will begin to receive this benefit in the coming weeks. 

The program provides a benefit on an EBT card to North Carolina families whose children are eligible for free and reduced lunch at school. Families will receive $250 in P-EBT benefits per child, provided in two installments, with the possibility of an additional benefit if North Carolina schools are closed beyond May 15. Families will be able to use the P-EBT benefit to purchase food items at EBT authorized retailers, including most major grocery stores. 

1:55 p.m.

Members of the state Coronavirus Task Force will hold a media briefing at 2 p.m. today. You can watch it live or listen at 88.5 WFDD FM or stream it online at www.wfdd.org. 

12:00 p.m.

Forsyth County is reporting two new cases of COVID-19, bringing its total case count to 130. 96 county residents have already recovered from the disease. 

 

April 19, 2020

1:05 p.m.

Forsyth County is reporting a total COVID-19 case count of 128. Of those, 95 people have recovered. 

 

April 18, 2020

12:15 p.m.

Forsyth County is reporting one additional case of COVID-19, bringing the county's total to 127. Of those, 95 have recovered. 

Public Health Director Joshua Swift commented, “Cases reported are laboratory confirmed cases and are known from testing. While positive cases help to represent disease spread in a community, they do not account for all possible cases.”

April 17, 2020

5:45 p.m.

Cone Health will not yet reorient Wesley Long Hospital for COVID-19 patients. The health care system will first fill the Green Valley campus (formerly Women's Hospital) before expanding to other hospitals. In the meantime, Cone Health says:

  • There will be no change in the way we currently care for behavioral health patients.
  • Patients being treated for cancer will continue receiving outpatient treatment at the Cone Health Cancer Center at Wesley Long Hospital.
  • Inpatient oncology, sickle cell and urology units remain at Wesley Long Hospital. 

4:45 p.m.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper responded to President Donald Trump's plan to reopen the economy by stressing that the state needs the federal government's help supplying medical professionals to ramp up COVID-19 testing. The state government also said Friday that it was tripling the staff handling unemployment claims as the state faces a crush of hundreds of thousands requests. Trump told governors Thursday that restrictions could be eased to allow businesses to reopen in the coming weeks in areas that have extensive testing and a decline in cases. Cooper, a Democrat, said Friday that states need more supplies from the federal government to expand testing enough to reopen their economies.

4:15 p.m.

Prison officials say a COVID-19 outbreak at a North Carolina state prison has spread to more than 250 inmates. State prisons Commissioner Todd Ishee said during a media briefing that 259 inmates had tested positive as of Friday afternoon at Neuse Correctional Institution, a state prison in Goldsboro. He said none were hospitalized and that 98% of those testing positive were asymptomatic.  All 700 inmates have been tested but some test results are pending.   Newly positive inmates are being put into isolation, and the state is sending additional medical and security staff to the facility. 

1:45 p.m.

Gov. Cooper and members of the Coronavirus Task Force to hold a briefing on COVID-19 updates. Watch live or listen to 88.5 WFDD.

 

1:19 p.m. 

Surry County is reporting an error in the amount of its COVID-19 cases. According to a press release, the Assistant County Manager says the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services incorrectly stated Surry County with 16 cases, when there were only 11 cases confirmed at 1 p.m. on April 17th. 

"In an effort to validate lab equipment, there were test patient labs submitted through a local healthcare facility to LabCorp," the statement reads. "There were 5 positive test labs and 5 negative test labs submitted, the test labs were counted towards the County's laboratory confirmed case count mistakenly. Surry County Health and Nutrition Center apologizes for any inconveniences this may have caused."

11:36 a.m.

Forsyth County is reporting no new cases of COVID-19, leaving its total case count at 126. 95 residents have already recovered from the disease. Statewide, an additional 394 people have tested positive for the virus since Thursday. 

10:55 a.m.

Three workers at a North Carolina Harris Teeter distribution center have tested positive for COVID-19. 

A spokeswoman for the grocery chain says that three employees who work in the Greensboro distribution center have tested positive for the coronavirus. The workers are all currently under a physician's care.

The News & Observer reports that an employee who works in a Charlotte Harris Teeter outlet also tested positive for the virus last week.

According to the company's website, employees directly affected by coronavirus are offered emergency paid leave, additional financial assistance, and mental health services.

April 16, 2020

6:00 p.m.

 

A Guilford County initiative to help the homeless during the pandemic is starting to bear fruit. Clients with COVID-19 now have a place to quarantine. 

The COVID-19 response task force identified two primary strategies: socially distancing the shelters and their occupants, and forging a viable path forward once clients begin testing positive.

Brian Hahne is with Partners Ending Homelessness, the organization spearheading the response team. Hahne says the county provided a centrally-located hotel in Guilford County. Area shelter clients who are symptomatic of COVID-19 are permitted to stay for up to 14 days. The city is providing transportation, lodging, food, and on-site security costs. Additional supportive services are being overseen by Partners Ending Homelessness.   

1:35 p.m. 

Members of the COVID19NC Task Force will hold a media briefing at 2 p.m. today. You can watch it live or listen at 88.5 WFDD FM or stream it online at www.wfdd.org. 

 

12:00 p.m.

Guilford County is reporting 160 cases of COVID-19 and 11 deaths. This Guilford County map, updated weekly, is from April 15, 2020. 

11:51 a.m.

Guilford County's stay-at-home order is set to expire at midnight tonight and will not be extended. The county now falls under statewide restrictions.

“The expiration of a local order is not a call to return to business as usual. Guilford County is still experiencing infection locally and we are not out of the woods. We still face, and we will continue to face for many more months, a virus that spreads through physical contact. It continues to be important that residents do everything they can to minimize the amount of physical contact with other people,” says Jeff Phillips, Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners.

According to a press release, under the statewide order, residents will see very little difference from the County's order regarding mass gatherings, essential travel and social distancing restrictions

11:42 a.m. 

There are two new cases of COVID-19 in Forsyth County, bringing the total to 126. Of those, 92 have recovered. Five people have died due to the virus. 

10:16 a.m.

 

The spring High Point Furniture Market is canceled due to the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The event was originally supposed to take place this month. As the coronavirus pandemic worsened, the High Point Market Authority announced a postponement until June, in hopes that conditions might improve.

Tom Conley is president and CEO of the Market Authority. He said in a news release that the decision was difficult but prudent given the current circumstances. The cancellation was unanimously approved by an executive committee.

The economic impact of the combined spring and fall markets is estimated at more than $6 billion within a 75-mile radius of the heart of High Point, according to a study released last year.

8:38 a.m.

A Greensboro firefighter has tested positive for COVID-19. According to a release from the city, the unidentified firefighter is quarantined and reportedly doing well. The Fire Department is taking measures to reduce the spread, and it decontaminating all spaces and equipment that the firefighter came into contact with. 

 

April 15, 2020

5:30 p.m.

 

As of Wednesday, 5,123 North Carolina residents have tested positive for COVID-19. State officials say case numbers are beginning to trend downward. 

At a press briefing today, Governor Roy Cooper credited his stay-at-home order with preventing a surge, but said the state's restrictions aren't sustainable long-term.  

He outlined several factors officials are considering to decide when and how to ease those mandates, including testing capacity and case trends.

Cooper said it's likely that rules will be relaxed strategically and gradually, rather than all at once. 

“In our new normal, you may see more people wearing masks or having their temperature checked," Cooper said. "A restaurant you go into may have tables that are only partially full. The only sporting events or concerts that you may be able to watch for awhile will have no in-person crowds.”

Cooper did not specify when non-essential businesses may be allowed to reopen. His statewide stay-at-home order is set to expire at the end of the month. 

3:30 p.m.

Gov. Cooper and members of the Coronavirus Task Force are holding a briefing on COVID-19 updates at 4:00 p.m. today. Watch live or listen on 88.5 WFDD.

2:50 p.m.

 

Many North Carolina DMV offices are either temporarily closed or only open to appointments, in support of efforts to flatten the COVID-19 virus curve. 

In order to renew a vehicle registration, an inspection must be on file with the DMV and have been completed within 90 days. Pending state legislation, the inspection process is still required to be done in-person. 

In an email to NC drivers, the DMV said that all NC inspection stations are following CDC recommended social distancing guidelines and offering “very brief or even no direct contact” with inspection staff

NCDMV says to not visit a vehicle inspection station if you are high-risk or in self-quarantine. Also, the owner of the vehicle does not have to be present, as any NC-licensed driver can bring the vehicle in for inspection

North Carolinians automatically receive a 15-day grace period on expired inspections

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is urging residents to conduct their DMV-related business online through the state's official app myNCDMV.

11:35 a.m.

 

A conservative Christian nonprofit group is suing Guilford County and the City of Greensboro. This comes after four abortion protesters were charged under the city's stay-at-home order.

The federal lawsuit was filed by Alliance Defending Freedom. The group argues that four anti-abortion protesters were arrested “for engaging in peaceful prayer outside an abortion facility.”

But police say the four were charged because they were violating local and state orders that require people to stay home except for essential activities and prohibit gatherings in large groups.

10:00 a.m.

Greensboro city boards and commissions will be able to meet electronically regarding time-sensitive issues, effective April 18. Groups will use Zoom, the video conferencing app, and must provide public notice of meetings. This update follows the mid-March decision to cancel board and commission meetings through April 17.  

April 14, 2020

3:10 p.m.

The Winston-Salem Transit Authority is set to begin offering free rides on city buses starting Wednesday. The decision, announced by Mayor Allen Joines, will reduce personal contact between drivers and bus passengers. 

1:45 p.m.

Members of the COVID-19 Task Force will hold a media briefing at 2 p.m. today. Watch live or listen to 88.5 WFDD FM or stream us as www.wfdd.org.

 

12:19 p.m.

Alamance County officials say the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services erroneously reported a spike of COVID-19 cases in the county.  

The county says on Monday, it had only 39 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, 29 fewer than the state reported.

On Facebook, a spokesperson for the county's health department explained the error was likely due to a mix-up at a LabCorp facility.

“This increase is due to a large batch of LabCorp test results with no addresses listed,” officials wrote Monday. “The results default to Burlington because of the location of LabCorp and are then reported by default to the Alamance County Health Department.” 

County officials say Labcorp is working to reassign those cases to the correct area. 

The number has not been amended on the NCDHHS website as of Tuesday afternoon. The state is reporting 73 Alamance County cases. In a Tuesday Facebook post, county officials said the correct number is 41, and that they are working together with NCDHHS and LabCorp to resolve the issue. 
 

11:45 a.m.

Forsyth County is reporting four new cases of COVID-19, bringing its total to 123. Officials say four county residents have died from the disease, and 83 have recovered. 

11:00 a.m.

Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines is extending the city's stay-at-home order to May 7. He announced the decision at an online press conference earlier this morning.

A statewide stay-at-home order is set to expire on April 29. The order does not prohibit local muncipalities from enacting stricter measures. 

 

8:45 a.m.

Yadkin County is reporting its first coronavirus-related death. In a statement, county officials said the individual died from complications related to the virus on Monday. The patient was over the age of 65. 

 

April 13, 2020

5:15 p.m.

The North Carolina Division of Employment Security has received official guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor on how to implement the three unemployment programs of the federal CARES Act.

  1. Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC): This program provides an additional $600 in weekly unemployment insurance benefits to eligible claimants. This system is being tested, and DES anticipates making the first payments by April 17, 2020.

  2. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA): This program provides unemployment compensation for individuals not eligible for regular unemployment insurance or any extensions to unemployment insurance. This will provide benefits to eligible self-employed workers and independent contractors. DES anticipates the system will be ready to accept claims for this assistance around April 25, 2020.

  3. Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC): This program provides up to 13 additional weeks of benefits for those who have exhausted their state unemployment benefits. A definitive timeline for completing system updates for this program is not yet available.

2:35 p.m.

Gov. Cooper and members of the Coronavirus Task Force are holding a briefing on COVID-19 updates at 3:00 p.m. Watch live or listen on 88.5 FM.

1:50 p.m.

 

The Greensboro-based grocery chain, The Fresh Market, is implementing a new policy that requires shoppers to wear face masks while in stores. 

The News & Record reports the new policy will take effect on Tuesday. It follows other safety measures the market has already put in place, including shortening some business hours, limiting the number of customers allowed in stores at one time, and setting aside the first business hour for senior shoppers.

1:27 p.m.

Cone Health will use Wesley Long Hospital and the former Women's Hospital (now Green Valley campus) to care for COVID-19 patients. The health care system says this will help with the anticipated increase in volume of infected patients in the weeks to come.

12:00 p.m.

Forsyth County is reporting three new cases of COVID-19 since yesterday, bringing the total number of cases to 119. Of the 119, 73 have recovered. The county is now also providing new weekly reports (seen below) from Public Health's Epidemiology & Surveillance Unit.

 

10:30 a.m.

Yesterday evening, Guilford County Schools announced it will not be distributing meals today due to inclement weather. The cancellation includes all meal distributions including grab and go sites and satellite meal distributions.

April 12, 2020

5:10 p.m.

The Humane Society in Forsyth County is consolidating operations into one facility and changing the process for adoptions during the pandemic. 

The agency is limiting guest interaction and ensuring social distancing for staff and guests. It's appointment only, no walk-ins allowed. Some adoptions are made using Facetime and Skype.

Sarah Williamson, director of the Forsyth County Humane Society, says they haven't seen an uptick in pet surrenders at this time, but they're prepared to handle the situation if it changes.

“Because of the great outpouring of support for foster[ing], we were able to move all of our animals out of Country Club and into the Sturmer Park Circle location,” she says. "And then we were able to take a lemonade out of lemons opportunity to do a deep clean and sanitation of our Country Club shelter, holding it in preparation if we need to have animals housed there.”

Williamson says the community support during this time has been overwhelming. The shelter is accepting donations online and she says they've been getting a lot of deliveries lately.

12:30 p.m.

Forsyth County is reporting one new case of COVID-19, bringing its total to 116. Four residents have died from the disease. 67 have already recovered. 

April 11, 2020

5:00 p.m.

The latest demographic charts from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services show that the majority of confirmed COVID-19 cases in North Carolina are among those between 25 and 49, while the majority of deaths are in those 65 and up.

 

12:30 p.m.

Forsyth County is reporting no new cases of COVID-19 and one death since yesterday. The County's total case count remains at 115. Of the 115, 67 have recovered.

Forsyth County Department of Public Health's COVID-19 helpline (336) 582-0800 is automatically being forwarded to NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) over the holiday weekend. NCDHHS COVID-19 helpline can be reached at (866) 462-3821.

 

April 10, 2020

3:45 p.m.

A residential facility in Greensboro has confirmed an "on-going" outbreak that has affected three residents. The News & Record reports that the Heritage Greens retirement facility confirmed that it is apparently one of four residential facilities identified by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services dealing with an outbreak.

In a recent update, Executive Director Jeremy Reid says one resident tested positive March 30th and recovered. Another resident tested positive and is being treated at a hospital, and he said an additional resident tested positive and will be cared for by a separate team that would tend to this individual only. 

As of April 10th, State health officials reported other outbreaks at residential facilities in Henderson, Northampton, Stanly, and Wayne counties. 23 nursing homes in 20 counties are also affected, but none are in the Triad. 

3:15 p.m.

Guilford County is amending its stay-at-home order and the modifications will go into effect at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 10th. According to a press release, the changes target “Drive-In” Religious Services and Automobile Dealers providing clarification for some areas of specified retail business and service provisions related to automotive industry and relaxes some restrictions surrounding religious gatherings.

Chairman of the Board Jeff Phillips stated, “It is our hope that all of our residents will continue to take the Amended Stay-At-Home order very seriously, and will voluntarily comply. The County and our city partners are continuing to assess the spread of the disease in our community. We understand the importance of this time of year within our religious community and the need for individuals to be able to exercise their religious beliefs with like-minded believers while being cognizant of public health concerns.” He added, “We have heard and are listening to our business community. We understand that these are trying times economically and we are all working together to weather these difficult times.

1:45 p.m.

 

A $50 million study is underway at Duke Clinical Research Institute to prevent COVID-19 in health care workers. It aims to evaluate hydroxychloroquine as a preventive drug for the novel coronavirus.

The antimalarial drug has been around for decades, but now finds itself in the spotlight. Many people, including President Trump, have been touting the promise of hydroxychloroquine in the fight against COVID-19, without much data to back that up.

But its antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties are why it's of interest. This new study of HCQ will focus on health care workers. Duke researchers are building a registry of medical professionals to track workers' experiences with the coronavirus and address specific needs. It will also facilitate getting them into clinical trials.

1:00 p.m.

Two new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Forsyth County since yesterday. The County's total case count is 115. Of the 115, 67 have recovered.

Forsyth County Department of Public Health's COVID-19 helpline (336) 582-0800 is automatically being forwarded to NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) over the holiday weekend. NCDHHS COVID-19 helpline can be reached at (866) 462-3821.

9:00 a.m.

The Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services — Public Health Division, Partners Ending Homelessness, and Guilford County Continuum of Care have come together to create a new initiative to address public health concerns facing the county's homeless population. It's called the Guilford County Homelessness Initiative.

 

 

April 9, 2020

6:10 p.m.

Governor Roy Cooper says he will sign a new executive order addressing recent COVID-19 outbreaks at nursing homes, the surge in unemployment claims, and crowding at essential businesses. 

At a press conference earlier today, Cooper said stores that remain open will be required to follow new social distancing requirements. 

“Effective 5 p.m. Monday, stores may not have a number of people inside at one time that is more than 20 percent of the stated fire capacity or either five people for every 1,000 square feet,” Cooper said. “Stores must also mark 6 feet of distance at places where people need to gather.”

The order also establishes new rules at long-term care facilities designed to slow the spread of the virus. The final part of the order is designed to make it easier for employers to file claims on behalf of their employees. 

The Division of Employment Security has processed nearly half a million unemployment claims since March 16. Many seeking benefits have reported widespread technical issues and long wait times. 

5:20 p.m.

 

Forsyth County Public Health Officials say local stay at home orders are making a difference in containing the spread of COVID-19. 

The county's rate of cases per 100,000 is 28 compared to 31.8 across North Carolina.

Most of the confirmed cases are in people under 45. Health officials are concerned that young adults may have few or no symptoms and spread COVID-19 to those at highest risk. Forsyth Public Health Director Joshua Swift also released more information about race and other local demographics.

“Fourteen percent of cases are African American. Four percent are Hispanic. 44 percent are white -  and 37 percent unknown. Unknown because the medical provider who requested the test did not complete that part of the electronic order that was sent to the lab.” 

Local health experts believe the rush by providers and the state lab to get early test results may have contributed to the unknown data. Advocates say the information is important to help tackle health care disparities in communities.

4:45 p.m.

 

Dr. Christopher Ohl with Wake Forest Baptist Health says new COVID-19 case numbers are rounding off across the state. 

“So by after Easter, we'll know for sure if we've come up and over the peak.”

Ohl says the Triad is likely to hit what he called a “mesa” in cases soon. He says that means it's unlikely that area hospitals will be overwhelmed if social distancing measures continue. 

“The one downside about being a mesa, if you've ever been out west, is that you have to walk on the top of a mesa for a long time before you get to the other side. So I think it means that our numbers of cases and how they go are going to last longer here in this area.”

The Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation has estimated North Carolina will reach peak resource use on April 15.

3:45 p.m.

Gov. Cooper and members of the Coronavirus Task Force are holding a briefing on COVID-19 updates. Watch live or listen on 88.5 FM. 

 

2:30 p.m.

The City of Winston-Salem is reminding residents to put safety first as they celebrate Easter and Passover this weekend. These events traditionally include large family and church gatherings. 

 

COVID-19 is highly contagious, and can be deadly for seniors and for people with compromised immune systems, respiratory ailments, and other underlying medical conditions.  People who are infected can have the virus for days before showing symptoms—and some will never have symptoms, says Forsyth Health Director Joshua Swift. “You could feel fine and yet be bringing COVID-19 into your home and to your loved ones without knowing it,” Swift said. “In the worst-case scenario, that might be an elderly relative or someone ill-equipped to fight it off.” 

The best prevention is to follow the local and state orders to stay at home unless you're going out for an essential reason. If you must go out, remember: 

· Wear a face mask to reduce the chance of passing the virus to others, if it turns out you were already infected but did not know it. 

· Follow the order to not assemble in groups of 10 or more. 

· Maintain the social distance guideline of 6 feet.

 · Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently. 

· Keep your hands away from your face.

1:30 p.m.

Forsyth County cases of COVID-19 are up by five since yesterday. A total of 113 people have tested positive, with 61 having recovered. There have been three deaths in the county.

 

*Correction: an earlier version of this post had an error in the number of Forsyth County cases.

12:51 p.m.

 

Local, state and federal officials are reaching out to warn people about schemes to profit illegally off of coronavirus fears.

The potential for scamming grows with any crisis, and as with many scams, authorities say seniors are at particular risk.

The IRS is warning retirees that no one from the agency will reach out to them by phone, email or in-person about their money from the stimulus package. The agency is sending these $1,200 payments automatically to eligible retirees and no additional action or information is needed on their part to receive the money.

12:00 p.m.

The northernmost section of the Blue Ridge Parkway has been closed to support COVID-19 prevention efforts. The National Park Service says the Parkway from Milepost 0 to 13 will close immediately in coordination with closures at Shenandoah National Park. 

10:05 a.m.

The CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC has been hospitalized with COVID-19. Eric Aft initially entered a local hospital for pneumonia, but later tested positive for the virus. The organization shared the following statement:

“To protect the health and safety of food bank staff, partner agencies, and volunteers and following Centers for Disease Control guidelines, Aft began self-isolating and quarantining at the first signs of symptoms and continued to lead the organization remotely,” said Michelle Butt, Second Harvest Food Bank Board Chair. “Prior to Eric's quarantine, the organization had already taken steps to dramatically alter our footprint and processes, ensuring the safety of our staff, volunteers, partners, and product. Now, as Eric turns his attention to his recovery, the food bank's highly capable senior leadership team and staff, supported by myself and Board Vice Chair Phil McAdams and with the full support of the board, continues the essential work of the food bank.”

9:00 a.m.

A member of the Greensboro Police Department has tested positive for COVID-19. The officer is in quarantine and doing well. GPD is taking precautions to prevent the spread of the virus and will decontaminate "all spaces and equipment the employee may have come in contact with."

April 8, 2020

5:15 p.m.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has two new mental health resources to help North Carolinians during the COVID-19 crisis. The Hope4NC Helpline (1-855-587-3463) puts people in touch with mental health and resilience resources. It is available 24 hours a day for everyone in all 100 counties.

The second is the Hope4Healers Helpline (919-226-2002) which provides resources 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 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.

Additional resources can be found here.  

4:30 p.m.

 

Guilford College has furloughed more than half of the school's non-faculty employees. It's among the colleges and universities enacting cost-cutting measures as economic concerns linger over the coronavirus pandemic.  

This time of year, the small, private school in Greensboro is usually bustling with student events and activities. But Guilford College's campus has been eerily quiet for weeks as buildings remain closed due to COVID-19 concerns.

The university is operating with a small number of essential staff and faculty members have shifted to online classes. The changes are leaving deep budget holes and a lot of uncertainty. Guilford College President Jane Fernandes says they've had to make some tough decisions.

“The furloughs are temporary and they are continuing to June first,” says Fernandes. “But in the middle of May we will check in with the staff regarding when we will be open or if we can be open in June because at the time, we don't even know that.”

3:00 p.m.

Watch a press briefing with Governor Roy Cooper, NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen, M.D., and Director of NC Emergency Management Mike Sprayberry:

2:30 p.m.

 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved North Carolina's request for shelters that follow social distancing guidelines.

Governor Roy Cooper announced Wednesday that FEMA will help provide shelters for North Carolinians without stable housing who may need to quarantine or are at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

1:55 p.m.

Forsyth County is reporting an additional 2 cases of COVID-19, bringing its total to 108. Of those, 59 residents have already recovered. The county has also released demographic data revealing 25.5% of its cases are people over the age of 65. 22.6% were people ages 25-34. All other age groups made up less than 20% of the county's cases. 

1:20 p.m.

North Carolina's Department of Information Technology has created a map to help residents find free and low-cost internet access options in their areas. 

“North Carolina is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic with everything we've got,” Tracy Doaks, NCDIT secretary and state chief information officer, said. “In these uncertain times, more and more of our residents are being asked to work and learn from home, making access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet more critical than ever.”

State officials say the map is updated daily and includes the locations of free public Wi-Fi hotspots. 

11:20 a.m.

State elections officials are bracing for major impacts on voting in this year's election in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. 

Elections director Karen Bell gave a somber update to board members via a telephone meeting. Potential social distancing rules, loss of volunteers, and changes in how people are expected to vote will all have to be considered.

“As we go forward, we will not be cutting our services for in-person voting,” Bell says. “We will maintain those and deliver those actually with more care as we set up sanitation stations, as we do crowd control with stanchions and other efforts to create social distancing.”

She says the state needs to prepare for a huge jump in mail-in ballots. They usually account for about four percent of the total votes cast, but she says that could jump tenfold.

April 7, 2020

5:30 p.m.

In a press release, Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines noted that no city money has been allocated yet by the COVID-19 Response Fund for Forsyth County. This comes in response to recent concerns cited by citizens and members of the City Council. The release continues to say that the city will exercise oversight in how its contribution is disbursed to the community.

The fund has raised more than $3.3 million. On Monday, fund administrators announced an inaugural round of grants totaling $1.06 million to 15 local agencies. However, none of that came from city money, which had not been sent to the fund pending council approval.

4:10 p.m.

Researchers have lowered a projected COVID-19 death toll for North Carolina, and say this could be an indication that the state's social distancing guidelines may be working.

 

Researchers at the University of Washington say the coronavirus outbreak in North Carolina will likely peak next week with far fewer deaths than originally projected.

The study group now predicts that about 500 people in the state will die from COVID-19. That figure was closer to 2,400 hundred just a week and a half ago.

Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, warns that there are still a lot of unknowns when it comes to how the coronavirus pandemic will play out. DHHS models show the need for hospital beds will peak in mid-to-late May, a full month after the University of Washington projections.

2:40 p.m.

 

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is providing financial assistance to help essential workers afford child care, and bonuses to child care teachers and staff who provide care during the COVID-19 crisis. 

NCDHHS established an Emergency Child Care Subsidy Program for essential workers as defined in Governor Roy Cooper's March 27 Executive Order 121. Essential worker emergency child care financial assistance will be offered through May and may be extended. To receive an emergency care subsidy, parents must complete the COVID-19 Parent Application for Financial Assistance for Emergency Child Care and submit it to their child care provider. Financial aid is available to parents and caregivers who are essential workers and who meet the following criteria:

  • Their income is below 300 percent of the poverty line; 

  • They are an essential worker fighting COVID-19 or protecting the health and safety of communities; and

  • They feel they have no other viable child care options available to them.

 

1:45 p.m.

Gov. Cooper and members of the Coronavirus Task Force are holding a briefing on COVID-19 updates. Watch live or listen on 88.5 FM. You can also stream the hearing live at www.wfdd.org.

 

11:44 a.m.

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Guilford County is reporting 119 cases of COVID-19 and 5 deaths.  

In a release, Forsyth County is reporting 7 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total to 106 cases. Of those, 53 have recovered. 

Effective immediately the Forsyth Humane Society is suspending the provision of elective spay/neuter services during the COVID-19 crisis. Procedures are being rescheduled to later dates in an effort to contribute to the preservation of personal protective equipment at this time. People are being allowed to adopt unaltered animals with a contract requiring the animal to be spayed/neutered by October 31, 2020. Forsyth County parks remain open and are operating on a normal schedule, but the following are now closed: playgrounds, basketball courts, volleyball courts and boat rentals. Groups larger than 10 people are not allowed, and park visitors must maintain proper social distancing.

11:24 a.m.

The COVID-19 Response Fund of Forsyth County has awarded its first grants to local nonprofits impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. 

Officials announced plans Monday to disperse over $1 million to 15 organizations including the Salvation Army, Neighbors For Better Neighborhoods, and Legal Aid of North Carolina. 

More than $3 million has been raised for the fund since it was created late last month, including $1 million from the City of Winston-Salem. Council members formally approved the city's contribution at a virtual meeting Monday night.

 

April 6, 2020

5:40 p.m.

 

Forsyth County is continuing the practice known as contact tracing to limit the spread of COVID-19. This comes as the state no longer requires it because community spread is ramping up. 

Local health departments use contact tracing when they are notified by the state of a positive coronavirus case. The infected person is asked to provide a list of anyone who was within six feet of the individual for 10 minutes or more. They are instructed to quarantine at home for several days. The process takes a lot of manpower for local officials, and it's becoming harder to do as case counts continue to mount.

5:20 p.m.

The Public Health Director for Vance and Granville Counties says that 59 people have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Federal Correctional Center in Butner. The News & Observer reports that number is significantly higher than the figures reported over the weekend.  

4:00 p.m.

Watch a media briefing with NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen and NCEM Director Mike Sprayberry:

2:25 p.m. 

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety announced that the North Carolina Division of Prisons will not accept offenders from county jails and will reduce the transfer of offenders for the next two weeks. The goal is to help contain and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Seven inmates have tested positive at three prisons. The Department says that face masks were distributed to all offenders and staff at those prisons over the weekend. Offenders will still continue to be transferred for the following reasons:

•    To comply with court orders.
•    For medical or mental health reasons.
•    For security purposes to address critical incidents within the prisons.
•    To release offenders who have completed their prison sentences  

12:40 p.m.

The City of Greensboro is instituting new options for those having difficulty paying their water bill during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a media release, If water service was cut off for nonpayment prior to mid-March, and is still off, it will be reconnected it for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency. Also in mid-March, water shutoffs for non-payment and late fees on past-due water accounts were temporarily suspended.

Payment plans are available and can be arranged by calling 336-373-CITY (2489) on Mondays through Fridays from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

11:30 a.m.

 

In Forsyth County, there are now 99 COVID-19 cases. Of those, 45 have recovered. Guilford County is reporting 103 cases and three deaths. The case count is subject to change throughout the day but will only be reported once per day in the daily briefing.

 

April 5, 2020

2:15 p.m.

 

Yard waste fees for Winston-Salem residents are temporarily waived at the Overdale and Forum 52 Yard Waste Facilities. This is in response to the City of Winston-Salem's suspension of brush, limb and yard waste cart collection. Residents dropping off yard waste must practice social distancing to protect the health, safety and welfare of all citizens.

Fees will be waived for residents in cars, vans, SUVs, pickup trucks (up to half-ton with an unaltered bed) and single-axle trailers. People must unload their own leaves, grass clippings, tree limbs, brush, untreated wood or other yard waste. 

 

10:05 a.m.

 

The North Carolina Division of Prisons have begun staff coronavirus medical screenings that include temperature checks at every prison, in an additional effort to reduce the chances the coronavirus gets into a prison.

The screening of staff, as well as anyone else authorized to enter a prison, began on March 20 at Central Prison and North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women. Efforts expanded to every prison on March 31 once a shipment of no-touch thermometers arrived and were distributed to facilities across the state.

Entry to any prison will be denied to anyone with a temperature of 100 degrees or more, individuals experiencing respiratory symptoms of cough or shortness of breath, those showing fatigue and muscle aches indicative of a viral infection, or people who has been exposed in the past 14 days to anyone who is suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19.

 

Click here for previous updates. 

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