ASHEVILLE - As of 11:15 a.m. May 21, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services tallied 20,910 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the state. That's an increase of 788 cases, or 3.9%, over the state's May 20 report.
NCDHHS counted 714 deaths statewide, up 14 since the May 20 figures were reported. That's a 2% increase.
The state reported Buncombe County had 209 cases May 21.
No additional deaths in Buncombe were reported by the state; the county had seven coronavirus-related deaths.
There were 302 cases and 41 deaths in Henderson County, according to the state report, by far the most in Western North Carolina.
COVID-19 cases in other WNC counties, according to state counts:
- Avery: 1 case, 0 deaths.
- Cherokee: 20 cases, 1 death.
- Clay: 5 cases, 0 deaths.
- Graham: 2 cases, 0 deaths.
- Haywood: 28 cases, 0 deaths.
- Henderson: 302 cases, 41 deaths.
- Jackson: 25 cases, 1 death.
- Macon: 5 cases, 1 death.
- Madison: 4 cases, 0 deaths.
- McDowell: 35 cases, 1 death.
- Mitchell: 7 cases, 0 deaths.
- Polk: 35 cases, 4 deaths.
- Swain: 8 cases, 0 deaths.
- Transylvania: 9 cases, 0 deaths.
- Watauga: 13 cases, 0 deaths.
- Yancey: 10 cases, 0 deaths.
The Citizen Times is providing this story for free to readers because of the need for information about the coronavirus. We encourage you to further support local journalism by subscribing.
Bar and gym owners struggle amid Phase 2 restrictions
While some restaurants will reopen for Memorial Day weekend, other businesses, like bars and breweries, appear to have been left out in the cold.
Restaurants, salons, massage therapists and day cares can now offer services as early as 5 p.m. today, while businesses including bars, nightclubs, gyms and entertainment venues will have to remain closed for now.
More on who will be allowed to open their doors later today - and who won't.
More: 'It's strangling us': Still barred from reopening, bar and gym owners struggle
Buncombe to require face coverings in public settings
Buncombe residents and visitors will be required to wear face coverings in certain public settings during Phase 2 of the county's easing of coronavirus restrictions, after the Board of Commissioners approved the measure May 21.
The Democratic majority board voted 4-3 along party lines during an emergency meeting called subsequent to a work session that afternoon. It directed county staff to develop an official declaration requiring face coverings at commercial facilities and other indoor public settings where the risk of COVID-19 transmission could be high.
More is expected later today on Buncombe's Phase 2 plan, but here's what we already know about additional measures Asheville area residents can expect.
More: Coronavirus: Buncombe to require face coverings in Phase 2 for certain public settings
North Carolina to move into Phase 2 of reopening
North Carolina will move into Phase 2 of Gov. Roy Cooper's three-part plan to gradually ease coronavirus restrictions. This new phase begins at 5 p.m. May 22, Cooper announced in a May 20 press briefing.
But given rising case counts, the changes enacted by Executive Order 141 will be "more modest" than originally intended, Cooper said.
More on what the next phase of reopening will look like below.
More: Coronavirus: NC moves into Phase 2 on May 22, but more restrictions remain than expected
More: What can reopen under NC Phase 2 and what will have to wait?
Asheville restaurants' game plan for reopening
From plexiglass panels at Bouchon to single use everything at the White Duck, reporter Mackensy Lunsford takes a deeper look at how life will look in Asheville's booming food scene as the pandemic evolves.
Read more in this special report for subscribers about how restaurateurs have reacted to adapt to the new normal, and what the future may hold for your favorite Asheville area eateries.
More: Plexiglass dividers, masked servers: What you might see when you go back to restaurants
How much COVID-19 relief money WNC colleges, students will receive
Campuses remain closed. In-person instruction faces an uncertain future. Collegiate stadiums and arenas, sites of revenue-generating games in normal times, stand vacant.
Like much of society, higher education has been scathed by the coronavirus outbreak. And like much of society, higher education has received COVID-19 relief from the federal government.
More on the impact coronavirus will have on students and colleges below:
More: See how much COVID-19 relief money WNC colleges, students will receive
Asymptomatic testing, Phase 2 and face coverings: Buncombe updates
Buncombe County addressed testing of asymptomatic individuals, the state's framework for Phase 2 of reopening and why you should wear a face covering in public.
Read more about how the county will move toward reopening below.
More: Coronavirus: 4 takeaways in Buncombe on asymptomatic testing, Phase 2 and face coverings
5th Buncombe death, 1st in long-term care facility
Buncombe County public health officials announced the death in a May 18 briefing, but declined to provide the name of the facility or any details on the individual.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services currently lists four ongoing outbreaks in Buncombe County nursing homes. The state defines an outbreak as two or more cases within 28 days.
NCDHHS releases the names of all long-term care facilities with ongoing outbreaks, as well as case counts categorized by staff and residents, on Mondays and Thursdays by 4 p.m.
More: Coronavirus: Buncombe reports first death in long term care facility
Rise N Shine Cafe opened against state order, cited by the police
A Merrimon Avenue cafe defied state orders and offered dine-in services over the weekend, culminating in a citation from the Asheville Police Department on May 18.
A post on the Reopen NC Facebook page shows the owner of Rise N Shine with her arm around Ashley Smith, an activist leading the push to reopen North Carolina businesses ordered closed to stem the spread of coronavirus.
More: Coronavirus: Buncombe reports first death in long term care facility
Buncombe cases jump 31%
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported 42 additional cases of lab-confirmed COVID-19 in Buncombe County on May 18.
That's a 31% increase since the May 15 figures were released, for a total of 176 in the county.
The state also saw its highest day-over-day increase to the case count this weekend — 863 new cases were added to the tally on May 16.
NCDHHS secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said expanded access to testing is a contributor to these rising numbers on the state level — but emphasized that the move to Phase 1 also likely played a role.
"Folks are moving around more — they're going out to shop, they're taking time to enjoy the outdoors," Cohen said. "And with more movement, there's more chance for this virus to spread."
More: Coronavirus: Buncombe County COVID-19 cases jump 31%
A different kind of graduation
Owen seniors were greeted by faculty as they picked up their graduation materials May 15. See images from the day in photographer Angela Wilhelm's gallery below.
Despite pandemic, Asheville's real estate market strong
It's probably way too early to say Asheville's residential real estate market is pandemic-proof, but it seems to be emerging from the COVID-19 scare with maybe a mild cough and some lingering aches.
John Boyle takes a deep dive into the data and the expert predictions on how the virus may affect home buyers and sellers in the area.
More: Despite coronavirus pandemic, Asheville's residential real estate market remains strong
NC identifies 'good causes' to refuse to return to work
As Phase I of Gov. Roy Cooper's plan to gradually relax COVID-19 restrictions allows more businesses to operate, more North Carolinians have gotten the call that it's time to go back to work.
But what about workers whose health conditions put them at higher risk from COVID-19? And people who can't work without child care? Or those who receive more from unemployment benefits than their full-time job?
Read more on North Carolina's 'good cause(s) to refuse to return to work.'
More: I don't feel safe going back to work. Can I still collect unemployment in North Carolina?
"need" - Google News
May 22, 2020 at 04:18PM
https://ift.tt/2zlwyjM
Coronavirus: What you need to know in Asheville, WNC May 22 - Citizen Times
"need" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3c23wne
https://ift.tt/2YsHiXz
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Coronavirus: What you need to know in Asheville, WNC May 22 - Citizen Times"
Post a Comment