New Emerg. Order on the Way, COVID Cases Rise in NC, 33 Cases in Buncombe

Buncombe Health Official Credits Social Distancing

(Buncombe County, NC) -- A Buncombe health official says social distance measures are working. Emergency Preparedness Director Fletcher Tove spoke in a community update yesterday about a new timeline for peak cases throughout the state. He said it could be anywhere between April 13th through 27th, but the peak time could then last between four and ten weeks. A University of Washington model now predicts a peak of April 16th.

Buncombe Prepares Extension Of Stay Home Order

(Buncombe County, NC) -- Buncombe County is preparing to extend its stay home, stay safe order. Current countywide measures, which are stricter than the state order, expire this Thursday morning. Governor Roy Cooper's stay-at-home order runs through April 29th. The county's interim public health director said 28 of 33 local coronavirus patients have recovered, but the actual number of cases is underestimated.

Forest Service Bans Outdoor Burning

(Asheville, NC) -- All outdoor burning in western North Carolina is banned until further notice. Dry and windy conditions paired with low humidity has made for hazardous conditions. Crews have been battling wildfires in both the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests over the past several days. The North Carolina Forest Service has also canceled existing burning permits.

Deputy Recovering After Slamming Cruiser Into Tree

(Transylvania County, NC) -- A Transylvania County deputy is expected to be okay after a serious wreck. State troopers told WLOS-TV the deputy was responding to a call in the Rosman community Sunday night when he lost control of his cruiser and slammed into a tree. His injuries were luckily not considered to be life-threatening.

New Principal Named At Asheville High

(Asheville, NC) -- There's a new principal at Asheville High School. Derek Edwards was selected to serve as interim principal early this year after Jesse Dingle announced his resignation. Asheville's board of education approved Edwards to take on the role permanently last week. He has served as both a teacher and administrator in Asheville since 2004.

Mecklenburg Coronavirus Cases Rise More Than 100 In One Day

(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- There's a drastic rise in coronavirus cases in Mecklenburg County. Public health officials last night said there were 100 new cases yesterday, bringing the county total to 741. The News and Observer is reporting more than three-thousand cases across North Carolina, confirmed by state and county health departments. Both Charlotte city council members and Mecklenburg County commissioners are studying programs to help small businesses stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.

One Dead, Four Injured In Lancaster Drive-By

(Lancaster County, SC) -- Deputies are investigating a deadly drive-by shooting in Lancaster County. They say one person was killed and four others were injured when gunfire erupted from a car on the west side of Lancaster Sunday night. The victims were reportedly gathered outside a home on Memorial Drive. There were children at the home, but none were injured. Sheriff Barry Faile says investigators have been unable to get much useful information from those who were at the scene.

Residents Urged To Recycle Properly

(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- Meck residents are urged to make changes when tossing their trash or recyclables. The county is reporting problems with sorting through recyclable items because some customers are throwing non-recyclable material like yard waste in the bins. The solid waste management director is also advising anyone under quarantine for COVID-19 to throw away recyclable materials in the regular trash bin. Double-bagging is encouraged.

Chester County Hospital To Feel Layoffs

(Chester County, SC) -- The only hospital in Chester County is expected to be affected by layoffs. MUSC Health announced yesterday around 900 of its employees were being temporarily laid off. Hospital business is down 75-percent after non-emergency cases were canceled. It's unclear how many employees at MUSC Health Chester Medical Center are being let go.

Seniors Given Special Hour To Purchase Booze

(Mecklenburg County, NC) -- Seniors in Mecklenburg County have their own hour to shop for liquor this morning. The CEO of the county's ABC commission says ten stores will be open this morning from nine to ten for those 65 and older only. The special time is being offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays until further notice. Many stores have started offering hours for seniors during the coronavirus pandemic.

Two Former Panthers Named To All-Decade Team

(Charlotte, NC) -- Two former Carolina Panthers are being honored by the NFL. The league and Pro Football Hall of Fame named Julius Peppers and Luke Kuechly to the 2010s All-Decade Team yesterday. Peppers retired as the franchise leader in sacks, and ranks fourth all-time in the NFL. Kuechly also just retired, but did so with more tackles than any other player during the decade.

Report Shows State Restrictions Helping Curb The Spread Of COVID-19

(Raleigh, NC) -- A report recently released by researchers from Duke, UNC and RTI International, finds that North Carolina's stay-at-home orders and other restrictions banning large gatherings, are working. The report also said such measures have so far, kept hospitals in the state from becoming overwhelmed. However, the researchers say if the restrictions are lifted by the April 29th expiration date, hospitals across the state could have more COVID-19 patients than they have the resources to care for. The group is recommending social distancing requirements be extended.

Human Clinical Trials To Begin On New UNC Anti-Viral Medication

(Chapel Hill) -- Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill say a new anti-viral medication they've been working on is now ready for human testing. The drug known as EIDD-2801, has been found to be effective in the treatment and prevention of severe lung damage in mice. Doctors say the new drug, taken in pill form, also has high potential for treating COVID-19 patients. Human clinical trials are expected to start this spring.

State Receives Nearly A Million Doses Of Lupus Drug To Treat Coronavirus

(Raleigh, NC) -- Health officials announced Monday that the state had received nearly a million doses of Plaquenil, the brand name for the drug Hydroxy-Chloroquine, a prescription medication commonly used in the treatment of Lupus. The drug has also been touted by some health officials as a promising treatment for the coronavirus. On Monday the state received almost a million pills from the nation's strategic reserve. Now many long time Lupus patients are worried that pharmacies may run out of Plaquenil.

Cops Looking For Suspect Who Organized Block Party Attended By More Than 50

(Hillsborough, NC) -- Police in Hillsborough are continuing to search for the man who was responsible for organizing a block party over the weekend, in violation of the state's order against large public gatherings. Documents show Hillsborough police responded twice to a gathering of about 30-cars and 50-people in the 500-block of Riddle Avenue Sunday evening. Officers warned the crowd that they were in violation of Governor Roy Cooper's Executive Order 121 to stay at home. On Monday, a warrant was sworn out for the arrest of 32-year old Tocee Mitchell of Hillsborough.

Davidson Co. Reports First COVID-19-Related Death

(Davidson Co., NC) - Davidson County is reporting its first death due to COVID-19. The health department says a person in their late 80s with underlying health conditions passed away from coronavirus yesterday. That brings the total amount of COVID-19 deaths in the Piedmont Triad to 22.

Six People Behind Bars In String Of High Point Shootings

(High Point, NC) - High Point police are announcing six arrests in connection with a string of shootings in the city. Officers responded to three shootings on March 28th and another three shootings on March 30th. They were able to identify the suspects and file charges. The six suspects, arrested with the help of the U.S. Marshals Task Force, range in age from a juvenile to 23-years old.

SUV Wanted In Hit-And-Run Involving Young Boy In Burlington

(Burlington, NC) - Burlington police are looking for an SUV that hit a six-year-old boy and then fled the scene. The accident happened Sunday night in the 13-hundred-block of Beaumont Court. Police say the boy was riding his bike in front of his home when he was hit. He was taken to a local hospital and is expected to recover. Police are looking for a newer model SUV, possible a Nissan Rouge, in connection with the accident.

Triad Doctor Gives Tips On Cloth Face Masks

(Winston-Salem, NC) - The CDC is now recommending Americans wear cloth face masks in public, and a Winston-Salem doctor is offering advice on which ones work best. Dr. Scott Segal, chair of anesthesiology at Wake Forest Baptist Health, looked at over a dozen different types of masks to determine which ones were the most effective. He tells NBC 12 the best way to tell whether a homemade mask will work is by holding it up to a light source. Dr. Segal says denser materials work best and specifically suggests what's known as "quilters cotton." The CDC does not want the public wearing N95 medical grade masks, because they're in short supply and need to be reserved for health care professionals.


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