Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on March 12
We’re keeping track of the latest coronavirus news in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
New cases reported Thursday
North Carolina officials on Thursday announced several more coronavirus cases.
They bring the statewide total to 16, up from eight cases Wednesday. The case of a Durham resident who tested positive while out of state has since been added to the total.
Mecklenburg County, home to Charlotte, announced its first two cases on Thursday, The Charlotte Observer reported. Another case was in Cabarrus County.
Two other new patients were in Forsyth County, and one was in Johnston County, N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper said.
Wake also saw a new case, The News & Observer reports.
Gov. Roy Cooper advised Thursday against gatherings of more than 100 people in the state.
This includes conferences, games, concerts, church and assemblies. He also said employers should allow people to work from home.
The measures are voluntary for now but could change to an order.
Testing requirements loosened
North Carolina health officials loosened requirements for a patient to be tested for the virus, The News & Observer reported Thursday evening.
The state has the capacity to test 700 people and has 900 additional tests on “back order” from the CDC.
Sixty-seven tests have been completed in the state and 21 more are pending.
Two cases announced Wednesday
North Carolina reported its eighth coronavirus case after a Wake County resident tested positive for the disease, state health officials said Wednesday. The case is connected to an Indiana patient who started having symptoms while visiting the Biogen office in Research Triangle Park last week, The News & Observer reported.
Durham County announced Wednesday that a resident tested positive for the disease while in another state. The person is expected to stay in isolation before returning home.
ACC tournament canceled
The remaining ACC basketball tournament games are canceled due to concerns about coronavirus, The N&O reported. Teams had been scheduled to face off in Greensboro through Saturday.
The decision came the day after the NCAA announced there would be no spectators at this year’s March Madness tournament.
The NCAA then announced Thursday it’s canceling all March Madness tournaments along with “all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships,” McClatchy News reported.
School closures
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro school system said Thursday that Monday through Wednesday will now be teacher workdays and schools will be closed for students, The News & Observer reports.
Additionally, spring break will now be March 19-27.
The school system is the first in the state to make schedule changes in response to the coronavirus.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association said Thursday it’s indefinitely postponed high school basketball championships in the state, The News & Observer reports.
All other NCHSAA sports have been suspended starting 11:59 p.m. Friday through April 6. This includes games, practices, workouts and skill development.
Universities extend breaks
All schools in the UNC system are moving away from in-classroom instruction as coronavirus cases are reported in the state, university officials announced Wednesday.
UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State University said they will lengthen spring break and “start online or remote instruction” on March 22, The N&O reported.
The announcement came after Duke University made a similar decision on Tuesday.
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This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 8:35 AM with the headline "Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on March 12."
