GREENSBORO, N.C. — WFMY News 2 is providing daily coronavirus updates with the latest information from emergency leaders, the state's task force, health departments, universities, school districts, and a lot more.
APRIL 27, 2020
8:05 p.m. - Davidson County reports fifth death due to coronavirus
A fifth person has died from the coronavirus in Davidson County.
The Davidson County Health Department said the person died from complications which were associated with COVID-19, Monday at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in High Point.
7:25 p.m. - 2 deaths were confirmed at Clapps Nursing Center in Guilford County.
The coronavirus outbreak at the Pleasant Garden nursing home claimed the lives of two residents.
5:35 p.m. - President Donald Trump holds coronavirus press conference.
President Donald Trump announced the White House will begin coordinating with state representatives next week to develop a three-part reopening plan. The plan was described as a comprehensive overview of its efforts to make testing for COVID-19 more widely available. The CDC released new priorities for coronavirus testing Monday, including testing asymptomatic individuals in high-risk settings.
The White House is aiming for states to have enough tests and needed supplies to test at least 2.6% of their populations per month — a figure needed to catch asymptomatic spread.
The administration is also releasing a “testing blueprint” for states, outlining how they should prioritize testing as they devising their reopening plans. It includes a focus on surveillance testing, as well as “rapid response” programs to isolate those who test positive and identify those they came in contact with.
The administration aims to have the market “flooded” with tests for the fall, when COVID-19 is expected to recur alongside the seasonal flu. President Trump's said national coronavirus testing has doubled in the last week. The White House expects nearly 2 million tests per week will begin being administered across the United States by next month.
Attorney General William Barr has directed federal prosecutors across the country to “be on the lookout” for state and local coronavirus-related restrictions that could be unconstitutional.
Barr issued a two-page memo on Monday to U.S. attorneys, saying the department would pursue action in court, if necessary.
3:00 p.m. - NCDHHS and other members of the state's coronavirus task force provided an update.
Secretary Mandy Cohen said the task force is working to expand “contact tracing” which she said is the process of supporting patients in order to stop the chain of the spread of COVID-19.
“We are going to continue to adjust to the needs of North Carolina,” said Cohen.
Cohen reiterated the new information shared by the CDC which adds 6 new symptoms to the list for COVID-19 symptoms.
New symptoms include ones such as repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, sore throat, and loss of taste and smell.
Director Mike Sprayberry said the initiative is working aggressively to find personal protective equipment better known as "PPE" for first responders.
Sprayberry said surgical gowns and N95 masks remain “hard to get.”
Cohen addressed questions regarding the recent increase of outbreaks at food processing facilities and how North Carolina is working prevent outbreaks at state facilities.
She said there are policies in place to help protect food processing facility workers.
“Our teams have been working together to make sure they are following guidelines,” she said.
11:30 a.m. - The City of Greensboro will offer free face masks to families that need them beginning Wednesday, April 29.
10:35 a.m. - According to the NCDHHS, 306 people have died from COVID-19 and there are 9,142 confirmed cases across 95 counties.
7:45 a.m. - Join our LIVE conversation on After GMS! If restrictions were lifted in North Carolina, would you feel comfortable doing things like flying or going out to eat?
News to note on Monday:
- Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center said leadership and administrative employees will be furloughed beginning this week or in early May because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Rudd Farm in Greensboro announced it is closed until further notice after some employees tested positive for coronavirus. The farm recently hosted drive-thru events so patrons could buy strawberries while practicing social distancing.
- The CDC has added six new symptoms to coronavirus: chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell.
- There are 8,830 coronavirus cases and 299 deaths in North Carolina as of Sunday, according to the NCDHHS.
FACTS NOT FEAR
Remember facts, not fear when talking about the coronavirus. You should take the same measures recommended by health leaders to prevent the spread of the flu and other viruses. That means washing your hands, avoiding touching your face, and covering coughs and sneezes.
WHERE YOU GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS IS IMPORTANT
It is important to make sure the information you are getting about the coronavirus is coming directly from reliable sources like the CDC and NCDHHS. Be careful not to spread misinformation about coronavirus on social media.
NC CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE
The state also has a special hotline set up where you can call 866-462-3821 for more information on the coronavirus. You can also submit questions online at ncpoisoncontrol.org or select chat to talk with someone about the virus.
You can also text keyword VIRUS to WFMY News 2 at 336-379-5775 to find out more information.