NC Sees Highest COVID-19 Case Count Day; No Plan For Schools Yet
North Carolina has seen its largest number of new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, as NCGov. Roy Cooper announced 1,843 reported cases. Gov. Cooper also announced that NC officials are holding off on a statewide directive regarding the COVID-19 plan to reopen schools.
“As of today we have over 65,500 lab-confirmed cases; 1,843 new cases reported today; 901 people in the hospital; and 1,373 people who have died,” Gov. Cooper said. “Today is our highest day of confirmed cases. We send prayers to those who are fighting COVID or struggling after the death of a loved one.”
With the increase of numbers, the state urged people to be overly careful as we enter the July 4 holiday weekend. The state currently has about 10 percent of the tests being done coming back positive. In late May that number was at around 8 percent. While the number of lab-confirmed cases was at its highest so far, the number of tests administered per day is actually declining.
“As we go into the holiday weekend, we must keep our guard up,” Gov. Cooper said. “I know we want to gather with family and friends, but we have to remember that a large gathering, especially without masks and social distancing, is one of the most likely places for COVID-19 to spread.”
Previously, the state planned to announce the plan for school reopening on Wednesday, but the governor said that officials weren’t ready to set those guidelines just yet.
“”Let me be clear: We want our schools open for in-person instruction in August,” Gov. Cooper said. “The classroom is the best place for children to learn. Recent reports recommend it, and I know many parents and children agree.
“We are not issuing a statewide directive today on how schools should be open in the fall,” Gov. Cooper continued. “But we will soon. We want to get our students back in the classroom, and we want to make sure we get this right.”
With several year-round schools set to start in July, Gov. Cooper said those schools should plan to conduct remote learning for now.
“A few schools are scheduled to start in July, and we ask that those schools conduct remote learning until the decision is made for in-person learning,” he said. “Our goal remains getting children back in classroom for in-person instruction that’s safe for students and their teachers.”
