2020 coronavirus pandemic in North Carolina

The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached the U.S. state of North Carolina on March 3, 2020.

As of May 2021, North Carolina has the 10th highest number of confirmed cases in the United States.

, 69% of the adult population in North Carolina has been at least partially vaccinated, while 65% of the adult population has been fully vaccinated.

Preparations

On February 11, Governor Roy Cooper announced the creation of a Novel Coronavirus Task Force for North Carolina and a state health department hotline. Co-chairs of the task force were Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Elizabeth Cuervo Tilson, North Carolina State Health Director and the Chief Medical Officer for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and Mike Sprayberry, Director of North Carolina Emergency Management, for the Department of Public Safety.

Timeline of outbreak

2020

March

On March 4, Governor Roy Cooper identified the first case of COVID-19 as a person who had traveled to Washington state and was exposed at a long-term care facility. On March 6, the second case was announced in a man in Chatham County who had traveled to Italy in late February. On March 7, North Carolina had five new positive cases reported in Wake County — all five had traveled to Boston in late February to attend a conference by the pharmaceutical company Biogen.


After five more presumptive confirmed positive cases were reported on March 9, North Carolina governor Roy Cooper issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency on March 10. Erik A. Hooks, Secretary of Public Safety, was charged with seeking federal aid and implementing the order, which protected consumers from price gouging, suspended some transportation regulations and healthcare licensing restrictions, and authorized temporary hiring and expansion of testing capacity, among other provisions. On March 11, the University of North Carolina announced suspension of in-person classes at all UNC system schools starting March 20. Duke University also cancelled all on-campus classes the same day. On March 12, hours after Cooper requested that large events be postponed or cancelled, organizers canceled the 73rd annual North Carolina Azalea Festival. On March 14, Cooper issued an executive order that prohibited gatherings of 100 or more people, closed public schools for two weeks, and encouraged the practice of social distancing.

On March 15, Charlotte and Mecklenburg County jointly declared a state of emergency, restricting non-essential travel and gatherings. On March 16, Buncombe County Schools (BCS) began serving "drive-thru" breakfast and lunch every weekday and delivering meals to population centers throughout the district. As of March 1, 2021, the BCS School Nutrition Department had served more than 2.6 million meals. On March 17, Cooper ordered all of the state's bars and restaurants to suspend dine-in service. On March 19, the state confirmed its first community spread of the coronavirus.

In order to address the economic damage due to the pandemic, the North Carolina government extended the deadline for paying taxes to July 15, the same extension that the IRS made for federal taxes. On March 20, the National Guard was called in to assist with logistics and transportation of medical supplies. On March 21, Cooper waived restrictions to increase access to caregivers, to provide child care and elder care during the coronavirus pandemic.

On March 17, President and CEO Michael Blackwell of the Baptist Children's Homes, shared his condolences to the state of North Carolina, the rest of the United States, and the rest of the world in the wake of the start of the global pandemic. Baptist Children's Homes is following the health regulations given by the CDC to ensure the health and safety of the church's residents and staff members. Many of these health regulations had already been routinely utilized by the church for years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Four days later, on March 21, Blackwell made another spiritual post, starting with his condolences, and then going on to remind people that they matter, share hope, and are "a vessel of the Holy Spirit." He reminds people to remember their identity and worth, and to "walk and talk with confidence."

On March 22, Mecklenburg County announced a partnership with local charities to cover one week cost of people staying in hotels and motels to keep the tenants from being evicted. On March 23, Governor Cooper closed all K-12 public schools statewide through May 15, banned mass gatherings of over 50 people, and closed some businesses, including gyms, movie theaters, sweepstakes parlors, health clubs, and other similar facilities. Madison County, Pitt County, and the Town of Beaufort all issued shelter-in-place orders. On March 24, Mecklenburg County announced a stay-at-home order that came into effect on March 26. On March 25, state officials confirmed the first coronavirus death. The death was a patient in their 70s with underlying medical conditions, who was residing in Cabarrus County. Guilford County issued a stay-at-home order to curb the coronavirus spread. The order remained in effect until April 16. On March 26, Cabarrus County