Coronavirus local updates: SC officials report 168 new COVID-19 cases, 10 additional deaths

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Nearly 4 million people worldwide — including more than 1.3 million people in the United States – have been infected with the new coronavirus, and the number of deaths from the outbreak continues to rise. Officials are attempting to contain the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S. as hospitals manage unprecedented patient surges.

>> Scroll below for live, local real-time minute-by-minute updates

***Possible news conferences scheduled for today***

Mecklenburg County: (TBA)

North Carolina Task Force: (TBA)

South Carolina Task Force (TBA)

White House Task Force: (TBA)

>> Have questions about the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the Carolinas? We have an entire section dedicated to coverage of the outbreak — CLICK HERE FOR MORE.

>> We’ll bring you LIVE updates on Channel 9 Eyewitness News. Get extended coverage on the free WSOC Now app on Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV.

>> Here are the latest updates about COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in North Carolina and South Carolina. Scroll below for real-time updates.

Live, local updates from Saturday:

Officials are reporting an additional positive coronavirus case in Caldwell County.

This brings the total in the county to 60 cases.

Mecklenburg County said 2,055 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and 62 people have died due to the virus.

The Tyson Foods facility fresh plant division in Wilkesboro said it will be closed Saturday and Monday for deep clean and sanitizing.

The facility will resume operations Tuesday.

Channel 9 learned of an outbreak at the plant at the end of April.

They said Matrix Medical has been at the facility this week testing staff members for the coronavirus.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 168 new cases of COVID-19 and 10 additional deaths.

This brings the total number of positive cases in South Carolina to 7,531 and those who have died to 330.

Officials said eight deaths were elderly people from Charleston (1), Clarendon (1), Greenville (1), Lexington (2), Richland (2), and Williamsburg (1) counties, and two deaths were middle-aged people in Berkeley (1) and Fairfield (1) counties.

Health officials are reporting 138 positive coronavirus cases in Burke County and these are from traveling, congregate living and community spread.

Officials said all positive cases have been isolated and the health department will continue to investigate the cases while working to determine if anyone else may have come into contact with the virus.

Officials noted that it is important to remember that as communities increase testing, the numbers of positive and negative tests will also increase. The health department said it is important to follow recommendations from health officials and the state.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting 14,360 cases of COVID-19 in 99 counties. That is up 492 from Friday. Avery County is the only county in North Carolina to not see any cases of coronavirus so far.

There have been 17 new deaths attributed to COVID-19 since Friday, bringing the state’s total to 544.

NCDHHS reported that 513 people remain hospitalized and 186,362 tests have been completed.

Mecklenburg County continues to lead the state in both cases and deaths with 2,043 and 61 respectively.

(Men account for 53% of deaths)

Cases and deaths in congregate living settings:

There have been 62 outbreaks in nursing homes across the state, resulting in 2,111 cases and 277 deaths (Anson, Burke (2); Cabarrus; Cleveland; Iredell; Mecklenburg (6); Rowan (4); Union (2)).

There have been 23 outbreaks at residential care facilities across the state, resulting in 387 cases and 42 deaths (Cabarrus (2); Mecklenburg (5); Stanly; Union).

As the state looks to go through the phases of reopening, officials are looking to meet certain benchmarks. Here’s how we’re doing on some of those:

Decrease in percent of positive tests? We have been level in the last week.

Hospitalizations decreasing? We are level. The number decreased by two from Friday to Saturday. Dr. Cohen has said this is considered level.

Testing capacity? The state did meet its goal in the last 24 hours with 7,749 tests.

Contract tracers? Have not met this goal. The state still only has 250 and is working to double this workforce to 500.

PPE Supplies? The state does not have enough gowns to handle 30 days, however, the state now reports it does have enough N-95 masks.

With North Carolina under Phase 1 of reopening, there is more for all of us to do.

State parks are expected to reopen Saturday morning. Channel 9 went to South Mountain State Park in Burke County Friday. Rangers at South Mountain posted signs near the High Shoals Waterfall, limiting the number of people on the viewing deck.

Picnic areas and campgrounds are still off limits at all state parks.

Authorities said you can go fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking and hiking. Parks will have limited capacity and limited hours.

Malls were also part of the first phase as well and that started at 5 p.m. Friday, but most malls waited until Saturday to reopen.

SouthPark Mall, Charlotte Premium Outlets and Concord Mills are all opening at 11 a.m., but don’t be surprised if most stores in the malls are still closed.

All employees will wear masks and get daily temperature checks. If you’re shopping, you can get masks, sanitizer and your temperature checked as well. Crews will also clean common areas like food courts.