Projected Deaths From COVID-19 In North Carolina Reduced by 79% Thanks To Social Distancing

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The projected death toll in North Carolina has just been significantly reduced thanks to our sweeping social distancing and stay at home directives, according to new data from the University of Washington.

While many are still disregarding social distancing orders, there have been enough people staying at home to reduce the number of projected deaths in our state from over 2,400 people to about 500.

The new projections also indicate that we will likely have enough hospital beds and intensive care units to handle the surge of COVID-19 patients.

These numbers and projects are based on a relatively small amount of data, so extreme caution must be taken before making any substantial behavioral changes. It’s crucial that we all still obey North Carolina’s Stay At Home Order if we hope to see the lowest number of deaths possible.

There are now 2,900 active COVID-19 cases in North Carolina and there have been 43 COVID-19 related deaths. There are now 733 active COVID-19 cases in Mecklenburg County and there have been 7 COVID-19 related deaths.

According to the CDC, patients with confirmed CoVID-19 infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:

  • fever
  • cough
  • shortness of breath

CDC believes at this time that symptoms of CoVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure.

2.4 Magnitude Earthquake Just Struck North Carolina, About 100 Miles West of Charlotte

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Early this morning at 7:01 am, a 2.4 magnitude earthquake rattled homes about 100 miles west of Charlotte, near Robbinsville, NC.

The quake had an epicenter of 35.347°N 84.079°W with a 13.8 km depth, according to the USGS.

Earthquakes have been increasing in frequency around the Charlotte region over the past few years. Last year, we saw a 4.4 magnitude quake hit Decatur, TN, and a couple months ago, a 2.6 magnitude quake rocked a small town just north of Charlotte.

The Carolinas have been known to experience the occasional damage-causing earthquakes.

According to USGS.gov, “The largest earthquake in the area (magnitude 5.1) occurred in 1916. Moderately damaging earthquakes strike the inland Carolinas every few decades, and smaller earthquakes are felt about once each year or two.”

Did you feel this morning’s quake? 

How New Inventors Can Get Professional Assistance from InventHelp

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Many of us take the things we use in day to day life for granted – this includes everything from switching the lights on to going online. However, there was a time when all these things we take for granted didn’t exist, and they were born as a result of a brilliant idea that some genius came up with. Had those geniuses not pursued their ideas, we could be living in a very different world today.

Sadly, there are people who come up with some great ideas these days, but many have no idea what the next step is. So, rather than doing something about their new invention ideas, they simply push the idea to the back of their minds and get on with their lives. Unfortunately, this has most likely led to the world missing out on some incredible inventions that could have brought even greater ease, convenience, and enjoyment into our lives. 

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be like this, as there are professionals who can help those who come up with fantastic ideas. The experts at InventHelp have already assisted many new inventors who have come up with a fabulous idea. This not only benefits the inventor by providing them with valuable support and an increased chance of success, but it also means that more fantastic inventions are turned into reality for the rest of us to enjoy.

What Can the Experts Do to Help?

So, what can the experts do to help new inventors who have come up with incredible ideas? Well, there are many different ways in which they can help, and this is why it is so important to new inventors to seek this type of support rather than simply giving up on their idea. So, let’s take a look at some different ways in which InventHelp can assist you as a new inventor:

Vital Support and Advice

When you are completely new to the world of inventing, it can all seem very daunting and challenging. In fact, this is why many new inventors give up almost right away, as they do not have anyone to turn to in order to get advice, support, and help. When you are doing something that is completely new to you and you have no idea what to do next, giving up is often the easiest thing – but it is not the right thing. PaydayMint is here to help in whatever way we can if you are in need of investment capital.

Fortunately, new inventors do not have to give up on their dreams, as they can turn to the professionals at InventHelp to get the advice, support, and help that they need. By doing this, you will always have someone to support you and provide you with valuable information and support when you need it. They can also provide support that will help you to navigate the world of inventing more easily and will make the whole experience far less stressful and much more enjoyable. 

The support and advice you get from the experts will also make it easier for you to turn your dream into a reality and can help to boost your chances of success. Remember, these are people who already have strong links within the industry, and this can go a long way toward helping you to get your invention off the ground.  

Help with Legal Protection

Many new inventors have no idea about the industry, and they do not realize the risks they face when it comes to intellectual property. When you come up with a new idea, there are various issues you may face, and because of this you need to ensure your idea or creation is properly and legally protected. Without this, you could be at risk of losing out to someone else, which means you would be back to square one.

One of the problems you face is down to intellectual property theft, and this is a huge risk that has impacted many new inventors who were none the wiser about the importance of legal patent protection. If you do not patent your idea or creation, anyone can come along and simply claim it was their idea or design, which leaves you in a very difficult position because you cannot prove otherwise.

The other issue is that someone else may come up with the same idea or design as you, and this may be a total coincidence but could still pose a risk for you. If that person then patents their design or idea while you never got around to patenting theirs, they will take precedent and the design or idea officially becomes theirs. 

So, as you can see, patent protection is extremely important and needs to be put into place at the earliest opportunity. The experts will be able to help ensure this is done and that it is done properly. You then get to benefit from vital protection and security as well as peace of mind. 

Assistance with Prototype Creation

Somewhere along the line in the invention process, you are going to want to get businesses interested in your creation or idea. You may also need to get potential investors interested in order to move your invention forward and bring it a step closer to commercial availability on the marketplace.

So, with this in mind, it is vital that you are able to demonstrate to businesses and potential investors that your product is something that is really needed and will do well. Of course, you can talk to them about your idea or creation, and this will give them some idea. However, often, telling does not give enough information for these people to make decisions about your invention.

By showing the audience what your creation does, what it looks like, and how it works, you stand a far better chance of generating lots of interest. The best way to do this is with a prototype, and there are various prototype options you can choose from. The professionals will use their experience and expertise to help you to decide on the right prototype so you can boost your chances of success.

How You Will Benefit

As you can see, there are lots of ways in which you will benefit by turning to specialists at InventHelp with your invention idea. Some of the major benefits you can look forward to include:

  • Support and expert advice around the clock
  • The experience of experts
  • Greater security and protection
  • Peace of mind
  • A far less stressful experience
  • The ability to focus on your creation
  • Access to many tools and resources
  • A greater chance of success
  • Guidance and information

Enjoy Your Invention Journey

New inventors can quickly become overwhelmed when it comes to taking their idea further, and this can make the whole process very stressful. This then boosts the chances of giving up and forgetting all about it. When you have expert help and assistance on hand, the journey becomes far more enjoyable, as you can focus on your idea or creation and leave the experts to deal with other matters. This means you are more likely to stick with it until the very end, and you are more likely to enjoy success when it comes to your new invention. 

Day 11 Of Charlotte’s COVID-19 ‘Stay At Home Order’ – Crowded Parks and Arrested Christians

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Last week I drove around Charlotte to see if the ‘Stay At Home Order‘ was being enforced, and to my surprise, I saw crowded basketball courts, crowded parks, and crowded river banks.

This weekend I drove around again to see if anything had changed.

Today at about 2:00pm in Freedom Park, there were police officers stationed at the front entrance and paroling the paths, but I did not see any groups being broken up.

I saw even larger groups in close proximity this afternoon in Uptown Charlotte’s Romare Bearden Park and on the Catawba River.

This video was posted today by WBTV showing a volleyball game that took place today in Romare Bearden Park:

No arrests were made today.

Yesterday, however, several Christians with the Cities 4 Life ministry (deemed ‘essential’ under the order) were arrested in front of A Preferred Women’s Health Center on Latrobe Drive (Charlotte’s busiest abortion clinic);

The arrests got the attention of former presidential candidate Ted Cruz, who tweeted that it was an “unconstitutional arrest”.

Mecklenburg County now has 664 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 6 confirmed COVID-19 related deaths.

What are your thoughts on our overall response to COVID-19? 

There Are Now Over 4,000 Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 and 53 Deaths Across The Carolinas

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As of 10am on Saturday, April 4th, there are now over 4,000 documented cases of COVID-19 and 53 deaths from the virus across the Carolinas.

North Carolina Health Officials are now reporting a total of 2,336 cases and 19 deaths (601 cases and 3 deaths in Mecklenburg County) and South Carolina Health Officials are reporting 1,700 cases and 34 deaths, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University.

In light of the spiking number of new cases, the CDC is now recommending that everyone wear “cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies)”. 

Beginning today, several major stores will be limiting the number of customers who are allowed to be in the store at the same time, including Walmart and Home Depot.

According to the CDC, patients with confirmed CoVID-19 infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:

  • fever
  • cough
  • shortness of breath

CDC believes at this time that symptoms of CoVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure.

Large Gift From Belk Endowment Pushes Charlotte COVID-19 Response Fund to $15 Million

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The John M. Belk Endowment announced it is donating $1 million to the COVID-19 Response Fund, a community-wide effort to assist Mecklenburg County residents affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The gift pushed the fund to the $15 million mark.

“Our team is honored to support the community at a time when the need is so vast,” said MC Belk Pilon, president and board chair of the John M. Belk Endowment. “Now more than ever, our community must come together to rise above these trying times.”

Foundation For The Carolinas and United Way of Central Carolinas launched the effort on March 16 to support a range of nonprofit organizations meeting the basic needs of those affected by the crisis, such as food, shelter, housing and emergency financial assistance. Individuals are urged to donate at HelpCharMeck.org.

The fund recently announced its first round of direct grants: $3 million to 14 nonprofits assisting those affected by the crisis. Local agencies and nonprofits are experiencing increased needs as local unemployment rates increase, school cancellations and stay-at-home orders cause disruptions, the economy tightens and those without health insurance face additional challenges getting the care they need.

“With this commitment to our community, MC Belk Pilon carries forward the John M. Belk Endowment’s critical work to provide opportunities that transform lives,” said Foundation For The Carolinas President and CEO Michael Marsicano. “Thanks to the John M. Belk Endowment and a host of community leaders and organizations, we’ve now raised more than $15 million in just over two weeks. While there’s more to do, I cannot thank enough all who have given so far.”

Donations have ranged from a two-dollar commitment from an anonymous online donor to $1.3 million from Mecklenburg County. Other gifts include $250,000 gifts from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation, the Weisiger Fleming Family Fund and EY; $500,000 each from Ally Financial, the Duke Energy Foundation and the Knight Foundation; and $1 million gifts from LendingTree, the City of Charlotte, the Howard R. Levine Foundation, Truist Financial Corporation, Bank of America, the David A. Tepper Charitable Foundation, Lowe’s, the C.D. Spangler Foundation and Coca-Cola Consolidated.

A competitive grant cycle is now open for future grant awards. Mecklenburg County 501(c)3 nonprofits that meet eligibility requirements may apply. Grants are awarded by an advisory group of community members. Visit uwcentralcarolinas.org/grants/COVID for eligibility requirements and to apply.

“Generous donors like the John M. Belk Endowment ensure we can try to help all those who desperately need help,” said United Way of Central Carolinas President and CEO Laura Yates Clark. “The needs of our community are quickly escalating as our friends and neighbors lose their jobs or are forced to stay at home. Local nonprofits are besieged with requests to help, and it’s up to us to be there for them.”

The fund is administered through a partnership between Foundation For The Carolinas and United Way of Central Carolinas, in close coordination with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

To contribute to the COVID-19 Response Fund, visit HelpCharMeck.org.

Charlotte Hospitals Request Field Hospital at UNCC Before Surge of Thousands of COVID-19 Cases

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Leaders at Charlotte’s Atruim and Novant Health systems have just requested that Mecklenburg County and its partners build a massive “care field hospital” that would have the ability to treat up to 3,000 additional COVID-19 patients during the anticipated surge of infections.

Yesterday, Atrium CEO Eugene Woods and Novant CEO Carl Armato sent an official joint letter to the county saying that in spite of all actions taken thus far to curb the spread of the virus, their hospitals will likely be overrun in the coming weeks.

“Our models suggest the surge will occur between mid-April and mid-May 2020. As seen in other cities across the nation, such a surge can quickly overwhelm hospitals, and a field hospital can act as an important relief valve. Therefore, the time to act is now to implement solutions needed to adequately care for our patients and community.

That is why we are requesting the County, in coordination with the State of North Carolina, take immediate action to provide the funding and resources required to establish a field hospital on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.”

At this point, Mecklenburg County has 533 residents who have tested positive for COVID-19, and 3 reported deaths.

According to the CDC, patients with confirmed CoVID-19 infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:

  • fever
  • cough
  • shortness of breath

CDC believes at this time that symptoms of CoVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure. This is based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS viruses.

North Carolina has the 2nd Biggest Increase in Unemployment Due to Coronavirus

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With the U.S. experiencing a record number of initial unemployment claims, WalletHub today released its report on the States with the Biggest Increases in Unemployment Due to Coronavirus.

To identify which states have experienced the largest unemployment increases, the site compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across two key metrics. These metrics compare initial unemployment claim increases for the week of March 23, 2020 to both the same week in 2019 and the first week of 2020.

Increase in North Carolina Unemployment Due to Coronavirus (1=Worst, 25=Avg.):

  • 6064.54% increase in the Number of Unemployment Insurance Initial Claims – from 2,772 the week of March 25, 2019 to 170,881 the week of March 23, 2020. 4th highest increase in the U.S.
  • 4771.18% increase in the Number of Unemployment Insurance Initial Claims – from 3,508 in the first week of the year to 170,881 the week of March 23, 2020. 3rd highest increase in the U.S.

States with the Biggest Increase in Unemployment Due to Coronavirus

Overall Rank State Increase in Unemployment Claims (2020 vs. 2019)* Increase in Unemployment Claims (March vs. January 2020)**
1 Louisiana 5772.15% 5800.48%
2 North Carolina 6064.54% 4771.18%
3 Indiana 7093.46% 3198.22%
4 New Hampshire 6240.42% 3878.84%
5 Florida 4179.79% 4815.55%
6 Virginia 5333.52% 3479.17%
7 Michigan 6467.15% 2255.46%
8 Kentucky 5099.54% 2078.28%
9 District of Columbia 3822.96% 2991.06%
10 New Mexico 3291.34% 3427.16%
11 Tennessee 3702.49% 2963.94%
12 Ohio 4291.30% 2429.31%
13 Nevada 3447.89% 3054.55%
14 Massachusetts 4779.06% 1813.17%
15 Hawaii 3812.01% 2577.32%
16 Colorado 3998.72% 2400.37%
17 Delaware 4367.53% 2069.94%
18 Kansas 3573.76% 2611.19%
19 Mississippi 3515.19% 2526.99%
20 North Dakota 4633.46% 1406.10%
21 South Dakota 4359.73% 1569.60%
22 Nebraska 3606.18% 2135.85%
23 Vermont 3538.04% 2023.97%
24 Maryland 3386.48% 1997.84%
25 Rhode Island 4082.86% 1323.28%
26 Arizona 2281.39% 2743.68%
27 Washington 3327.81% 1770.52%
28 Pennsylvania 3758.17% 1386.85%
29 Utah 3240.35% 1781.42%
30 Alabama 3463.82% 1577.88%
31 Minnesota 3482.01% 1406.87%
32 Maine 3381.51% 1315.21%
33 California 2180.75% 2293.05%
34 Texas 2135.72% 2128.49%
35 Missouri 3161.43% 1194.27%
36 South Carolina 3487.17% 768.10%
37 Iowa 3005.90% 1174.60%
38 New Jersey 2881.07% 1241.04%
39 Oklahoma 2535.99% 1428.03%
40 Montana 2687.45% 1156.59%
41 Georgia 3073.96% 676.00%
42 Idaho 2606.97% 990.29%
43 New York 2716.53% 717.02%
44 Illinois 1829.93% 1412.29%
45 Arkansas 2110.34% 945.96%
46 Alaska 1537.32% 1380.43%
47 West Virginia 2089.49% 805.75%
48 Wyoming 2202.96% 606.19%
49 Wisconsin 1850.05% 761.40%
50 Connecticut 1591.23% 322.59%
51 Oregon 920.21% 533.04%

You can read the full report here.

University City Based Organization Responds to Community Needs During COVID-19 Outbreak

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UCITY Family Zone, a community organization focused on geography in and around University City, is helping to meet community needs during the coronavirus outbreak. Ignited by Family Zone partners, UCITY Family Zone COVID-19 Response Group was created for residents to mitigate needs in and around zip codes 28262 and 28213. The group has members volunteering in the community and has created a suite of resources for area residents and businesses.

“We appreciate so much the leadership and commitment of our community partners to come together and support our neighbors,” said Mark DeHaven, Distinguished Professor of Community Health, UNC College of Health and Human Services and Founding Director of UCITY Family Zone. “The needs of our community are great – but so are our resources. It is truly inspirational what we can accomplish and how we can lift the entire community when we work together with everyone pulling in one direction.”

UCITY Family Zone COVID-19 Response Group holds three virtual meetings each week to discuss urgent community needs and coordinate action plans. For example, immediately following the initial announcement of Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools closings, the response group identified neighborhoods with children in need of access to meals during the day. Heal Charlotte, The Community Hub, Men of Destiny, Stonebridge Community Church and other UCITY Family Zone members worked with area food pantries, restaurants like 5Church and volunteers to deliver meals each weekday to neighborhoods in need. Through collaboration with the Response Group, Faith CME Church, HOPE Street Food Pantry, and other local food pantries that were facing shortages have received donations from University City United Methodist Church and other local partners to supplement the supplies they would normally receive from Loaves and Fishes, which has faced shortages due to high-demand.

In addition to food security, the COVID-19 Response Group is addressing other areas of need for the UCITY Family Zone community. The complete areas of focus include:

  • Food security: access to meals and updates on food pantry hours and availability
  • Economic stability: sharing resources for utility assistance and discounted or free services
  • Education: tutoring, wifi access for tablet and laptop access
  • COVID-19 Safety: sharing updated mandates and tips for self-isolation and sheltering in place, hand washing tips and transportation options
  • Grants and funding: emergency response funds and newly available grants
  • Health: updates from hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and the like
  • Housing: where and how to request rental and mortgage assistance, or delays for evictions

UCITY Family Zone is seeking resources and needs on a continuous basis throughout the coronavirus outbreak. Those seeking to support efforts, or report needs should email info@ucityfamilyzone.com.

Second Person in Mecklenburg Died From COVID-19 As Case Count Rises To 465

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According to the Mecklenburg County Health Department, a second person in our county has just died from COVID-19. The person’s name, age, and specific location in the county was not released.

Gaston County also just announced their first death from COVID-19.

This brings the total number of COVID-19 deaths in North Carolina to 13.

In a press release this morning, county health officials also noted that there are now a total of 465 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mecklenburg County.

“As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Mecklenburg County, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office has announced a Stay at Home order for County residents. This order supersedes all previous and other local orders and state orders. The State has issued a Stay at Home Order for the State of North Carolina effective at 5 p.m. March 30. The most restrictive Order in any situation has authority.”

If you have any questions about the the Stay at Home order, please call the Stay at Home Order Call Center at 704-353-1926.

According to the CDC, patients with confirmed CoVID-19 infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:

  • fever
  • cough
  • shortness of breath

CDC believes at this time that symptoms of CoVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure. This is based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of MERS viruses.

Some of the best ways to stay healthy include;