Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on April 15

We’re keeping track of the most up-to-date news about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.

Cases top 5,300

North Carolina has at least 5,320 reported cases of the coronavirus as of Wednesday morning, and 127 people have died, according to state and county health departments.

Ninety-three of North Carolina’s 100 counties have reported at least one case of COVID-19.

Mecklenburg County, the epicenter of the state’s outbreak, has 1,015 reported cases and 16 deaths.

In the Triangle, Wake County has 537 reported cases, Durham County has 349, Orange County has 159, and Johnston County has 107. Thirteen deaths have been reported in the four counties.

Wake County reported its first death Wednesday afternoon.

At least 431 North Carolinians were hospitalized with the virus as of Wednesday, up from 418 the day before, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services says.

The state reported 99 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, the first time in more than a week that the day-to-day total rose by fewer than 100, The News & Observer reported. State officials say restrictions are helping to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Ideas to ease restrictions

On Wednesday, Gov. Roy Cooper discussed at a news conference ideas to ease restrictions across the state.

For businesses and schools to be reopened, the governor said three things need to happen: testing, tracing and trends and that North Carolina must reopen slowly.

Testing involves making coronavirus and antibody tests widely available, and tracing means tracking the virus when there are new cases. Trends on cases, hospitalizations and deaths need to move in the right direction, Cooper said.

The governor said measures in place are working to flatten the curve, but they are not sustainable.

Field hospital not needed

Two hospital systems in the Charlotte area have dropped their request for a field hospital to help treat coronavirus patients.

Novant Health and Atrium Health told officials in a letter Wednesday that they think, for now, they have the capacity to handle a surge of patients, and both have managed to increase the capacity in their facilities.

“We are seeing a flattening of the curve, resulting in a continued decline in peak hospital census projections. Instead of positive cases doubling every 2.85 days, as they were previously, the current trajectory is showing positive cases now doubling every 6 days,” they wrote Wednesday.

Counties want to make reopening decision

Two North Carolina counties, Lincoln and Gaston, asked Gov. Roy Cooper in letters to let them make future decisions on when to allow restaurants and bars to reopen.

A statewide stay-at-home order is in effect until April 29, but it could be extended.

The governor has said a “wholesale lifting” of it would be a “catastrophe.”

But leaders of the two counties believe they should be the ones to make the decision on when to reopen.

“I firmly believe that Gaston County, along with each of the other 99 counties, can best decide on how to address the risk in each of our home territories,” Tracy L. Philbeck, chair of the Gaston County Board of Commissioners, wrote in the letter.

More nursing home cases

Two coronavirus-related deaths and 19 cases of the disease were linked to the Mount Olive Center, a nursing home roughly 65 miles southeast of Raleigh, WRAL first reported.

Statewide, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reports outbreaks at 30 nursing homes.

Last week, N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper ordered tighter restrictions for nursing homes. They prevent group activities, require staffers to wear face masks and call for facilities to screen for symptoms.

Relief for airports

North Carolina airports will receive $284 million in aid from the federal government to curb the revenue loss due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport will get the most, more than $135.5 million. Raleigh-Durham International Airport will receive $49.6 million.

A total of 72 airports in the state will get assistance.

Police defend tweet

The Raleigh Police Department on Tuesday evening defended a Twitter post it had written that said, “Protesting is a non-essential activity.”

The tweet was in response to a rally in downtown Raleigh on Tuesday morning by the group ReOpenNC. More than 100 protesters gathered to oppose the state’s stay-at-home order and business closures. One person was arrested.

Police said there is no exemption in the stay-at-home order for protesting.

Help for bars and restaurants

Restaurants and bars in the Charlotte area will get some relief from lost sales due to closures prompted by the coronavirus.

The Mecklenburg County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board approved a buy-back program in which restaurants and bars can return unused liquor bottles. The program will start Wednesday and last through May 14.

Up to $1 million has been set aside for refunds.

Mobile testing

Two hospital systems in the Charlotte area, Atrium Health and Novant Health, will offer mobile testing programs for the coronavirus this week in an effort to expand testing for minorities.

Half of coronavirus patients in Mecklenburg County are black, but African Americans make up only one-third of the county’s population.