ASHEVILLE - As of 10:45 a.m. May 6, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services tallied 12,758 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the state. That's an increase of 502 cases, or 4.1%, from the May 5 numbers.
NCDHHS counted 477 deaths statewide, an increase of 25, or 5.5%, from the May 5 report.
As of 1 p.m. May 4, Buncombe County reported 79 confirmed cases of coronavirus. Four people had died in Buncombe from COVID-19.
Meanwhile, according to state counts, Henderson County had 213 cases and 22 deaths.
Avery County was the only county in the state without a confirmed case.
COVID-19 cases in other Western North Carolina counties, according to state counts:
- Cherokee: 19 cases, 1 death.
- Clay: 5 cases, 0 deaths.
- Graham: 2 cases, 0 deaths.
- Haywood: 15 cases, 0 deaths.
- Jackson: 20 cases, 1 death.
- Macon: 3 cases, 1 death.
- Madison: 1 case, 0 deaths.
- McDowell: 28 cases, 1 death.
- Mitchell: 5 cases, 0 deaths.
- Polk: 27 cases, 0 deaths.
- Swain: 4 cases, 0 deaths.
- Transylvania: 7 cases, 0 deaths.
- Watauga: 8 cases, 0 deaths.
- Yancey: 1 case, 0 deaths.
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County commissioners discuss reopening
Buncombe commissioners clashed May 5 over how closely the county should align with North Carolina in the lifting of social distancing measures intended to curb the spread of COVID-19 and how involved the board should be in making that call.
Mackenzie Wicker reported that the seven-person board's three Republican members argued that Buncombe should fully adopt the state's policies going forward on all matters but tourism. They complained that Democratic Chairman Brownie Newman made decisions during the emergency response without first consulting the full board and said there was a need for more communication among elected officials.
More: Coronavirus: Commissioners clash over how closely Buncombe should align with NC reopening
An agreement on funeral size
Bereaved Buncombe residents are now allowed to gather in groups of 50 to mourn those they've lost after the board of commissioners voted at its May 5 meeting to increase the permitted attendance to funerals, Mackenzie Wicker reports.
Funerals previously were limited to gatherings of 10 or fewer in Buncombe. Statewide, services of 50 were already allowed as long as social distancing restrictions were met. That count includes clergy.
More: Coronavirus: Buncombe now allowing 50 attendees at funerals
What about the outdoors?
Casey Blake reported last week that Great Smokies National Park will reopen some roads and trails May 9. Most of the half-million-acre park was closed March 24 in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus among staff and visitors. The remainder was closed by April 10.
More: Coronavirus: Great Smoky Mountains National Park announces plans to reopen roads, trails
Meanwhile, state parks; DuPont State Forest; many popular roads, trails and recreation areas in Pisgah National Forest; and much of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Western North Carolina are closed.
Gov. Roy Cooper's Phase 1 reopening plan encourages state parks to reopen by May 9. Will they? And what about the other outdoors areas? As of the morning of May 9, there have been no official announcements about outdoors reopenings. Citizen Times reporters are looking into this issue, and we'll have reports when word comes down.
Different perspectives
The empty dining rooms of Madison County’s restaurants show the impact of stay at home orders due to the coronavirus. All restaurants owners, regardless of whether they’ve chosen to serve carryout meals or shut up shop entirely, have seen their businesses shift dramatically in a matter of moments.
Reporter Paul Moon spoke with three restaurant owners representing each of Madison County’s three towns: Nathan McMahan of Stackhouse in Mars Hill, Jeff Willis of High Ridge Adventures in Marshall and Tim Arnett of Spring Creek Tavern in Hot Springs, to get their perspective on the reality they now face and their hopes for the future.
More: 3 towns, 3 restaurants, 3 stories of businesses coping with the coronavirus
Asheville Outlets plans
Cooper's Phase 1 of reopening North Carolina begins at 5 p.m. May 8. It allows retail businesses to open at 50% capacity with customer social distancing encouraged.
That's good news for people who like to shop at Asheville Outlets. Here's its press release:
Over a dozen retailers and eateries will begin reopening May 9 at Asheville Outlets. Acropolis, China Max, Beef Jerky, Fragrance Outlet, Kirkland’s, Le Creuset, Lindt Chocolate, Monogram Asheville, Pandora, Rack Room Shoes, Skechers, Sportsman’s Warehouse, iSmashed, VF Outlet, Waterworks, West Elm and Workshop Tools will all open this Saturday. Additional store opening announcements will be made in the coming days.
Asheville Outlets hours will be 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Individual store and eatery hours and openings will vary.
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Coronavirus: What you need to know in Asheville, WNC May 7 - Citizen Times
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