ASHEVILLE - As of 11 a.m. May 7, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services tallied 13,397 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the state. That's an increase of 639 cases, or 5%, from the May 6 numbers.
NCDHHS counted 507 deaths statewide, an increase of 30, or 6.3%, from the May 6 report.
According to the state count, Buncombe County had 88 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of May 7. Four people had died in Buncombe from COVID-19.
Meanwhile, according to state counts, Henderson County had 216 cases and 23 deaths.
Avery County remained the only county in the state without a confirmed case.
COVID-19 cases in other Western North Carolina counties, according to state counts:
- Cherokee: 18 cases, 1 death.
- Clay: 5 cases, 0 deaths.
- Graham: 2 cases, 0 deaths.
- Haywood: 16 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: 30 cases, 0 deaths.
- Swain: 5 cases, 0 deaths.
- Transylvania: 7 cases, 0 deaths.
- Watauga: 9 cases, 0 deaths.
- Yancey: 7 cases, 0 deaths.
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Tonight's the night
Buncombe is set to begin lifting Stay Home, Stay Safe restrictions at 5 p.m. May 8 after officials issued an order May 7 establishing Phase 1 of the process. The restrictions were put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Mackenzie Wicker reports that Board of Commissioners Chairman Brownie Newman signed a declaration during an afternoon community briefing through which Buncombe formally adopted the Phase 1 set forth by Gov. Roy Cooper earlier this week, deviating from it only on the matter of tourism. It allows most businesses to reopen as long as they can practice social distancing and churches to hold outdoor services for an unlimited number of people.
More: Coronavirus: Buncombe to enter Phase 1 of reopening May 8 alongside NC, with tourism limits
Itching to get outdoors?
Gorges State Park is set to reopen partially on May 13, according to North Carolina State Parks spokeswoman Katie Hall, and many other state parks will reopen in some fashion May 9, Elizabeth Anne Brown reports.
"We're expecting record crowds despite the virus," Hall said.
State parks in Western North Carolina that will partially reopen May 9, according to the NC State Parks website, include Chimney Rock, Grandfather Mountain, Lake James and Mount Mitchell.
More: Coronavirus: Many state parks partially reopen May 9; Pisgah forest, Gorges on May 13
What about Pisgah National Forest?
One of the sticking points with Gorges is that the trail from the park to the popular Rainbow Falls crosses into Pisgah National Forest. Many parts of the forest have been closed since April 13.
Does the partial reopening of Gorges State Park on May 13 indicate that Pisgah National Forest will ease restrictions in some of its closed areas?
Elizabeth Anne Brown reports that Adrianne Rubiaco, spokesperson for the Forest Service in North Carolina, said May 7 that the Forest Service is "reassessing trail closures" and "cannot speak to a specific reopening date at this time."
We'll be pressing the Forest Service for more details.
Don't head to DuPont
DuPont State Recreational Forest won't open the weekend of May 9, according to communications director Bruce MacDonald.
They're still ironing out essential safety details — like how bathrooms will be cleaned — and won't be ready in time to reopen with many state parks on May 9, Elizabeth Anne Brown reports.
More: DuPont State Recreational Forest won't reopen yet — but it will soon
But some can visit Biltmore
Biltmore Estate, the Asheville area's largest tourism draw, will begin a phased reopening starting May 9, John Boyle reports.
The plan carries some restrictions, according to a press release. The 8,000-acre estate will reopen its park areas to Biltmore annual pass-holders who live in Western North Carolina.
While visitors can enjoy the grounds starting May 9, the 250-room Biltmore House will remain closed "until government mandates are updated," the release states. Other estate experiences, including the Downton Abbey exhibition, will remain closed.
More: Coronavirus: Biltmore Estate to start limited reopening May 9
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