Coronavirus pandemic: What you need to know in Asheville, WNC, June 21 – Citizen Times

ASHEVILLE - North Carolina COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise.

As of noon June 20, 883 people were hospitalized with the disease in the state, the highest number since the start of the pandemic, and the fifth consecutive day of record-setting numbers.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services tallied 51,389lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 statewide as of noon June 20, an increase of 1,549 from the previous day. That is the third-highest one-day case increase since the start of the pandemic.

NCDHHS counts a total of 1,212 deaths associated with lab-tested COVID-19 cases statewide, an increase of 15 over the previous day.

Those numbersdiffer from the Johns Hopkins University report in the graphic above.As of about 1:30 p.m. June 20, JHU counted 2,2028,368 confirmed cases and 119,241deaths as a result of COVID-19 in the Unites States. Its worldwide tally was 8,705,724 cases and 461,037 deaths.

As of about noon June 20, Buncombe County reported 487cases, up four from the previous day. The number of COVID-19 related deaths in the county remained at 36

Confirmed cases in other Western North Carolina counties, according to state counts:

The Citizen Times is providing this story for free to readers because of the need for information about the coronavirus. We encourage you to further support local journalism by subscribing.

Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday vetoed another attempt by Republican legislators to accelerate the speed in which North Carolina commerce is being restored through his COVID-19 executive order.

Gary D. Robertson of the Associated Press reports that the vetoed measure would have allowed fitness centers and gyms shuttered since March to reopen at 50% capacity and require they follow social distancing and cleanliness rules. The bill also tried again to let still-closed bars reopen for outdoor patrons only and expand current outdoor seating for restaurants already partially reopened for sit-down service.

Two weeks ago, Cooper vetoed a bill containing help for bars and restaurants, saying legislation was the wrong way to reopen during uncertain times in which virus cases could spike. The bill vetoed Friday had offered the governor the authority to still shut down the bars and gyms under his emergency powers, but only with the agreement of the Council of State. The veto shows the "fail-safe" legislators said they gave him wasn't enough.

The Stony Fork Picnic Area in Pisgah National Forest is open.(Photo: John Boyle, jboyle@citizen-times.com)

Looking for something to do on Father's Day?

The weather is expected to be sunny and warm in the Western North Carolina mountains, and more recreation areas are now open in Pisgah National Forest, reports Karen Chvez.

These include the ultra-popular Looking Glass Falls and Picnic Area, and the picnic areas at Pink Beds, Stony Fork, Sycamore Flats, and Coontree in the Davidson River Corridor, as well as all the picnic areas along U.S. 276, and Wash Creek Road/FSR 5000, in the Pisgah Ranger District.

The Forest Service began closing some of its most popular recreation areas in late March and early April as the coronavirus pandemic swept across the country.

More: Summer starts with more Pisgah National Forest openings including Looking Glass Falls

Clarence Robinson, owner of Cooking With Comedy.(Photo: Courtesy of the YMCA)

Local food insecurity has increased during the COVID-19 shutdown, along with unemployment and uncertainty about the economic future. Since mid-March, the YMCA of Western North Carolina has scaled up its traditional nutrition outreach program to meet community needs.

Mackensy Lunsford reports that over the past three months the Y has served more than 40,000 prepared meals through its ongoing partnership with Wicked Weed and Food Connection as part of the Beers That Build initiative. The delivery program has brought meals to children, families, seniors, veterans and shelter residents.

Additionally, the YMCAs award-winning summer feeding program is partnering with three local chefs to serve healthy, delicious food at its summer day camps.

The Ys vending partners are Chef Gene Ettison of the Ettison Investment Group, Chef Aaron Mathews of McDowell Local and Chef Clarence Robinson of Cooking with Comedy Catering.

More: As need expands, Asheville chefs throw support behind YMCA's summer feeding programs

Anthony Little, left, with members of his family.(Photo: Courtesy Photo)

David Thompson reports in this story for subscribers:

Jackie Little would've said goodbye in a different way if she knew this could be the final moment with her husband of 45 years.

Little, a 63-year-old Asheville resident, watched from the parking lot as her husband's silhouette disappeared through the entrance of Mission Hospital on June 15. Anthony Little, 68, had been ill for a week and was suffering from COVID-19 symptoms. .

His wife had not been allowed to follow. Instead she remained in her car alone, amid a fog of worry and confusion.

"I was expecting to see him very soon," Jackie Little said. "He told me through FaceTime that they were going to put some tubes in him and that he'd contact me as soon as he could."

The next day, Jackie Little received a call from a Mission doctor: Anthony Little was dying.

He had tested positive for COVID-19 and had been placed on a respirator. The doctor told Jackie that her husband's kidneys were failing and to begin making end-of-life arrangements.

Read the fullstory: Coronavirus: A COVID-19 diagnosis, a death prognosis and a family's claim of Mission's disparity

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Coronavirus pandemic: What you need to know in Asheville, WNC, June 21 - Citizen Times