As of Tuesday, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reports 15,346 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in North Carolina.  577 of those cases have resulted in death.

At a media briefing Tuesday afternoon, Gov. Roy Cooper said North Carolina had doubled its testing for COVID-19 as it prepared to enter Phase 1 of lifting restrictions due to the virus.  However, Cooper also says more testing is still needed in the state.  The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services plans to start listing COVID-19 testing sites later this week online.  Gov. Cooper continues to urge residents to follow the three W’s: Wear a face covering if you’re out in public, Wait six feet apart from others, Wash your hands frequently.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Wayne County Government reports 751 total positive COVID-19 cases in the county.  Just 229 of those cases come from outside congregate care facilities.  469 of the county’s positive cases come from offenders at the Neuse Correctional Institution in Goldsboro and 53 cases come from other congregate care facilities in the county.  Wayne County has recorded 13 coronavirus-related deaths, with three of those deaths coming from the Neuse Correctional Institution.

Note: County cases numbers may change as residence is verified.