NC Coronavirus Hospitalizations At New High On Memorial Day

CHARLOTTE, NC — On the same day groups demanding an end to pandemic restrictions protested throughout the state, North Carolina reported its highest number of hospitalizations from COVID-19.

North Carolina’s health department reported Monday morning that 627 are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Nearly 24,000 cases have been confirmed so far, and 754 people have died. Almost 345,000 people have been tested so far.

The Charlotte Observer reports that seven-day rolling averages in positive tests have been increasing since testing has expanded and restrictions have been relaxed.

Meanwhile, ReopenNC, a group protesting government restrictions to prevent spread of the coronavirus, had planned Memorial Day protests in Raleigh, Greensboro, Charlotte, Asheville, and Wilmington. The group, which started on Facebook in early April, now has nearly 80,000 members.

On Friday, the husband of one of the group’s founders used a Facebook video to threaten violence in support of their cause.

“Are we willing to kill people? Are we willing to lay our lives down? We have to say yes,” said Adam Smith, husband of ReOpen co-founder Ashley Smith. He later said in the same video that “if you bring guns, we’re going to bring guns.” The video was deleted after Raw Story reported on it.