April 14. By Dave Yochum. Fifteen Mecklenburg residents have died from COVID-19, according to the Mecklenburg County Department of Health. That’s up from 12 reported deaths as of yesterday.

The statewide death total as per the NC Dept. of Health & Human Services jumped to 108 from 86 overnight. There are now 5,024 COVID-19 cases statewide. Ninety-three out of 100 counties have reported COVID-19, up from 92 counties yesterday

NC hotspot: Mecklenburg

Mecklenburg County has a total of 970 cases, according to the NCDHHS. Wake County, which is the same size as Mecklenburg, has only 476 cases.

The number of cases per 1,000 people is 4.461 in Wake vs. 8.781 in Mecklenburg.

Regardless, the stay at home order seems to be flattening the curve. There has been a decrease in hospitalizations and new cases.

Enough ventilators

The NC Dept. of Health & Human Services says there are 597 patients on ventilators, with a total of 2,420 available statewide. The number of patients on a ventilator is not specific to COVID-19. Ventilators in hospitals are self-reported by hospitals, with 66% of hospitals reporting statewide.

Tighter rules for stores

The governor tightened up social distancing rules as of 5 pm yesterday.

Grocery stores and other retailers can only have five people for every 1,000 square feet in the store at a time.

Retailers must offer shopping times for seniors and make hand sanitizer accessible, among other things.

Last week gates to public parks were closed to vehicular traffic as a way to further discourage social gathering. Parks will be walk-in only, and any cars left at the gates will be towed.