Duke Health Gov. Roy Cooper watches while Tracy Toner gives a COVID-19 vaccination to Duke nurse Arianna Motsinger at the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham on Monday, December 21, 2020. This post will be updated periodically with the latest information on how the coronavirus is affecting North Carolina. Scroll down for older updates. For a recap of last week's news, check out Coronavirus Live Updates: Week of April 26. May 7, 2021 5:40 p.m. - North Carolina Chief Justice Paul Newby has issued a new order today extending some, but not all, COVID-19 precautions for the state's courts. Among the precautions that remain in effect include the option for remote court hearings and prohibiting anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19 from entering a courthouse. The new order will discontinue a statewide mandate on social distancing in courts, and leave that up to local officials. Newby said he was able to ease restrictions due to the wide availability of vaccines. -