The Smithfield Foods meat-processing plant in Tar Heel confirmed a COVID-19 case before April 20 , 2020 .
According to NCDHHS , all five had traveled to Boston in late February to attend a conference by the pharmaceutical company Biogen. On April 18 , the Smithfield Foods meat-processing plant in Tar Heel had a reported case of COVID-19.As of April 28 , 96 of North Carolina 's 100 counties reported having cases .