Coronavirus live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Dec. 30
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We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Cases surpass 532,000
At least 532,830 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 6,729 have died, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday reported 8,551 new COVID-19 cases, up from 3,563 reported the day before. The state health department said technical issues contributed to Wednesday’s higher case count.
On Wednesday, the state also reported 155 deaths.
As of Monday, the latest date with available data, 14.8% of coronavirus tests in the state were positive. That’s above the 5% health officials say is ideal for slowing the spread of the virus.
Hospitalizations double over the last month
The number of patients hospitalized with the coronavirus in North Carolina was 3,339 as of Wednesday, down from 3,377 the day before. Tuesday had marked a third straight day of record high patient counts.
The hospitalization total has roughly doubled since a few days after Thanksgiving as health officials have warned against traveling and gathering during the holiday season amid fears of hospitals filling up.
At least two hospitals in the Triangle area — in Clayton and Smithfield — have been full or nearly full since the week after Thanksgiving, Tom Williams, president and CEO of Johnston UNC Health Care, told The News & Observer on Monday.
“If you’d asked anybody back in March, I don’t think anybody would have predicted we’d be where we are today, still battling this pandemic,” Williams said.
In Mecklenburg County, hospitalizations have almost doubled in December. The county saw an average of 407 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Sunday over the span of a week. That’s a 90% increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations since the last week of November.
State adjusts vaccine plan
Gov. Roy Cooper on Wednesday said he would change the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan to give priority to older adults and some essential workers.
Under the revised plan, people ages 75 or older would move up to be the first in line during Phase 1B. Next would come essential workers older than 50 and then all health care employees, The News & Observer reported.
The adjustment comes after a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel called for “frontline essential workers” — including first responders, grocery store workers and teachers — to receive higher priority.
“Vaccines will be available to everyone, but currently supplies are limited and will continue to be limited for the next couple of months,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Prison with COVID outbreak loses 2 leaders
Two leaders of a North Carolina prison that had hundreds of coronavirus cases have died.
Tabor Correctional Institution has had the worst outbreak among all prisons in the state, with more than 670 positive tests among inmates and workers.
Julian Priest, an associate warden, died on Dec. 24 after contracting the coronavirus, The Charlotte Observer reported Wednesday. Brad Perritt, the prison’s warden, died on Dec. 15 from a cause that officials haven’t revealed.
Jamie Bullard, another associate warden, now takes charge of the prison.
The news comes as the state prison system has ramped up its cleaning efforts and provided personal protective equipment, according to spokesperson John Bull. Inmates also receive COVID-19 tests before and after they are transferred, he said.
But some have criticized the decision to move inmates during a pandemic.
“If the governor is encouraging individuals to stay in their homes, it seems we’d be rational enough to shut down the movements in our prison system,” said Ardis Watkins, executive director of the State Employees Association of North Carolina.
Charlotte area surpasses 60,000 cases
The number of coronavirus cases in the Charlotte area has grown to more than 60,000.
Mecklenburg County is reporting about 600 new infections per day, up from 220 infections per day two months ago, data show. Health officials also have released updated ZIP code data showing where coronavirus patients live.
“The data — a dive into positive test results for every 100,000 people as of Dec. 27 — underscores the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, including among nursing home residents and Black and brown communities,” The Charlotte Observer reported on Wednesday.
As New Year’s Eve approaches, health officials say Mecklenburg County case counts could be higher due to people not showing coronavirus symptoms. Also, a surge in testing around the holiday season may lead to delayed reporting.
More than 63,000 vaccinated in NC
At least 63,500 people in North Carolina have gotten a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, data show.
The Pfizer vaccine started to be administered in the state on Dec. 14, and the Moderna vaccine was rolled out a few days later. The two vaccines require people to get second doses after a few weeks.
North Carolina had received 323,125 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines as of last week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services said more vaccines expected to arrive this week will make the total 461,925 doses, The News & Observer reported.
In North Carolina, a statewide vaccine plan gives priority to health care workers and people who work or live in long-term care centers.
The news comes as one fire chief in the Triangle area is urging people to get vaccinated. Keith McGee, leader of the Apex Fire Department, said he developed COVID-19 earlier this month and had difficulty breathing.
Coronavirus stimulus in NC
President Donald Trump signed a stimulus bill Monday that includes $600 relief payments for most Americans as well as additional unemployment benefits.
About 40,000 people in North Carolina already receiving unemployment payments will receive an extra $300 a week — meaning an extra $116 million will be distributed statewide per week, The News & Observer reported, citing the North Carolina Justice Center.
Stimulus payments will be automatically dispersed to North Carolinians whose bank information the Internal Revenue Service already has. If the IRS does not have that information, the funds will be sent in the form of a check or debit card in the mail.
The $600 payments are half the size of those sent out under the $2 trillion CARES Act signed into law in March.
Trump has pushed for the checks to be increased to $2,000. The U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of the increase, but on Tuesday Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, blocked consideration for the bill and hasn’t said whether he will bring it for a vote.
Most of North Carolina’s GOP lawmakers voted against increasing the direct payments to $2,000. All of the state’s Democratic lawmakers voted in favor of it.
The federal relief package will also mean more help for renters.
The bill includes $25 billion in emergency rent assistance, $700 million of which is expected to go to North Carolina. It also extends the federal eviction moratorium until Jan. 31
“This is exactly what we need,” Samuel Gunter, executive director of the North Carolina Housing Coalition, told The News & Observer. “When it comes to the crisis that we’re seeing on the housing front, and making sure folks have stable housing, I think this is unqualified good news.”
No fans at Panthers’ season finale
No spectators except families and friends of Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints players and will be able to attend the final game of the season on Sunday, and limited private suites will be available.
The Panthers reduced capacity at Bank of America Stadium to 1,500 for the game.
“This decision was made as a result of ongoing conversation with local government and public health officials and a review of the latest COVID-19 data and guidance,” Mark Hart, Tepper Sports & Entertainment vice president and chief operating officer, said in a statement, according to The Charlotte Observer. “As we have done throughout this season, we look forward to providing a safe and enjoyable game day experience for all those in attendance.”
The team had been working on a plan to have fans at games since March. It had been hosting more than the 7% capacity allowed by state law after receiving special permission from Gov. Roy Cooper. The season-high attendance at the stadium was 5,815 at the Panthers’ Nov. 15 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This story was originally published December 30, 2020 at 6:51 AM.
