Coronavirus vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Jan. 19
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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 684,000
At least 684,497 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 8,139 have died since March, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday reported 9,860 new COVID-19 cases over the last two days. Officials did not release data Monday because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. There were 5,802 newly confirmed cases on Monday and 4,058 on Tuesday, according to DHHS.
Fifty-three coronavirus-related deaths were reported Tuesday.
At least 3,881 people in North Carolina were reported hospitalized with the coronavirus as of Tuesday, up from 3,862 on Sunday.
As of Sunday, the latest day for which data are available, 11.8% of coronavirus tests came back positive. Health officials say the number should be about 5% to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
450,000 people vaccinated in NC
North Carolina has vaccinated 450,000 people against the coronavirus, Dr. Mandy Cohen, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services secretary, said Tuesday.
The announcement came as Cohen and Gov. Roy Cooper toured one of the few mass vaccination sites in operation at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Friday Center. Cohen said the state is working to use up all the doses allotted to them by the federal government.
North Carolina has so far lagged behind other states in its vaccination rate, The News & Observer reported.
“One of the reasons ... North Carolina was a little slower than other states, (is) because the decision was made to give every single county doses the first time,” Cooper said. “And when you do that, to be equitable, there are going to be some who do not respond as well.”
But Cooper said the state is making “significant” progress, and there will be a marked increase in vaccinations this week.
Nearly 50 Duke students test positive for coronavirus
At least 76 students and staff at Duke University tested positive for COVID-19 last week before the start of the spring semester, university officials said.
More than 18,000 students were tested before they could move into dorms on campus, go to class or participate in on-campus activities, The News & Observer reported. Duke reported 49 students had tested positive on Tuesday as part of its weekly coronavirus testing results.
Many of those students who tested positive were returning to Duke from other states with a higher prevalence of the coronavirus, Duke said.
At least 3,000 tests were also administered to faculty and staff. Duke officials said mass testing will continue throughout the semester.
Prisons release inmates without testing for COVID-19
People leaving prisons were not being tested for the coronavirus early in the pandemic, state prison officials confirmed.
John Bull, a spokesperson for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, told The News & Observer in an email that people leaving prisons “were not tested on their release in April,” saying routine prerelease testing did not begin until January.
Nacola McNeil said she was released from the North Carolina Correctional Institute for Women in April to help keep the virus from spreading but was not tested before she reported to a halfway house where she would serve the last 30 days of her sentence. She was hospitalized for a pain in her hip and tested positive for COVID-19 a few days later.
“I was sharing a room with a bunch of ladies. By the grace of God, no one else got sick,” she said, speaking of the reentry facility. “I should have been tested before leaving prison.”
UNC closes sporting events to the public
Spring sporting events at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will be closed to the public, the athletic department announced Tuesday.
The policy continues what was already in effect from the fall and limits attendance to two family members per athlete.
North Carolina previously limited attendance at outdoor stadiums with seats for more than 10,000 fans to 7% capacity, which allowed for 3,500 fans to attend Kenan Stadium for football games at Carolina.
But none of the spring sports venues for baseball, soccer and lacrosse fit into that category, The News & Observer reported.
Hurricanes’ game postponed
The Carolina Hurricanes’ game against the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night has been postponed.
The National Hockey League said the decision was made out of “an abundance of caution to ensure the health and safety of the players, coaches, game day personnel and in consultation with medical experts.”
Canes captain Jordan Staal already missed the last two games while on the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol list. The list shares the names of players who can’t practice, travel or play games due to a variety of factors, including a positive coronavirus test, mandated isolation for showing symptoms, and quarantine periods after being exposed to the virus by a close contact.
Mecklenburg County records youngest death
A 20-year-old in Mecklenburg County is now the youngest person in the county to die from COVID-19, health officials announced Tuesday.
They would not disclose any additional demographic information, including whether the person had underlying chronic health conditions, The Charlotte Observer reported. A 22-year-old resident died last week.
Hospitalizations and the positivity rate in Mecklenburg are declining even as COVID-19 deaths approach 700.
“It’s a little too early to see if this is going to be a real improvement, but we’re encouraged by this,” Novant Health infectious disease expert Dr. David Priest said Tuesday.
The downward trends could be indicative of the holiday surge ending, but Priest said the coronavirus “remains a real threat.”
Two NC legislators test positive after hunting trip
Two North Carolina legislators have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two days: Rep. Brian Turner, a Democrat from Asheville, and Sen. Bill Rabon, a Republican from Winnabow.
Rep. Jason Saine, a Republican from Lincolnton, told The News & Observer that Turner and Rabon were on a duck hunting trip with several other lawmakers.
Rabon said he was experiencing cold-like symptoms Monday before he got tested but did not have any symptoms as of Tuesday. Turner said he’s had headaches, fatigue and congestion and plans to isolate from his family for the next 10 days. He plans to return to the General Assembly on Jan. 27, when the House session convenes.
Turner has advocated for wearing face masks, washing hands and social distancing, and he said his family has done its best to stay home.
“The 3Ws work, but they work best when everyone does it,” he said in a Facebook post. “My mask protects you, your mask protects me.”
Wake County vaccine website crashes
Wake County’s COVID-19 vaccine waiting list system broke down Tuesday morning as registration began.
Registration was set to start at 8:30 a.m. as the county plans to begin vaccinating people in Group 2, which includes anyone 65 years or older.
But the sign-up portal, wakegov.com/vaccine, showed a blank screen with the message “the service is unavailable.” Many people have said they were unable to get through to the vaccine phone line.
“If you’re having issues with the website or phone line, we apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience,” the county said Tuesday morning on Twitter.
Durham County is also set to start vaccinating seniors Tuesday. Anyone who is interested in a vaccine in Durham should call 919-560-4357 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Monday through Friday. The vaccine is only available with an appointment.
The state recently announced changes to its vaccine distribution plan, including expanding eligibility for people 65 and older.
Charlotte Hornets game postponed
The Charlotte Hornets’ game against the Washington Wizards scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed, the NBA said Monday.
The Wizards would not have had the minimum eight players available to play because of COVID-19 contact tracing within the team.
The NBA has not said when the game will be rescheduled, and the Hornets are still scheduled to play the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
NC State basketball game postponed
N.C. State’s men’s basketball game at Virginia on Wednesday has been postponed due to COVID-19 issues.
The ACC announced the postponement Sunday. It says it comes after a positive coronavirus test, quarantining, and contact tracing within the Wolfpack program, The News & Observer reports.
Coach Kevin Keatts said Monday five members of the team are in quarantine but that the intention is to play the North Carolina game scheduled for Saturday.
“We’re trying to get on the court and it’s been a challenge,” Keatts said on the ACC coaches teleconference call, according to The News & Observer. “We have full intentions on trying to be ready to go on Saturday but a lot of that is going to come down to whatever happens with the contact tracing and the virus.”
The ACC also postponed the Wolfpack’s scheduled home game this past Saturday against Georgia Tech. N.C. State announced Wednesday there was a coronavirus cluster within the athletics department.
This story was originally published January 19, 2021 at 7:01 AM.
