COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Feb. 4
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We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
NC reports 150 deaths
At least 781,802 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 9,728 have died since March, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday reported 5,495 new COVID-19 cases, down from the 12,079 reported the day before. Health officials said Wednesday’s case count was “inflated” due to clinic test results from December and January that were not reported in the past.
On Thursday, 150 deaths were reported. It’s the second day in a row the state has reported at least 150 deaths.
At least 2,630 people in North Carolina were reported hospitalized with the coronavirus as of Thursday, down from 2,706 reported on Wednesday. The number of hospitalizations has been dropping steadily since mid-January.
As of Tuesday, the latest day for which data are available, 7.2% of coronavirus tests were positive. Health officials say the number should be about 5% or lower to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Vaccines could be coming to major Charlotte provider
Tryon Medical Partners might be receiving coronavirus vaccines after the state Department of Health and Human Services approved them as a provider, according to an email patients received.
The independent practice doesn’t currently have any vaccines and asked patients to “resist the urge to call.” Tryon Medical said eligible patients will be notified by email with instructions once it receives COVID-19 vaccines.
Atrium Health and Novant Health are currently providing the bulk of vaccines in the Charlotte area, the Charlotte Observer reported.
At least 86,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been administered in Mecklenburg County as of Thursday.
Cooper unveils COVID relief budget priorities
Gov. Roy Cooper announced his recommendations for coronavirus relief spending Thursday, including one-time bonuses for teachers and principals.
“These teachers and school personnel are the only state employees who did not get raises the last two years and we need this boost to help keep them on board and reward their hard work,” Cooper said.
The proposal also directs $2 billion for emergency assistance for public and private K-12 schools and higher education institutions and roughly $700 million for access to vaccines and testing, tracing and prevention measures, The News & Observer reported.
The number of counties in red on the state’s county alert system also fell to 61 on Thursday. Previously, there were at least 86 counties in red, which indicates critical community spread.
“For the first time since we started this report back in November, our trends moved in a positive direction,” said Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Majority of NC Senate backs requiring in-person learning
A majority of state senators on Thursday voted in favor of a bill that would require North Carolina public school districts to offer some in-person classes.
This school year, some school districts have offered remote learning due to COVID-19 concerns.
State Sen. Deanna Ballard, education committee co-chair and a Watauga County Republican, said issues associated with a lack of in-person instruction are making children depressed and anxious.
While senators backed the bill 29-16, the final vote is next week. The proposal would then go to the House.
If approved it would go to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who has “indicated he doesn’t support the bill,” The News & Observer reported. Cooper on Tuesday urged K-12 schools across the state to offer remote and face-to-face learning, with protocols in place to help protect against COVID-19.
UNC Health launches mobile vaccine clinics
UNC Health on Wednesday ran its first mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic.
The event was planned in the Johnston County town of Selma, where Black and Hispanic residents make up most of the population.
While those two groups account for roughly 31% of North Carolina’s population, data show only about 14% have received their first vaccine doses to protect against the coronavirus. Health officials have said skepticism and transportation or internet challenges could be behind the disparity.
Instead of waiting for people to make appointments, UNC Health receives referrals and reaches out to people who may be interested in getting vaccines.
“We have found that when the word is getting out through the community rather than through official channels, people hear about it and are much more trusting,” said Eleanor Wertman, UNC Health Alliance’s program manager for community health.
UNC Health said it plans to offer more clinics on Thursday and Friday, which are at capacity. Another clinic is planned for late next week in the nearby town of Benson, The News & Observer reported.
Wake will return for in-person classes in 2 weeks
The Wake County school board voted Tuesday to allow students to return for in-person instruction the week of Feb. 15.
PreK-3 students and K-12 special education students will return for daily in-person classes, while students in grades 4 through 12 will rotate between in-person and online classes, The News & Observer reported. It will be the first time Wake high school students have had in-person instruction in almost a year.
“In order for a district to be proactive, we have to take some steps forward, and it’s a scary step,” said board member Monika Johnson-Hostler. “It’s a step that I can certainly tell you isn’t a step that I’m making lightly or with ease.“
Frontline workers could get vaccine within weeks
Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris said the state could begin vaccinating frontline workers within a month.
North Carolina is currently vaccinating health care workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities and people ages 65 and older. The next group of eligible recipients includes front-line essential workers such as law enforcement officers, teachers, grocery store employees and TSA workers under Phase 3.
COVID-19 vaccines could be made available to that group, which encompasses a large number of people, “at some point in the next month at the latest,” Harris said Wednesday, according to the Charlotte Observer.
“We’re not talking about June or July,” she said. “We’re talking probably more March, April time frame.”
COVID-19 testing slows in Charlotte amid vaccine buzz
Testing for the coronavirus in Charlotte has slowed as more individuals concern themselves with getting the vaccine.
There have been an average of 4,600 COVID-19 tests administered daily in Mecklenburg County, far below the historically-high demand for tests before and after Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Charlotte Observer reported. Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris said she wasn’t sure why it has slowed down but said it might be because residents are more concerned with getting vaccinated.
Fewer testing means limited data on the number of people who may be infected with the virus but are not showing any symptoms, according to the Observer.
“We know that there’s still quite a few people who are being infected in our community who are asymptomatic and not seeking testing,” Harris said. “We know that there are a number of people who aren’t responsive (to contact tracing calls) and don’t know that they’ve necessarily been exposed, and aren’t taking testing.”
Walgreens to offer vaccines at 300 NC stores
Starting next week, Walgreens will offer COVID-19 vaccines in North Carolina.
Through its participation in a federal partnership, the pharmacy chain said it will begin Moderna vaccinations in the state on Feb. 12.
Walgreens said it expects to get 31,200 vaccines and bring them to 300 sites across North Carolina. The company chose the locations “based on the medically underserved nature of the surrounding area and CDC social vulnerability index scores,” The News & Observer reported Wednesday.
Anyone interested in receiving a vaccine can schedule an appointment on the Walgreens website. Those eligible include residents ages 65 and older, health care workers who have contact with patients and people who work or live in long-term care centers.
1 in 3 inmates test positive at NC prison
Almost 35% of COVID-19 tests from inmates came back positive at a North Carolina prison, data show.
Wake Correctional Center, a men’s minimum security facility in Raleigh, reported 119 active coronavirus cases as of Tuesday, according to the N.C. Department of Public Safety.
Statewide, prison officials reported 555 active infections and 1.9% of tests returning positive.
Jonathan Brooks, who is in custody at Wake Correctional Center, said he tested positive for COVID-19 and didn’t think the facility was fast enough in curbing the virus’ spread.
“Their negligence has allowed us to be infected,” he said. “They make me feel like my life means nothing to them.”
Brad Deen, a spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, told the N&O in an email that his agency had protocols “based on medical and epidemiological best practices.”
“The N.C. Department of Public Safety and the Division of Adult Correction/Juvenile Justice take seriously the health and safety of our staff, the people in our custody and the public at large,” Deen said. “We have worked diligently to keep COVID-19 out of our facilities, to monitor for the virus and, when there is a positive test result, to keep anyone who has been exposed from exposing others.”
This story was originally published February 4, 2021 at 6:55 AM.
