COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in NC on March 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.
Case count tops 868,000
At least 868,056 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 11,399 have died since last March, according to state health officials.
Health officials reported 2,502 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, up from 2,145 reported the day before. They also said at least 1,290 people in North Carolina were reported hospitalized with the coronavirus as of Thursday.
Thirty-six coronavirus-related deaths were reported Thursday. Deaths don’t all occur on the day the state reports them. The state health department revises its daily figures as information becomes available.
As of Tuesday, the latest day for which data are available, 4.2% of COVID-19 tests came back positive. Health officials have said 5% is the target rate to control the spread of the virus.
Only six counties in North Carolina have critical spread — down from 27 last month.
Basketball team that lost coach to COVID will play for state title
More than two months after their assistant coach died from COVID-19, the basketball team at Lincoln Charter High is one game away from winning the North Carolina 1A men’s state basketball championship.
Jamie Seitz died at age 51 on Dec. 27, 2020, from complications related to the coronavirus, the Charlotte Observer reported. His son Carter Seitz is a senior starter at center for the Eagles.
“In this gym, I feel close to him. In this gym, he’s the driving force for what our team is doing right now,” Seitz said.
Head Coach Bradley Gabriel told the Observer he’s struggled with his emotions throughout the season and had to take a few days off in February. “I was mentally not in a good spot,” he said.
The team voted in late December as to whether to play at all. Now, on Saturday, Lincoln Charter will play for the state championship.
Mental health affects from pandemic could persist
Experts at Duke University said Thursday the effects of isolation, a recession and grief from the COVID-19 pandemic will likely persist even as vaccinations become widespread.
“It’s very easy to isolate because we are asked to isolate,” said Jennifer Plumb-Vilardaga a professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences who focuses on addiction. “People have estimated that not just the mental health impact of this pandemic but also the substance use impact of this pandemic will persist for years afterwards because of the lack of access to resources.”
Others said stress from the pandemic could contribute to behavioral issues in children, while some have struggled to get access to adequate mental health care and treatment.
One of NC’s most COVID-stricken neighborhoods is in Raleigh
The 27610 zip code in Raleigh has had more coronavirus cases than any other ZIP code in the state.
It has consistently reported among the highest rates of infection per 10,000 residents of any ZIP code in the Triangle since May, The News & Observer reported. And as of March 3, 27610 had the third highest in the Triangle, with 1,005 cases per 10,000 residents.
The 27610 is also majority Black. About 15% of residents are uninsured, according to Census estimates, and half are low income.
Crystal Jones is just one of the many residents who got COVID-19. She has worked from home during the pandemic but said any one of her family members could have brought it home with them.
“At one point it got kind of scary for me, but I didn’t want to let [my family] know that I was scared,” she told The N&O. “I did not have to go to the hospital, but it got really close.”
NC approves guidelines for reopening schools
The State Board of Education approved a resolution Thursday requiring public schools to offer some form of in-person instruction and adopted updated state health guidelines for reopening.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services issued the recommendations Wednesday, which say school districts and charter schools should only use remote learning for higher-risk students and for families who want remote learning, The News & Observer reported.
“It is absolutely essential that we get our students back into school,” said state board chairman Eric Davis. “Every student, every day into every school.”
Some say the guidelines don’t go far enough.
“We need a definitive road map about how this is going to work because it’s not just impacting the kids who aren’t able to get back into the classroom,” said State Treasurer Dale Folwell, a member of the state board. “It’s also impacting the parents who can’t get back to work because their kid is not in the classroom.”
UNC plans in-person graduation
UNC Chapel Hill will have an in-person graduation ceremony at Kenan Stadium this spring, the university announced Thursday.
“After enduring so much to get to their big day, the class of 2021 will enjoy at least one more day of the Carolina experience they love so much,” UNC-CH Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz said.
There will also be a virtual commencement address from Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett.
Corbett went to Carolina and is the scientific lead on the Vaccine Research Center’s coronavirus team at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, The News & Observer reported.
Harris Teeter to offer vaccine at some stores
Some Harris Teeter stores in North Carolina are administering COVID-19 vaccines.
The shots are available at pharmacies for people eligible to be vaccinated under the state’s current plan.
“Throughout this pandemic, Harris Teeter’s most urgent priority has been providing a safe shopping experience for our associates and shoppers,” Danna Robinson, a company spokesperson, wrote in a statement. “We’re also committed to helping our communities safely re-open through administering the COVID-19 vaccine.”
For anyone wanting to make an appointment, the Matthews-based supermarket chain has a scheduling tool available at www.harristeeterpharmacy.com/rx/covid-eligibility.
Experts predict outbreaks could be over by summer
The majority of North Carolinans could be protected from COVID-19 infections by this summer, either after getting vaccinated or contracting the disease and developing antibodies, a UNC doctor said Wednesday.
“With the current ability to give everybody vaccines by May, and given the number of people who’ve already been infected, it’s likely we’ll begin to reach community protection levels at the end of May or in June,” said Dr. David Weber, an infectious disease specialist.
Weber shared his remarks during a news conference and joined other health experts in recommending people still wear face masks and take other precautions to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
“Having three vaccines approved that are effective at preventing COVID symptoms, this is very exciting,” said Dr. Alexa Mieses Malchuk. “But at the same time this is not the time to celebrate too much and start relaxing all of the measures that have gotten us this far.”
NC Senate to reconsider school reopening vote
The state legislature is planning for a second veto override vote that would require K-12 school districts to reopen statewide during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Senate on Wednesday made a motion to reconsider the vote since one sponsor of Senate Bill 37 wasn’t there the first time. Lawmakers on Monday had failed to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto.
The bill calls for requiring districts to offer some face-to-face learning, but with fewer restrictions than the governor wants.
Cooper’s administration on Wednesday updated N.C. Department of Health and Human Services guidance, removing the Plan C option for school districts to have fully remote learning.
Under new guidance, off-campus instruction should only be considered “for higher-risk students and for families opting for remote learning for their children,” The News & Observer reported.
The State Board of Education is expected to vote on the recommendations Thursday.
Lawmakers vote for more fans at games, graduations
The North Carolina House approved a bill Wednesday that would allow high schools and colleges to fill up their stands to half capacity.
The state Senate has also passed its own bill expanding those capacity restrictions, The News & Observer reported.
House Bill 128 passed 77-42 and would allow up to 50% capacity at indoor and outdoor sporting events and graduations at UNC system schools, community colleges and the state’s K-12 public schools. It would also require schools to allow at least 30% capacity.
The vote comes after Gov. Roy Cooper eased restrictions to allow up to 15% capacity at indoor events and 30% capacity at outdoor events.
“This is an an issue of major concern for countless families and communities across North Carolina,” said Rep. Kyle Hall, a Stokes County Republican and a primary sponsor of the bill. “Unfortunately these arbitrary limits are not based in science and only punish our athletes and their families.”
Duke planning in-person graduation ceremony with no family allowed
Duke University said it is planning an in-person spring graduation ceremony for undergraduate students.
So far, family and friends won’t be allowed to attend the occasion, scheduled to be held outdoors for seniors who are part of the schools COVID-19 surveillance testing.
The plans aren’t concrete, and Duke could make changes based on health guidance, The News & Observer reported Wednesday.
“Should conditions improve, we may consider expanding the scope of the ceremony,” said Duke President Vincent Price. “On the other hand, should the situation worsen, we may be forced to make the entire event virtual.”
Last spring, many colleges and universities opted for virtual graduation ceremonies due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Views differ on drop in student test scores
State schools superintendent Catherine Truitt told the state Senate Education Committee on Wednesday that falling test scores indicate more needs to be done to prepare students for in-person instruction again.
But state Department of Public Instruction staff members cautioned against comparing this year’s test scores with other years.
Their comments come after test results showed the majority of high school students didn’t pass end-of-course exams in the fall, The News & Observer reported. School districts have also reported 23% of their students are at risk of academic failure.
“It’s been a lost year of learning,” Truitt, a Republican, told the committee.
Tammy Howard, director of accountability services at DPI, said the switch from in-person instruction to online learning or a mixture of both should be celebrated as an accomplishment.
“We have to look at these tests results within that context,” she said.
NC State basketball season to end early
The N.C. State men’s basketball team will play its last regular-season game Wednesday night at Notre Dame after Virginia Tech bowed out of Saturday’s scheduled match-up at PNC Arena.
The Hokies already canceled their game against Louisville on Tuesday because of COVID-19 protocols, The News & Observer reported. Because of contact tracing protocols, the ACC announced Wednesday they also won’t make the trip to Raleigh this weekend.
N.C. State will end its regular season having played 21 games, with eight canceled or postponed because of the coronavirus. Only one game was made up during the season.
Mecklenburg to get 11,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine
Thousands of doses of the new COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson are coming to the Charlotte area.
Mecklenburg County could receive 11,000 doses of that vaccine, Public Health Director Gibbie Harris said Tuesday. The county, Atrium Health and Novant Health are expected to get the doses.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine recently received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration and requires one shot. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have a recommended two doses but have higher efficacy rates.
Raleigh to allow special events to resume
Raleigh is taking a step toward opening up during the coronavirus pandemic, The News & Observer reported.
After a year of halted events, the city is allowing some festivities to resume as early as April 1. The parades, festivals and other special events will be required to follow North Carolina’s coronavirus-related guidelines, said Derek Remer, emergency management director for the city.
“With cases starting to decline, we’re optimistic that we can start allowing events that are permitted under the governor’s executive order,” Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said.
This story was originally published March 4, 2021 at 7:32 AM.
