COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on March 24
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Case count tops 901,000
At least 901,262 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 11,894 have died since last March, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported 2,098 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, up from 1,062 the day before.
Forty additional deaths were reported Wednesday. Deaths don’t all occur on the day the state reports them, and the state health department revises its daily figures as information becomes available.
At least 981 people in North Carolina were reported hospitalized with the coronavirus as of Wednesday, an increase from 956 on Tuesday.
On Monday, the latest day for which data are available, 6.1% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials have said 5% or lower is the target rate to control the spread of the virus.
More than 4.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in North Carolina, and more than 1.5 million people in the state have been fully vaccinated. That’s nearly 1 in 5 adults.
Vaccine distribution ramps up on college campuses
N.C. State University’s “PackVax” clinic designed to vaccinate students and employees opened Wednesday at the Talley Student Union.
The college campus has 300 doses of Moderna and 300 doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccines for this week, which were allocated through the state, The News & Observer reported.
“This is the next step for us to get back to normal,” said Dr. Julie Casani, director and medical director of Student Health Services at N.C. State. “We want the students back. We love having the students on campus, and that’s why we’re here.”
The school will have about 150 appointments a day for the next four days and is prioritizing individuals over age 65, those with medical conditions that put them at risk for severe disease and essential workers with face-to-face roles. It’s their goal to get students and employees vaccinated before the end of the semester, Casani told The N&O.
The vaccine clinic will remain running into the fall.
More Charlotte-Mecklenburg students to return to in-person learning
Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools on Tuesday approved bringing more students to campuses for a minimum of four days each week during the coronavirus pandemic.
The school board voted 8-1 on a plan set to start April 12. The vote came after the district on Friday announced Superintendent Earnest Winston would recommend moving middle and high school students to Plan A for in-person learning with “minimal social distancing” but would continue to offer a virtual option, The Charlotte Observer reported.
“We know some have thrived in remote learning, but for many, that option is no substitute for being in classrooms, with teachers, staff and peers,” Winston said Tuesday.
Families must decide on a learning option by March 26.
Cooper peels back COVID restrictions
Gov. Roy Cooper said Tuesday he plans to ease several coronavirus restrictions in North Carolina, including upping the number of people allowed at gatherings and increasing capacity limits at stores and restaurants.
“We can move forward with easing restrictions if we do it safely,” Cooper said during a news conference.
The new guidelines come as the governor’s most recent executive order was set to expire Friday, The News & Observer reported. Under the new changes, up to 50 people will be allowed at indoor gatherings and 100 will be allowed outdoors.
Restaurants, breweries and gyms can open with 75% capacity indoors and 100% capacity outdoors, and bars and music venues can open at 50% capacity. The alcohol curfew is also being removed.
But some businesses say the increased capacity limits won’t do much to help.
Gregg McCraw with the Neighborhood Theatre, an independent music venue in Charlotte, said they can’t reopen even at 50% capacity with the current social distancing rules in place.
“Changing the percentage capacity or the maximum number (of people allowed) won’t do anything for us until the minimum distance rule is lowered,” he told The Charlotte Observer. “Changes from 30% to 50% or 250 to 500 won’t change our reality.”
Charlotte expected to get additional COVID-19 relief funds
Charlotte is expecting to get $149 million in coronavirus relief funds from the federal government.
The allotments from the American Rescue plan could come in May 2021 and May 2022, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones on Monday told the city council he has been in contact with officials in Mecklenburg County and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, which are also expected to receive funding.
Governments can spend the money to help residents, small businesses and industries that have faced hardships during the coronavirus pandemic, according to Shawn Heath, special assistant to the city manager.
Duke Energy reduces footprint as pandemic leads to remote work
Duke Energy, a major employer in Charlotte, is selling its Piedmont Natural Gas office as COVID-19 leads people to work remotely.
Catherine Butler, a Duke Energy spokesperson, said the utilities provider thinks people will split their work between the office and their homes when the pandemic ends.
“That naturally draws you to a smaller real estate footprint,” Butler said.
The company is under contract to sell its building near Yancey Road and South Tryon Street to Terwilliger Pappas, an apartment developer, The Charlotte Observer reported Monday.
COVID-19 outbreak tied to Duke Raleigh Hospital
A coronavirus outbreak has been linked to Duke Raleigh Hospital, officials said.
Duke Health said in a statement that several cases among workers and patients were traced to the inpatient unit on the fifth floor of the facility. At least 20 cases have been identified, and Duke Health continues to search for others.
“Duke Health is committed to the safety of our patients, their loved ones and our staff members,” the statement said. “We are working to conduct additional COVID-19 tests, complete a deep clean of the unit, and temporarily restricting visitations to this unit until the full cleaning and review process is complete, which is expected later this week.”
Johnston County hosting vaccine clinic
The Johnston County Health Department is holding a mass drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination clinic Wednesday at North Johnston High School.
The 2,000 vaccines will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis to people in groups 1 through 4 starting at 8 a.m. until providers are out of doses. Only the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine will be offered.
Attendees should enter at the back entrance of the high school campus on Watson Road near the athletic fields.
Johnston County has asked those planning to attend the clinic to bring a filled-out pre-vaccination form that can be found online at johnstonnc.com/covid19/files/Prevaccination_Covid_Reg_Form.pdf.
This story was originally published March 24, 2021 at 7:40 AM.
