COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on April 8
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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 reaches 926,000
At least 926,897 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 12,224 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported 2,087 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, up from 1,380 the day before.
Twenty-three additional coronavirus-related 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 1,004 people in North Carolina were reported hospitalized with the coronavirus as of Thursday, down from 1,025 on Wednesday.
As of Tuesday, the latest day for which data is available, 5.1% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials have said 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.
More than 2.2 million people in North Carolina have been fully vaccinated. That includes more than one-quarter of the state’s adult population and one-fifth of all North Carolinians, health officials said.
State fairgrounds to host biggest indoor show since start of pandemic
The N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh is set to hold its largest indoor event in more than a year.
The Southern Ideal Home Show is set to run Friday to Sunday as the fairgrounds have increasingly hosted events amid relaxed coronavirus-related restrictions.
Since COVID-19 started to upend the fairgrounds’ schedule in February 2020, the venue is down $9.2 million in revenue. The State Fair, which was among the events canceled last year, is expected to happen in 2021, according to N.C. agriculture commissioner Steve Troxler.
Charlotte area reports no recent nursing home resident deaths
No Charlotte-area nursing home residents have died after contracting the coronavirus in the past month, officials said.
Though no coronavirus-related deaths were reported at nursing homes, about two dozen people lost their lives in the community during that same time period, data show.
Earlier in the pandemic, deadly coronavirus outbreaks were reported in nursing homes across the state. Residents of those facilities were among one of the first groups eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines in North Carolina.
“This is really strong and encouraging news and further evidence of how highly effective the vaccines are at preventing severe complications, infections and death,” said Raynard Washington, Mecklenburg deputy public health director.
Schools could require COVID tests for proms, graduations
High school students in North Carolina could be required to be tested for COVID-19 before attending graduations and proms.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and N.C. Department of Public Instruction are encouraging schools to use free rapid tests to screen anyone who is going to the spring events. Testing decisions would be made at the local level, The News & Observer reported.
The guidance, which is set to be shared Thursday at a State Board of Education meeting, was released “understanding the milestones that special events and high school graduations represent in the lives of our students and families.”
Vaccine supply grows in NC as appointment surge expected for Charlotte
The Charlotte area is expected to receive more doses of COVID-19 vaccines, possibly creating a surge in options for getting a shot.
The prediction comes even as all vaccine groups became eligible Wednesday to receive their shots.
“Fairly quickly we’re going to move out of a phase where it’s really hard to find a vaccine to (having) slots and we need more people to use them,” said Dr. David Priest, an infectious diseases specialist at Novant Health.
Statewide, North Carolina is receiving more doses of COVID-19 vaccines, which health officials said should help the state meet growing demand.
More than 391,000 doses arrived in the state this week, up from 326,780 the week before and 223,120 at this time last month, The News & Observer reported Tuesday. The latest uptick was mostly due to a rise in shipments of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires one shot.
Since December, the state has been offering the vaccine to people in certain groups most at risk of getting seriously sick from COVID-19. But now, vaccine eligibility has expanded to everyone ages 16 and older.
“Because of the hard work of providers and commitment of North Carolinians to take their shot, we’re getting people vaccinated more quickly than we predicted,” Gov. Roy Cooper told reporters Tuesday. “This will help us turn the corner on the pandemic even sooner.”
Wake County school district ends daily COVID screenings
The largest school district in North Carolina won’t conduct daily temperature checks and screen for coronavirus symptoms starting Wednesday.
Wake County schools will now have signs that emphasize students and staff need to stay home if they think they may be sick, The News & Observer reported Tuesday.
“While the goal of our previous screening program was also to keep those infected from being on campus, our data and the guidance from health officials showed the practice could be improved,” the district said. “The CDC never recommended screenings and the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services no longer requires it.”
Wake is ending the screenings as more students are coming back to campuses for in-person instruction.
Also on Tuesday, Wake County Superintendent Cathy Moore unveiled a $1.9 billion operating budget proposal for the next fiscal year. The plan calls for $28.2 million increase in funding from Wake County to help students learn after the COVID-19 pandemic.
This story was originally published April 8, 2021 at 7:49 AM.
