COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on April 16
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Case count tops 943,000
At least 943,693 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 12,387 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported 2,475 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, up from 2,434 the day before.
Edgecombe County is the only red county in the state’s tiered COVID-19 county alert system, indicating it has the most severe spread. There were no red counties a few weeks ago, The News & Observer reported.
Twenty-eight additional coronavirus-related deaths were reported Friday. 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 1,064 people in North Carolina were reported hospitalized with the coronavirus as of Friday, up from 1,020 on Thursday.
As of Wednesday, the latest day for which data is available, 5.5% 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 2.7 million people in North Carolina have been fully vaccinated.
Regal pushes back reopening date
The Regal movie theater chain pushed back its planned reopening date in North Carolina to April 23 after shutting down during the coronavirus pandemic.
Regal planned to reopen in the Charlotte area on Friday, but an update on the chain’s website shows that date is now a week later than initially scheduled, The Charlotte Observer reported.
“Within the last month, the opening date was pushed a week to April 23 with several of our theaters opening dates following suit with the change,” Regal spokesman Richard Grover said Friday.
NC emergency management leader retires
Mike Sprayberry, who has been the executive director of the N.C. Division of Emergency Management since 2013, announced Friday he is retiring.
Sprayberry has frequently appeared alongside Gov. Roy Cooper and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen during coronavirus briefings throughout the last year, The News & Observer reported.
He was known for repeating a similar refrain at each briefing: “As always, don’t forget to look out for your family, friends and neighbors.”
The state public safety department said Sprayberry will retire Aug. 1 after more than 42 years.
COVID long-hauler writes her own obituary
A Charlotte woman gained attention online after writing her own obituary before she died on March 12 from complications related to “long haul” symptoms from the coronavirus.
Leiah Jones was “33-and-a-half years young” when she died, according to her obituary.
“Unfortunately, those like me may or may not survive the aftermath. I, hopefully, am in the minority of those numbers,” she wrote.
Jones, who loved to cook, considered herself “an attentive caregiver to loved ones,” The Charlotte Observer reported. In her obituary, she urged others to remember to care for the COVID “long-haulers” and stay educated about the virus, saying “please pray and support the ‘long haulers.’”
Experts weigh in as Cooper expected to give Fourth of July outlook
North Carolina should continue its COVID-19 vaccination rate if the state wants activities to become safer by the Fourth of July, health experts said.
But coronavirus cases could surge if people aren’t cautious as new variants spread, The News & Observer reported Thursday.
The medical professionals weighed in as Gov. Roy Cooper is soon expected to share a COVID-19 outlook for the time leading up to Independence Day.
“We need to continue to be careful and responsible,” Cooper said last week. “I know that as summer approaches, many people are curious about how things will change and what to expect.”
Johnson & Johnson pause leaves Charlotte providers scrambling
Charlotte-area providers are working to ensure everyone has access to a COVID-19 vaccine after federal officials recommended pausing Johnson & Johnson doses.
The vaccine, which requires one shot and doesn’t need ultra-cold storage, was seen as an option to help fight the coronavirus in marginalized communities, The Charlotte Observer reported Thursday.
Now, officials said Mecklenburg County residents who are homebound and people visiting some vaccination sites can receive Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, which require two shots.
”There is a subset of the population that was really hoping for J&J, where they were delaying getting vaccinated for this vaccine especially,” said Dr. Arin Piramzadian, chief medical officer for StarMed. “It breaks my heart that people are not getting vaccinated because of this.”
Federal officials called for the pause after six people who received Johnson & Johnson vaccines in the United States developed rare blood clots. More than 6.8 million doses of the vaccine have been given nationwide, data show.
NC colleges offering perks for vaccinated students
Some North Carolina universities are encouraging students to get COVID-19 vaccines with chances to win books, housing and other perks.
Colleges also are giving out freebies at vaccination sites or have clinics on their campuses, The News & Observer reported Thursday.
“Textbooks and meal plans and a place to live are some of those foundational expenses that our students have to juggle,” said Julia Jackson-Newsom, associate vice chancellor for strategy and policy at UNC Greensboro. “We thought maybe if we can offer to put them in the hat for some help, that would be particularly likely to motivate them to get vaccinated.”
Last week, Duke University announced it would require COVID-19 vaccines for anyone who planned to enroll this fall, though religious and medical exemptions will be allowed.
Meanwhile, the UNC System has encouraged students to get the vaccine but hasn’t made it mandatory.
This story was originally published April 16, 2021 at 7:39 AM.
