COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on June 18
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
20 additional deaths reported
At least 1,010,113 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus and 13,340 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported 220 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, down from 362 on Thursday.
Twenty additional coronavirus-related deaths were reported Friday. Deaths don’t necessarily occur on the day the state reports them. The state health department revises its daily figures as information becomes available.
At least 475 people were hospitalized with the coronavirus as of Friday, down from 485 the day before.
As of Wednesday — the latest day with available data — 1.9% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.
Roughly 55% of adults in North Carolina have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine and about 51% have been fully vaccinated. State health officials round vaccination numbers to the nearest whole number.
No significant boost in vaccines with lottery
Gov. Roy Cooper said Friday the state has not seen a significant uptick in vaccinations since he announced a $1 million vaccine lottery last week.
“Not significantly,” Cooper said when asked if vaccine numbers are increasing. “We’re hoping over the next few days and few weeks that we will see some significant improvement in our numbers.”
Under the $1 million cash incentive program called “Summer Cash,” anyone who has gotten vaccinated is automatically entered to win. People who got vaccinated after the announcement are entered twice, The News & Observer reported.
The number of adults in North Carolina who have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine climbed from 54% to 55% since the lottery was announced. But Cooper said the overall rate has been trending down.
North Carolina will hold its first drawing on June 23.
Some wary in Charlotte’s least vaccinated neighborhoods
Some people in the Charlotte area’s least vaccinated neighborhoods won’t get shots to help protect them against COVID-19.
As health officials urge people to get their vaccines, some parts of Mecklenburg County lag behind. The gap in vaccination rates is evident when comparing predominately white neighborhoods to areas where mostly Black and Latino residents live.
In interviews with The Charlotte Observer, some residents in areas with lower vaccination rates said they didn’t have transportation or time to get to vaccine sites. Others had doubts about the science behind the shots.
Triangle schools still requiring masks
As some families push to make wearing face masks in schools optional, Triangle area districts are following North Carolina guidelines that require them.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro is joining Chatham, Durham, Johnston, Orange and Wake county districts in continuing to follow the state mandate. Officials have said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing masks in schools, and children younger than 12 can’t receive COVID-19 vaccines.
“We expect that all schools will follow the guidance outlined in the toolkit to fulfill their obligation to keep their students safe,” Catie Armstrong, a spokeswoman for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, said in an email.
Last week, Harnett County schools voted to make masks optional during its summer programming, becoming what was believed to have been the first district to stop following the state’s guidelines.
On Tuesday, some people who spoke at the Wake County school board meeting pressed district leaders to defy the mandate that the state has in place for schools. But the district said it legally has to continue requiring masks, The News & Observer reported.
Spectrum Center to start running at full capacity
The Spectrum Center, a sports arena in Charlotte, plans to reopen at full capacity when it starts hosting non-NBA events in August.
“We just thought it was time to let people know: We’re back in business,” said Donna Julian, general manager for the venue and Charlotte Hornets executive vice president, on Wednesday. “And (being) at 100% capacity... basically that opens us up to be able to do all of the events we were doing before.”
Julian said the path toward more normal events came after North Carolina recently lifted restrictions on event capacity and social distancing.
The Spectrum Center won’t designate sections for vaccinated people or ask whether attendees have been vaccinated. But event promoters will be able to come up with their own safety measures, The Charlotte Observer reported Thursday.
This story was originally published June 18, 2021 at 7:06 AM.
