COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Aug. 3
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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.
More than 1,400 hospitalizations reported
At least 1,058,887 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and at least 13,679 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday reported 2,188 new COVID-19 cases, down slightly from 2,190 on Monday.
Nine additional coronavirus-related deaths were reported on Tuesday. Deaths don’t necessarily occur on the day the state reports them. The state health department revises its daily figures as more information becomes available.
At least 1,465 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Tuesday, up from 1,390 the day before. Tuesday’s patient count was the highest since late February, The News & Observer reported.
As of Sunday, the latest date with available information, 10.8% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.
Roughly 61% of adults in North Carolina have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and about 58% have been fully vaccinated. State health officials round vaccination numbers to the nearest whole number.
NC paying $100 at some vaccine sites
North Carolina is offering $100 to people who get their shots at some COVID-19 vaccine sites in the state, officials said.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services released an online map that shows locations participating in the incentive, which it said “offset the time and transportation costs of getting vaccinated.”
People who drive someone else to get vaccinated are also eligible to receive $25, The News & Observer reported Tuesday.
Also in an effort to motivate people to get a vaccine, the state is running a lottery. The last drawing is set for Wednesday.
Most NC Senate hopefuls not yet sharing stances on vaccine requirements
Many of the people vying to represent North Carolina in the U.S. Senate haven’t publicly said whether companies should require COVID-19 vaccines.
Democrat Erica Smith said mandates from employers “feels like an important next step in ending this pandemic and strengthening our economic recovery.”
No Senate hopefuls besides Smith recommended requiring vaccines for work, but others in the race said it should be up to businesses to decide, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Wake school leaders to make decision about masks
A Triangle school board on Tuesday is expected to choose whether it will continue to require masks inside schools during COVID-19.
Wake County school administrators have said continuing to mandate face masks would help stop people from getting sick or going into quarantine.
The impending vote from district leaders comes after Gov. Roy Cooper lifted a school mask mandate and let school leaders make decisions about face coverings.
Ahead of the vote, one petition from the Wake County Republican Party calls for making face coverings optional. Another petition posted online calls for mandatory mask-wearing until all students can get vaccinated.
Only children ages 12 and up are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccines.
Millions in rental relief money unspent as eviction ban ends
Millions of dollars in rental relief funds haven’t been spent in North Carolina as thousands of residents could be evicted in the next few months, data show.
Congress in December approved $25 billion in coronavirus-related rental aid. But most of the allocations for Wake and other counties haven’t been spent, The News & Observer reported Tuesday.
Laura Hogshead of North Carolina’s Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Eviction and N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency told the N&O payouts are 20 days on average. She said some people may not know about the program or may be new to asking for help.
“We have a full-court press going on with outreach to make sure that we are getting the word to everyone who is eligible,” she said. “These are probably folks that have never reached out for assistance before. They’ve never found themselves in this position.”
The program started in October with federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) funds, but money went dry in a month. Samuel Gunter, executive director of the N.C. Housing Coalition, said that while the program has made recent changes, some may not trust that it will help.
2 large Charlotte companies require workers to wear masks
Lowe’s and Duke Energy, two major employers in the Charlotte area, are requiring face masks for all workers as COVID-19 continues to spread.
The rules are in effect when employees are indoors, no matter their vaccination status.
Lowe’s, which has a headquarters in Mooresville, plans to bring workers back to the office in October. As of Monday, employees are required to wear masks on site or while visiting customers, The Charlotte Observer reported.
At Duke Energy, about 90% of the workforce is doing their jobs remotely. The company is requiring workers to wear masks inside and has been transitioning workers to its uptown Charlotte office.
Mecklenburg to require testing for unvaccinated employees
Mecklenburg County, home to Charlotte, starting next month is requiring COVID-19 tests each week for government workers who aren’t vaccinated, officials said.
Also, employees who have gotten their shots will have to show proof of their vaccine statuses beginning Sept. 1, according to County Manager Dena Diorio. Under the new plan, employees who are vaccinated won’t need to wear masks in county facilities.
“Vaccinations are not required for general county employees,” The Charlotte Observer reported Tuesday.
The announcement comes after Mecklenburg County Public Health had announced workers would face “disciplinary action” if they didn’t receive the vaccine before Sept. 7. The mandate had exemptions for religious and medical reasons.
Mecklenburg reaches 1,000 COVID deaths
The number of coronavirus-related deaths in the Charlotte area has reached a grim milestone.
Mecklenburg County on Monday announced that its death toll was up to 1,000. The county reported its first pandemic-related death in March 2020.
“We extend our condolences to all of our residents and community members who have lost loved ones, friends and colleagues during the pandemic,” Mecklenburg Public Health Director Gibbie Harris said in a Twitter post. “If you have not yet gotten the vaccine, please get it now.”
Though the death toll had been going down in the past few weeks, the numbers of cases and hospitalizations have gone up in recent weeks as the delta variant spreads. Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, said more hospital patients could result in more deaths, The Charlotte Observer reported Monday.
Vaccine ‘blitz’ held as school year approaches
A Triangle health care provider held a “Back-to-School Blitz” over the weekend to help get COVID-19 vaccines to parents and children older than 12 before much of Wake County starts classes on Aug. 23.
“I just feel like having something is better than having nothing,” mom Georgia Best said at the WakeMed event. “And if something ever happened to them and I didn’t get it for them, I couldn’t live with that.”
Appointments filled up for the clinic as some families considered recent coronavirus metrics. Gov. Roy Cooper last week said North Carolina was changing its guidance about face masks in schools but didn’t require them to be worn.
“Schools know what to do,” Cooper said. “Businesses know what to do. People know what to do. We are encouraging everyone to wear masks as per the CDC guidelines. But we know the real way out of this is vaccines.”
NC lottery raises record amount for schools during COVID
The amount of money the North Carolina Education Lottery raised for schools reached its highest point ever during the last fiscal year, $936 million.
Also making history was total sales, reaching a record $3.8 billion.
Mark Michalko, executive director of the lottery, attributed the records to people seeking entertainment options during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We faced multiple challenges during these unusual times,” Michalko said in a news release. “We succeeded thanks to the loyalty of lottery players, the support of our retailers all across our state, and a tremendous effort by the lottery staff to find ways to safely complete our mission in raising money for education.”
NC minister out of hospital after contracting COVID
A North Carolina minister, the grandson of the Rev. Billy Graham, has left the hospital after contracting COVID-19, his family said.
Jonathan Lotz had been in critical condition and was in intensive care until Wednesday, his mother wrote in a Facebook post.
“PRAISE GOD!! Jonathan is home!!“ Anne Graham Lotz said. “Please, please continue to pray for his swift recovery and restoration to full health with no setbacks or complications.”
Jonathan Lotz, who grew up in Raleigh, had the now-widespread delta variant, The News & Observer reported.
His late grandfather was a famous evangelist who had a presence in the Charlotte area.
This story was originally published August 3, 2021 at 7:06 AM.
