COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Aug. 11
Click here for updates for Aug. 12.
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 2,300 hospitalizations reported
At least 1,094,886 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and at least 13,790 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday reported 4,963 new COVID-19 cases, up from 2,985 on Tuesday.
Twenty-two coronavirus-related deaths were added on Wednesday. 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 2,304 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Wednesday, the highest single-day total since Feb. 9. The patient count has been rising since July 9, when the state had 409 patients, The News & Observer reported.
As of Monday, the latest date available, 12.8% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.
Roughly 62% 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.
Many rural schools not requiring masks
North Carolina’s school districts are largely split on whether students and staff are required to wear face masks as the school year starts.
Most of the state’s urban areas have instituted mask mandates, while another 56 districts representing a third of the state’s students are not requiring masks, The News & Observer reported. Those districts tend to be in smaller and/or rural counties, many of which have low COVID-19 vaccination rates.
Onslow County school board chairman Bob Williams said the board didn’t want to institute “mandates that would affect your children in a negative manner.”
“We did a survey,” Williams said. “The survey was between 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 to let parents make the decision or let staff make the decision. We are still a democracy.”
UNC reports first COVID cluster
A cluster of six COVID-19 cases has been reported at UNC-Chapel Hill.
The cases are related to an event in the Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The News & Observer reported. The cluster comes one day before thousands of students will start moving in Thursday.
Campus leaders, faculty, staff and students also discussed concerns about the lack of a COVID-19 vaccine mandate on Wednesday, which UNC-CH Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz and Provost Bob Blouin said they would support.
Guskiewicz said they know there will be cases on campus but are hopeful they can continue to operate in-person given UNC-CH’s vaccination rates and mandatory weekly testing for those who are not vaccinated.
“I’m going to continue to advocate where I can, when I can — based on the guidance and advice our public health and infectious disease experts have given us — why in fact a mandate and the vaccine itself, most importantly, works,” Guskiewicz said.
Should you get the flu shot if you also got the COVID vaccine?
As the first flu season since the COVID-19 vaccine came out approaches, some are concerned about whether they really need both shots — or if getting them at the same time is safe.
Dr. Anita Skariah, UNC Health internist and pediatrician, told The News & Observer that experts recommend getting the flu shot in September and October, just as flu season begins to ramp up. She said people should get both the flu shot and the COVID vaccine.
“It’s important to obtain the flu vaccine even if you have received the COVID vaccine,” Skariah said. “Neither will protect from the other — the flu vaccine will not protect you against Sars Co-V and the COVID vaccines will not protect you against influenza.”
Triangle restaurants require vaccine cards
Several local bars and restaurants in the Triangle, including many in downtown Durham, will require guests wanting to come inside to show proof of vaccination.
The list includes Durham beer bar Hunky Dory, cocktail bar Kingfisher, French restaurant Rue Cler, Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro, Players Retreat in Raleigh, Yonder Bar in Hillsborough and the Durham music venue Motorco.
Eryk Pruitt, owner of Yonder Bar in Hillsborough, told The News & Observer he implemented the change because he doesn’t want to give up the increase in sales they saw as case counts dropped and vaccinations increased this summer.
“I felt like we need to do what we could to get a stronger push out there (for vaccines),” Pruitt said. “I had enough conversations with people who refused to get the vaccine for whatever reason, it didn’t seem like there were enough incentives out there for them.”
NC towns paying bonuses to workers who get COVID shots
Two Triangle-area towns are offering bonuses to workers with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The town of Hillsborough this week joined Carrboro in offering a bonus program to its public employees. A similar program is being planned in Chapel Hill, officials said.
All of the towns are requiring that their employees show proof of vaccine status by Sept. 1. Otherwise, they will have to be tested weekly, The News & Observer reported Wednesday.
Hillsborough, which has 97 workers, is offering $300 bonuses as part of its program.
Demand rises for COVID tests as delta variant spreads
The demand for COVID-19 tests is up as the delta variant continues to spread across North Carolina.
For example, Mecklenburg County saw 2,700 daily COVID-19 tests on average at the beginning of August. It’s a 130% increase compared to early July but still lower than the amount of tests administered during the holiday season, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Anyone who wants a test can search for locations at covid19.ncdhhs.gov. People can also reach out to their doctors, pharmacies or local health departments to ask about testing.
Tests are free and don’t require insurance. Click here for a list of options in the Triangle, and click here for a list of options near Charlotte.
Charlotte-area county seeing rise in cases among children
School-aged children make up almost one-fourth of recent COVID-19 infections in one Charlotte-area county.
Gaston County on Tuesday said 110 of the 451 cases it added over the weekend were among kids. Those children will be isolated for 10 days or more, and people who were in contact with them may have to go into a two-week quarantine, officials said.
This fall, Gaston County schools has made masks optional while Charlotte-Mecklenburg is among the nearby districts requiring face coverings, The Charlotte Observer reported.
With the start of the school year on the horizon, North Carolina is seeing more younger COVID-19 patients in hospitals.
The state also reports a rise in cases among children and college-aged adults, mostly due to the delta variant.
“In the past six weeks, 18- to 24-year-olds have been infected at rates higher than any other age group, and children 17 or younger are seeing a surge in cases not seen since the virus’ winter peak,” The News & Observer reported Tuesday.
Many schools are planning for in-person classes this fall, and experts warn younger people who don’t get vaccinated or aren’t yet eligible to get their shots could spread the virus. Currently, vaccines are only available for children 12 and older.
Clusters tied to 9 Triangle schools as one district reverses mask decision
Clusters of COVID-19 cases have been linked to nine schools in the Triangle.
The largest was reported at Salem Elementary School in Apex. At least 10 coronavirus cases were tied to the Raleigh-area school, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Clusters also were reported at five other schools in Wake County as well as two schools in Durham County and one in Johnston, The News & Observer reported Tuesday.
State officials say a group of cases is considered a cluster when at least five infections are linked to one location in a two-week period.
Also on Tuesday, the Johnston County school board voted 4-3 to mandate mask wearing for K-12 students. The new rule is a reversal of a decision the district made two weeks ago to make face coverings optional.
Charlotte mayor issues statement about mask mandate comments
Vi Lyles, mayor of Charlotte, on Tuesday said she’s not able to issue a face mask mandate to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
“We should be wearing our masks,” Lyles said. “That’s what I believe, but there are also people that don’t believe that and they may not support it. My family, we all wear masks. ... And what I want for my family, I want for the people in Charlotte.”
Though Lyles said she doesn’t have the power to require masks in Charlotte, mayors can implement coronavirus-related restrictions through emergency orders, according to the UNC School of Government.
Lyles later said she wanted to clarify her comments but didn’t say what she can do as mayor. In a statement, she said she hadn’t received a recommendation to implement a mask mandate.
Statewide, Gov. Roy Cooper hadn’t imposed a mask requirement as the delta variant spreads through the state.
Across Mecklenburg County, hospitalizations are on the rise and almost half of residents aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Orange County to join Durham in requiring masks indoors
Starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Orange County is mandating masks indoors as the coronavirus continues to spread in the Triangle.
The rules for everyone older than 2 are set to go in effect after Durham on Monday started requiring face masks in public buildings
Durham city and county leaders made the change as the area declared a state of emergency. Everyone ages 5 and up must wear face masks in Durham’s public spaces, though there some exemptions, including for people with “medical and behavioral conditions or disabilities,” The News & Observer reported.
In the last two weeks, Durham County added 209 cases per 100,000 residents. During the same time period, Wake reported 370 new infections per 100,000 people, and Orange reported 171.
Community transmission of COVID-19 in much of North Carolina, including the Triangle, is considered “substantial” or “high,” data show.
Speed of COVID surge faster than in winter, experts say
Daily new coronavirus case counts in North Carolina are increasing faster than they did over the winter, experts said.
“What we’re seeing right now is an amplification in the spread of the increase in the number of [COVID-19 cases], and that’s worrisome to me,” said Dr. Pia MacDonald, infectious disease epidemiologist at the nonprofit RTI International.
Between June and October 2020, North Carolina mostly reported 1,000 to 2,000 new COVID-19 cases a day. It exceeded 3,000 cases on Nov. 11 and 4,000 cases on Nov. 19, The News & Observer reported.
But more recently, the state on June 30 reported just 208 coronavirus cases. Then, the count hit more than 4,000 on Aug. 5, data show.
“This rise in cases is faster than what we have seen with past increases,” Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the N.C. Department for Health and Human Services, said July 29. “This is because the COVID-19 virus is now much, much more contagious than it was earlier.”
But MacDonald said when this surge peaks, it won’t be as bad as the winter one. This time around, more North Carolina residents are vaccinated against COVID-19.
Durham concert venue requiring vaccines
A Durham event space is requiring all attendees wear face masks and show that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Motorco Music Hall said it will check vaccine cards and temperatures of customers. It also plans to make sure workers are vaccinated and masked.
The rules also are in effect for Parts & Labor, a neighboring bar and restaurant, The News & Observer reported Monday. The announcements come as businesses are evaluating their protocols amid the threat of the delta variant.
Here’s a list of Triangle restaurants requiring that people who eat inside be vaccinated.
This story was originally published August 11, 2021 at 7:16 AM.
