COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Oct. 12
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
26 additional deaths reported
At least 1,436,699 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and at least 17,233 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday reported 2,148 new COVID-19 cases, up from 1,786 on Monday.
Twenty-six additional coronavirus-related deaths were reported Tuesday. Health officials don’t specify the dates on which data newly reported deaths occurred.
At least 2,236 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Tuesday, including 608 adult patients who are being treated in intensive care units, health officials said.
On Sunday, the latest date with available information, 7.7% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.
Roughly 70% of adults in North Carolina have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and about 65% have been fully vaccinated. State officials round vaccination numbers to the nearest whole number.
Pastor giving $100 to people who get vaccinated
A pastor has a $100 incentive for people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in North Carolina.
The Rev. Phil Brickle of Lost Sheep Ministries is offering the money on prepaid Visa and MasterCards to those who receive vaccine doses during a fall festival on Saturday. Though he hopes to help those with less money, anyone can take him up on the offer from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Southeast Raleigh Table on New Bern Avenue in Raleigh, The News & Observer reported.
“I’m just incredibly concerned and truly would love to see as many people come out,” Brickle said. “I know people could use the money.”
He’s also planning to give out a $25 bonus to people who give rides and an extra $10 to people who get tested for COVID-19, the N&O reported.
NC parents struggle to get diapers during COVID
North Carolina diaper banks have seen a rise in demand as the coronavirus spreads.
But as families seek the products for their children, the Diaper Bank of North Carolina is getting fewer donations.
Experts said the prices of diapers have gone up just as families are struggling to make ends meet during the pandemic. At the same time, there’s a shortage on diapers across the nation.
“With the growth that we’ve seen over the last couple of months, but also with the diaper shortage, we’re going to have to make some really hard decisions on how we can provide the most support for those that need it the most,” said Chance Van Noppen, executive director of the Saint Saviour’s Center diaper bank.
COVID cases coming down in NC
Coronavirus cases are dropping in North Carolina after a surge related to the delta variant, data show.
The metrics have been going down since mid-September. At the beginning of that month, the state reported more than 50,000 cases weekly. But in the week leading up to Oct. 8, the new case count had dropped to almost 25,000.
“There’s always a peak, and a peak means it’s followed by a decline, and declines happen after surges for a variety of reasons,” said Dr. David Wohl of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “One reason is the number of susceptible people who are in a position to be infected starts to decrease.”
But there could be another surge in the future, according to Wohl, an infectious disease expert.
“A welcome decrease in new cases and deaths might be countered by colder weather and Thanksgiving,” he said. “I think people are going to gather for Thanksgiving thinking they’re better protected than they are.”
While vaccinations went up in July and August, they’ve gone down in recent weeks in North Carolina, The News & Observer reported Sunday.
New NC nurses entering field amid shortage of workers
New nurses in North Carolina are helping to fill a labor shortage as the emotional toll of the coronavirus pandemic hits those who have worked in health care.
A soon-to-be-relased model shows people leaving the nursing field early could lead to a shortage of 21,000 nurses or more, according to Erin Fraher, deputy director of the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“We know there are people who probably feel like they have lived through about five years over the past 18 months,” Fraher said. “I think there will be people who say, ‘I have had enough. I’m tired.’”
As health care providers across the country face nursing shortages, UNC Rex Healthcare “leans on fluidity, moving people around quickly to respond to the most pressing needs,” The News & Observer reported Sunday.
While North Carolina has had to get nurses from out of state for a long time, COVID-19 worsened the shortage. During the pandemic, an increasing number of people have taken lucrative traveling nurse jobs, which can bring them all over the country.
This story was originally published October 12, 2021 at 7:13 AM.
