COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Nov. 1
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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.
1,096 new cases reported
At least 1,482,464 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and at least 18,104 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday reported 1,096 new coronavirus cases, down from 1,682 on Sunday and 2,172 on Saturday. The state doesn’t update case counts over the weekends.
There were 54 more coronavirus-related deaths on Monday. Health officials don’t specify the dates on which newly reported deaths occurred.
At least 1,211 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Monday, including 358 adults who are patients in intensive care units, health officials said.
On Saturday, the latest date with available information, 5% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.
Roughly 71% of adults 18 and older in North Carolina have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and about 67% have been fully vaccinated. State officials round vaccination numbers to the nearest whole number.
UNC Health’s deadline for COVID vaccines is Tuesday
Up to 175 workers at UNC Health are at risk of losing their jobs Tuesday when the hospital system’s deadline for getting a COVID-19 vaccine passes.
According to The News & Observer, that means 99.4% of the 29,000 people employed by UNC Health have complied with its vaccine mandate, which requires employees to get a vaccine or obtain a medical or religious exemption. Dr. Matt Ewend, chief clinical officer at UNC Health, said he has mixed feelings going into Tuesday.
“I’m a little conflicted,” Ewend told The N&O. “Ninety-nine point four is a really good performance, but in my heart I wanted everybody. I didn’t want to lose a single person.”
UNC is the second health care system in the Triangle to reach its vaccination deadline, following Duke Health in late September.
Wake County EMS seeing uptick in calls
Wake County Emergency Medical Services is on track to see its highest number of calls in at least a decade.
Jose Cabañas, EMS director, told county commissioners there are several reasons for the increase, including that more people went out during the summer as COVID-19 restrictions lifted. Officials said people also may have put off getting medical care earlier in the pandemic.
“There were people who just flat out refused to go to the hospital because they were scared of catching COVID,” said Brian Brooks, a Wake County EMS spokesperson. “Their situation obviously has gotten a whole lot worse.”
In most cases, Brooks said patients are facing long wait times for primary care appointments. Wake County said it is trying to reduce its number of calls with a possible nurse line.
Meanwhile, Wake County EMS said some callers who don’t have emergencies are having to wait longer, The News & Observer reported Monday.
Most patients on life support aren’t vaccinated, NC provider says
As COVID-19 trends continue to improve in the Charlotte area, hospitals are still seeing the most serious coronavirus cases among patients who haven’t been vaccinated.
“The one number that’s not in the decline that remains consistent is that more than 96% of our patients in the ICU on life support are unvaccinated,” said Dr. David Priest, a Novant Health infectious disease expert.
Meanwhile, Mecklenburg County providers are offering booster shots for people who got their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine earlier in the pandemic.
Last week, data showed the percentage of positive COVID-19 tests in the region stood at 7.1%, the lowest level in over three months. But it’s still higher than the 5%, the level the World Health Organization considers the threshold to make decisions about easing coronavirus-related restrictions.
Also, the latest seven-day average shows the Charlotte area has about 163 new coronavirus cases each day. That’s down from the daily average of 220 cases in early October, The Charlotte Observer reported Saturday.
This story was originally published November 1, 2021 at 12:28 PM.
