COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Nov. 3
Click here for updates for Nov. 4.
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
61 additional deaths reported
At least 1,485,455 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and at least 18,191 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday reported 1,777 new coronavirus cases, up from 1,214 on Tuesday.
There were 61 coronavirus-related deaths on Wednesday. Health officials don’t specify the dates on which newly reported deaths occurred.
At least 1,194 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Wednesday, including 347 adults who are patients in intensive care units, health officials said.
On Monday, the latest date with available information, 4.5% 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 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 doctors address concerns about vaccines for children
A panel of doctors from UNC Medical School in Chapel Hill addressed some common concerns parents have about their children getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. David Wohl, an infectious disease expert at UNC, said children need to be protected from the virus, particularly since the delta variant affected them worse. Doctors say the side effects are roughly the same for kids as they are for adults, and there have been no long-term side affects to emerge from a COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Herman Naftel, a professor of psychiatry, said parents should talk to their children about their worries.
“We want them to know that these vaccines have been studied extensively, probably more than any vaccine in history, and so we know that they’re safe,” he said.
This week the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was approved for emergency use for children, 5 to 11 years old.
German brewery opening delayed by COVID
The first U.S. location of Gilde Brewery, one of the oldest beer makers in Germany, was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. Now it plans to open in December.
President Mike Gaertner told The Charlotte Observer the brewery in the Lower South End neighborhood will be the German beer maker’s first expansion outside of Hanover. But issues with the supply chain and shipping prevented them from opening in October.
The brewery equipment was shipped from Germany, with five of the 11 tanks just arriving in Charlotte on Wednesday. They were stuck in Charleston for six weeks, according to the Observer.
“The containers from Europe are late and are four times as expensive as before COVID-19,” Gaertner said.
Outdoor mask rule dropped for Wake student athletes
Wake County school system has dropped an outdoor mask requirement for band members and student-athletes.
The school board voted Tuesday to make it optional for those groups to wear face coverings outside during school events, The News & Observer reported. The district had been requiring students to keep masks on except while actively practicing or playing.
Wake is still requiring students and workers to mask up while they’re indoors.
“In consultation with our public health experts, we do not anticipate a change in face covering requirements indoors until after Jan. 1, 2022,” said Paul Koh, assistant superintendent for academic services.
COVID treatments available in NC, but options are limited
While there’s no cure for COVID-19, experts say there are limited treatment options available in North Carolina and other parts of country.
So far, the antiviral drug Remdesivir is the only treatment that has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, The News & Observer reported. Some other options, including monoclonal antibody treatments, have received emergency use authorization.
Meanwhile, a drug tested at UNC-Chapel Hill has been shown to reduce the chance of hospitalization among those infected. The drug, a pill called molnupiravir, comes from pharmaceutical company Merck.
But health experts have said treatments can’t replace getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
“I’d rather prevent a fire than put out a fire,” said Dr. David Wohl, a UNC-Chapel Hill infectious disease expert.
What NC doctors say about COVID shots for kids
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has signed off on COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 to 11.
After the recommendation, only the Pfizer vaccine is available to kids in that age group. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are only available to adults, The Charlotte Observer reported.
In the Charlotte area, Atrium Health, Novant Health, StarMed and Mecklenburg County are among the locations with plans to offer shots for children. Statewide, pharmacies and health care providers are also rolling out vaccines, with a list available at MySpot.nc.gov.
State health officials said the first pediatric vaccines are expected in North Carolina within nine business days. Some will be delivered as early as Nov. 3, The News & Observer reported.
CVS pharmacies will start giving the shots to children on Nov. 7.
Doctors say the vaccine is safe for children and will prevent more COVID-19 related deaths among them. It will also help with coronavirus hospitalizations, which doctors say have been climbing among kids. Those hospitalizations are often very serious, said Atrium Health pediatric infectious disease expert Dr. Amina Ahmed.
“We know that in real life, (the vaccine) definitely works in adolescents,” Ahmed said. “So we’re very excited to have this available for (ages) 5 to 11. We’ve been waiting for this day.”
More answers to common questions about the vaccine and children can be found here.
This story was originally published November 3, 2021 at 7:07 AM.
