COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Nov. 17
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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.
52 additional deaths reported
At least 1,510,086 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and at least 18,514 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday reported 2,171 new COVID-19 cases, up from 1,339 on Tuesday.
There were 52 coronavirus-related deaths added Wednesday. Health officials don’t specify the dates on which newly reported deaths occurred.
At least 1,049 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Wednesday, including 284 adults being treated in intensive care units, health officials said.
On Monday, the most recent date with available information, 6.1% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.
Roughly 72% of adults in North Carolina have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and about 68% have been fully vaccinated. State officials round vaccination numbers to the nearest whole number.
Wake teachers describe challenging school year
Teachers and teachers’ assistants have faced an uphill battle this academic year amid staffing shortages and people calling out sick, with many describing themselves as “exhausted,” “overworked” and “defeated” as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
“Employee morale is low,” Paula Wright, a special-education instructional assistant, told The News & Observer. “It’s sad to walk in some days and not knowing what we’re facing, not knowing who has called out.”
Teachers are reportedly not getting a free lunch period because they have to supervise children, and some teachers’ assistants are having to substitute for teachers who call out.
“Our students have been through a lot during the past year-and-a-half, and we’re trying to do our best to support them with their learning and with their mental health,” said Laurie Limbrick-Thompson, a Cary High School teacher. “They need us to be our best. They need us to be the positive guidance to help them through these challenging times. “But the more that gets piled on us, the more overwhelmed and frazzled we become. It’s becoming harder and harder to reach every student every day.”
Mecklenburg to close COVID shelter hotel
Mecklenburg County plans to close a hotel that provided a place to stay for people with no other housing options during the coronavirus pandemic.
Since March 2020, the shelter has offered rooms for COVID-19 patients or those who think they may have been exposed to the virus, The Charlotte Observer reported. As of Tuesday, one person was staying at the hotel.
The hotel, which costs about $300,000 to run each month, is set to close at the end of 2021. Mecklenburg County — which is home to Charlotte — said it has been working with partners to find other shelter options as many of its coronavirus case metrics improve.
“We have to normalize the ability of these shelters to be able to manage communicable disease, including COVID,” said Gibbie Harris, the county’s public health director. “Especially with these small numbers that we’re seeing, they should be able to accommodate a handful of people in their facilities where they can isolate and quarantine if needed.”
Raleigh festival draws fewer people than before COVID
The World of Bluegrass music festival returned in-person this fall, leaving a $5.7 million economic impact in the Raleigh area.
But the International Bluegrass Music Association’s latest event — which was held Sept. 28 to Oct. 2 — had fewer people than before the coronavirus pandemic, according to data published Wednesday.
This year, the music festival had about 101,000 attendees. That’s down from roughly 218,000 who went to the festival in 2019, according to the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“No matter how you measure it, we are pleased with the 100% increase in attendance over 2020,” David Brower, executive director of PineCone, said in a statement. “Virtual was fun — but there’s no comparison to seeing the streets of downtown Raleigh filled with banjos, fiddles and smiling faces.”
Wake approves using COVID relief funds for bonuses
The Wake County school board voted to spend coronavirus relief money on bonuses for workers.
The plan — which received unanimous approval on Tuesday — uses $80.7 million in federal funds for $3,750 bonuses. The N.C. Department of Public Instruction also is expected to approve, The News & Observer reported.
The Raleigh-area district made the move as cafeteria workers and school bus drivers have protested salaries and working conditions with sickouts in recent weeks. Across the country, staffing shortages have led employees to do extra work.
In Statesville, Carrie Tulbert has driven a school bus while working as Oakwood Middle School principal.
“We all thought that schools would return as close to normal as possible,” Tulbert said. “But in August we got slammed with changes: contact tracing, masks, just so many things that were unexpected due to COVID.”
Mecklenburg to keep mask mandate as positivity rate slowly increases
As the COVID-19 positivity rate rises in Mecklenburg County, the area has moved away from meeting the threshold needed to end its face mask mandate.
The county, home to Charlotte, has seen the rate slowly go up in the past two weeks. The seven-day average as of Sunday was 6%, but the rate would have to be under 5% for an entire week to remove the mask requirement, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Health officials have urged people to get their COVID-19 shots and consider getting tested for the virus before holiday trips.
“Unfortunately, what we’re seeing across the country is numbers going up,” said Gibbie Harris, Mecklenburg County public health director. “I’m hoping that’s not what we see here in Mecklenburg County, but that is sort of the trend that we’re seeing right now.”
Airport travel could reach near pre-pandemic levels at Charlotte airport
The Charlotte Douglas International Airport is expected to see Thanksgiving traffic that nearly rivals pre-pandemic levels.
Around the holiday, the airport’s busiest day could be Nov. 28, when 35,000 local passengers are possible. That’s still below 38,000 passengers seen in 2019, before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, The Charlotte Observer reported.
“We’re not too very far off from where we were prior to COVID,” said Jack Christine, chief operating officer for the airport. “… The terminal and all of our facilities are going to be very busy.”
Airport officials urge travelers to arrive two hours before their flights as they expect the volume of passengers that start their trips in Charlotte to be almost double what it was last year.
What’s in the NC budget?
The North Carolina state budget released Monday includes a fund for COVID-affected businesses and allows schools to receive funding at pre-pandemic levels, among other proposals.
Public schools have seen enrollment drop, but the budget calls for districts to receive funding for the number of students they had before the pandemic. That would help districts avoid a possible cut of $132 million, The News & Observer reported.
The budget also calls for creating a $500 million fund to “disperse one-time grants to businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the hospitality and entertainment sectors with priority to businesses who have not previously received an award,” The N&O reported.
In another coronavirus-related proposal, a provision would put limits on the powers of the governor during an emergency. It’s a provision that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper doesn’t like but Republicans are in favor of.
“Limiting the powers couldn’t be soon enough for many in my caucus,” Rep. Jason Saine said. “We don’t believe any one person should have that much control and that much power over an extended period of time.”
Cooper said he will sign the budget during a Nov. 16 news conference, telling reporters “the good outweighs the bad.”
This story was originally published November 17, 2021 at 7:09 AM.
