COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Nov. 20
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 2,400 new cases reported
At least 1,514,879 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and at least 18,597 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday, Nov. 19, reported 2,401 new COVID-19 cases, up from 2,392 on Thursday.
There were 35 coronavirus-related deaths added Nov. 19. Health officials don’t specify the dates on which newly reported deaths occurred.
At least 1,052 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Nov. 19, including 293 adults being treated in intensive care units, health officials said.
On Wednesday, Nov. 17, the most recent 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 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.
Masks now optional, school board says, but please wear them
A school board in the North Carolina mountains voted this week to make masks optional starting Nov. 29, but urged students and staff to keep wearing them, the (Asheville) Citizen Times reported.
The Madison County Board of Education held true to a promise in August to lift the mandate when the county’s COVID-19 positive test rate fell below 5%, according to the newspaper.
The county’s 14-day average positive rate was 4.8% Thursday, according to the state’s COVID-19 dashboard.
Still, everyone should wear face coverings in schools and get vaccinated against the disease, board chairperson Karen Blevins urged, according to the Citizen Times. And schools will maintain their COVID-prevention safety measures, she said.
No public indication that COVID vaccines will be required in schools
There hasn’t been a public indication that state leaders in North Carolina will make the COVID-19 vaccine among the required immunizations for students.
Catie Armstrong of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services said the Commission for Public Health makes rules and would be responsible for proposing new vaccinations in the state, The Charlotte Observer reported Nov. 19.
“We are aware of no discussions about making COVID vaccines mandatory for students,” said Patrick Smith, assistant superintendent of communications the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district.
Currently, children across the state are required to have vaccines to help protect them against 12 diseases.
“Children are not allowed to attend school (whether public, private or religious) or a child care facility unless they have received all required immunizations appropriate for their age,” DHHS said on its website.
What does booster shot authorization mean in North Carolina?
Booster shots of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized for adults across the country by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That expands those eligible to receive booster shots, previously limited to people ages 65 and older and adults with medical conditions or who are around “high-risk settings.”
Charlotte-area company delays return to office
A company with its headquarters in North Carolina is pushing its return to the office until the new year.
Home improvement company Lowe’s said it will start phasing workers back into its Mooresville office at the end of January due to the coronavirus pandemic and “out of caution for the health and safety of workers,” The Charlotte Observer reported Nov. 19.
The company had planned to have workers return to offices in October before coronavirus cases surged this summer.
Steve Salazar, a Lowe’s spokesperson, said there will be a combination of remote and in-person work once employees start to come back into the office.
Wake to require COVID test appointments
Wake County plans to require appointments at its drive-thru COVID-19 test sites.
The change will go into effect Dec. 1, allowing the Triangle-area county to give priority to people who have shown coronavirus symptoms and reserving spaces for people required to get tested for their jobs, officials said in a Nov. 18 news release.
“Wake County wants to ensure that those who may have had an exposure or are at-risk of the virus have a way to get tested quickly and efficiently,” said José Cabañas, chief medical officer. “This new system will allow them to select a time convenient for them and get in and out without waiting in long lines.”
Starting Nov. 29, anyone who wants to make an appointment can visit wakegov.com/testing or call 888-675-4567.
