COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Dec. 17
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 1,500 hospitalized
At least 1,589,054 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and at least 19,121 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday, Dec. 17, reported 3,980 new COVID-19 cases, down from 4,165 the day before.
There were 22 coronavirus-related deaths added on Dec. 17. Health officials don’t specify the dates on which newly reported deaths occurred.
At least 1,584 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 on Dec. 17, including 420 adults being treated in intensive care units, health officials said.
As of Dec. 15, the latest date with available information, 7.8% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.
Roughly 73% of adults in North Carolina have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and about 69% have been fully vaccinated. Out of the state’s total population, about 58% are fully vaccinated and 62% have received at least one dose. State officials round vaccination numbers to the nearest whole number.
Omicron could break COVID records in NC: study
A new study published on Friday, Dec. 17, projects the omicron variant could break records for COVID-19 hospitalizations in North Carolina.
The study was published by the COVSIM modeling team, which is made up of scientists from the University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University and Georgia Tech, The News & Observer reported. It estimated hospitalizations in the state could exceed what they were during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic in January 2021 within the first few months of the new year.
Researchers attribute the projected spike to omicron’s high transmission rate, which rivals delta.
COVSIM said COVID-19 vaccine booster shots and continued use of face masks could help curb the surge. But if the number of boosters doesn’t increase, North Carolina could see hospitalizations increase three- or six-fold, according to The N&O.
“In most of these scenarios, we’re seeing a really large surge coming,” said Dr. Julie Swann. “Chilling, sobering, dire – really most of the modelers when they look at the estimates are really quite concerned, because for vaccines and boosters to make an impact, we need to get them today. We can’t wait until the surge has happened and expect to be able to respond effectively.”
Swan is the head of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina State University and was an adviser to the CDC during its response to the H1N1 pandemic in 2009.
Canes coach, staffer test positive for COVID
Hurricanes goaltending coach Paul Schonfelder and a support-staff member, who was not publicly identified, have been added to the NHL COVID-19 protocol, the team said on Friday, Dec. 17.
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour said Schonfelder’s COVID-19 status was concerning, given his close proximity to goalies Frederik Andersen and Antti Raanta as well as other coaches. Brind’Amour said that includes on-ice workouts and goalie meetings.
“It’s a hold-your-breath every day,” he said. “We’re around Paul a lot. I know if there’s a guy who does everything right ... we didn’t eat together on the road, we separate, we did everything. Yet he tested (positive).”
There are currently six Canes players on the protocol list and in quarantine in Raleigh, including Jordan Staal, Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Steven Lorentz and Seth Jarvis, and defenseman Ian Cole. Massage therapist Mike Maresca is also on the list, The News & Observer reported.
Raleigh keeps indoor mask mandate
Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said Friday the city will keep its indoor face mask mandate amid rising COVID-19 cases and concerns about the omicron variant.
The news comes after Baldwin asked staff for ways to potentially life the requirement for gyms and other small businesses. But she said now is not the time to relax the rules, in part because of a spike in cases expected after Christmas and New Years.
Baldwin said it’s a trend the city has witnessed “after every holiday since the pandemic began.”
Orange County identifies first case of omicron variant
The first case of COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant has been identified in Orange County in a fully vaccinated person, the health department said Friday, Dec. 17
Health officials said the person is isolating at home and has experienced mild symptoms. The person had not received their booster shot yet.
UNC game canceled, Duke schedule changing due to COVID protocols
A UNC-Chapel Hill men’s basketball game against UCLA is canceled due to Bruins players entering COVID-19 protocols.
The teams had been scheduled to play Dec. 18 in the CBS Sports Classic. But since UCLA coach Mick Cronin went into the protocols, several team members have joined him.
UNC now faces the tough prospect of finding a non-conference opponent to fill its schedule before 2022, The News & Observer reported.
Also this weekend, the Duke men’s basketball won’t play Loyola University Maryland on Dec. 18. The school let the Blue Devils know it had positive cases within its athletics program and said it values the health of its players and staff.
“We are disappointed we will not be able to play this game, but we will focus on getting our fully-vaccinated team back to competition soon,” said Donna M. Woodruff, assistant vice president and director of athletics for Loyola, according to the N&O.
Duke is searching for another opponent after the team was originally scheduled to play Cleveland State University on Dec. 18. That game was canceled before Duke scheduled the game with Loyola.
NC’s pandemic rent aid program to close
Emergency pandemic rental aid made available through the Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions program, or HOPE, won’t be available after 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17, when applications will close.
The HOPE program was created to help tenants facing financial burden during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving each household an average of about $3,500 in rent assistance, The News & Observer reported. But federal funds allocated to the program will soon run out.
“The applications that we received by 6 p.m. will fully obligate the funding that we have for the whole program,” said Laura Hogshead, head of the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency, which operates HOPE.
North Carolina’s statewide rental assistance program is the fifth-fastest in the U.S., according to The N&O. Oregon and Texas are the only states to close their programs, with a few more considering closing applications in the near future.
Duke researchers study Moderna effectiveness against omicron
A study with North Carolina ties indicates two does of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are less effective against the omicron coronavirus variant.
Duke University and the National Institutes of Health studied blood samples and found coronavirus “antibodies were 50 times less likely to neutralize omicron compared to the original form of the virus that emerged in early 2020,” The News & Observer reported.
“That’s the bad news,” Dr. David Montefiori said. “The good news is that if you get the boost, the levels go up to where they are against the delta variant after two doses. And we know that two doses of the vaccine are very effective against delta.”
This story was originally published December 17, 2021 at 7:12 AM.
