Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Dec. 31
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 19,000 cases added
At least 1,686,667 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and at least 19,426 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday, Dec. 31, reported 19,174 new COVID-19 cases, up from 18,571 the day before. The highest single-day jump in cases was previously recorded at 11,581 in January.
There were 27 additional coronavirus-related deaths on Dec. 31. Health officials don’t specify the dates on which newly reported deaths occurred.
At least 2,387 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 on Dec. 31, up from 2,267 the day before, health officials said.
As of Dec. 28, the latest date with available information, 22.9% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. That’s up from 21.6% the previous day. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.
Roughly 74% 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 59% are fully vaccinated and 63% have received at least one dose. State officials round vaccination numbers to the nearest whole number.
Charlotte colleges starting spring semesters on time as COVID cases rise
Colleges and universities in the Charlotte area are planning to reopen for spring despite rising coronavirus metrics.
With more than a week until the new semester, no school has said it would change its schedule, The Charlotte Observer reported.
But UNC Charlotte will now have remote classes for the first two weeks of the semester. The school is also the first major college athletics program in the state to shut fans out from sporting events for three weeks due to the COVID-19 surge.
Buffie Stephens, director of issues management and media relations for UNC Charlotte, previously said the school is monitoring the “evolving situation with the Omicron variant closely.” UNC Charlotte won’t mandate COVID-19 vaccines but is requiring testing for students and workers who haven’t gotten booster shots.
Meanwhile, Queens University said eligible students and workers must have boosters by Feb. 15, and Central Piedmont Community College doesn’t have a vaccination requirement but is encouraging the campus community to get vaccinated.
COVID temporarily closes two more Charlotte restaurants
Two more Charlotte restaurants have temporarily shut their doors due to concerns about COVID-19.
Oak Steakhouse in SouthPark is “closed until further notice,” and O-Ku Sushi in South End is closed through Jan. 1, The Charlotte Observer reported.
The restaurants, members of the restaurant group Indigo Road, said the shutdowns are “due to staffing concerns because of a recent spike of COVID cases.” Customers who made reservations should expect to be contacted, according to the eateries.
The businesses join several other restaurants that temporarily closed as the omicron variant continues to spread.
Triangle students scheduled to return to classes
The Wake County school district, the largest in the state, shared safety protocols as students are set to return to schools.
Though coronavirus cases have been rising in the state, the protocols are the same as they were before the winter break. The school system has also encouraged eligible students and workers to get vaccinated, The News & Observer reported.
Wake said a partnership with MAKO Medical will also allow for expanded testing access at schools. Parents can sign up online for on-campus testing.
Mecklenburg residents overwhelm ER amid COVID test shortage
Health experts warned a shortage of COVID-19 tests in Mecklenburg County has strained emergency resources, with emergency departments bombarded by people looking to get tested.
Novant Health chief clinical officer Dr. Sid Fletcher said some of those individuals don’t have COVID-19 symptoms, and the influx has led to urgent cares becoming “overwhelmed.”
Fletcher urged people not to go to urgent cares or emergency departments seeking a coronavirus test unless they have severe symptoms, The Charlotte Observer reported.
“If you can’t get tested, if you have symptoms — stay home,” outgoing Mecklenburg health director Gibbie Harris said. “You don’t need to be going to school. You don’t need to go to work. You don’t need to be going into the emergency department, unless you have just a significant serious illness.”
COVID threatens New Year’s dining plans in the Triangle
Restaurants in the Triangle are grappling with shutting down on New Year’s Eve as local cases spike and the omicron variant spreads.
Jimmy Kim, owner of Cucciolo Terrazza, made the call on Wednesday, Dec. 29, to close through the end of the year after an employee tested positive for the virus. He said it cost him reservations on New Year’s Eve but was a straightforward decision.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but the safety of staff members and guests is more important than a few days of service,” he told The News & Observer.
Several other restaurants are still waiting on staff members’ test results before they decide whether to stay open over the holiday weekend.
The cocktail bar Sidebar in Cary opted to close Dec. 29 while they await those results.
“We’ve all been through this a couple times now,” owner Matthew Bettinger said. “We’re not going to fight it, if we need to miss a day or miss two days awaiting test results, we’ll take that time. I’m not going to increase the risk or increase the workload on available staff. Your employees are your biggest assets.”
COVID cases nearly double at Duke Hospital
Hundreds of staff members at Duke Hospital are infected with the coronavirus amid a surge in patient cases.
The number of COVID-19 cases at the hospital jumped by 42% since Monday, Dec. 27, The News & Observer reported, and about 400 employees have tested positive. The deluge has left the hospital scrambling to take care of its patients.
“People need to really move away from the idea that this is mild,” said Dr. Cameron Wolfe, a Duke professor of infectious disease. “It’s not mild for us. We have to cancel surgeries. You can only defer a bypass surgery a few days before people run into trouble.”
Could Charlotte-area schools return to remote learning?
As coronavirus cases rise, Charlotte-area students are preparing to end their holiday break and go back to school.
But remote learning won’t be possible across the entire Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system.
That’s because a law that was signed Aug. 30 prevents districts from having fully remote instruction, The Charlotte Observer reported. Senate Bill 654 still allows some classes and schools to transition from face-to-face classes if there are coronavirus-related emergencies.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools requires face masks to be worn indoors and urges people to get vaccinated.
“CMS continues to work with vaccine providers to offer vaccine clinics for anyone who is eligible, and many schools continue to host vaccine events,” spokesperson Vicki Grooms wrote in a recent report. “It is recommended for all adults to receive a vaccine booster, and youth ages 16-17 were recently approved to receive the booster.”
This story was originally published December 31, 2021 at 7:57 AM.
