Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Jan. 7
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 28,000 new cases reported
At least 1,816,380 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and at least 19,619 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday, Jan. 7, reported 28,474 new COVID-19 cases, up from 24,292 the day before. The count has continued to rise since the state saw a record of more than 20,000 cases on Jan. 5.
Another 33 coronavirus-related deaths were reported on Jan. 7. Health officials don’t specify the dates on which newly reported deaths occurred.
At least 3,474 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 on Jan. 7, up from 3,298 the day before, health officials said.
As of Jan. 5, the latest date with available information, 31.2% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. 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 70% have been fully vaccinated. 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.
More than 2.6 million “additional/booster” doses have been administered in North Carolina as of Jan. 7, the health department said. Health officials have urged those who are eligible to get boosted, as data suggests it offers increased protection against the omicron coronavirus variant.
Leaders say we need to reach ‘endemic’ stage of COVID
Gov. Roy Cooper has said North Carolina needs to reach the “endemic” stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in which schools and businesses can still operate and life can proceed with some sense of normalcy.
“We want to get this virus to the endemic stage,” Cooper said Friday. “We understand that this virus is going to be with us for a long time, but we need to make sure that we can lead normal lives and live with it, protect ourselves and try to reduce people getting sick and dying from this virus.”
Endemic is a term used to describe the amount of a particular disease in a community, The News & Observer reported, citing Dr. David Wohl, an infectious disease specialist with UNC Health.
Endemic doesn’t mean the disease isn’t present in a community.
“The endemic level of a disease assumes that, without intervention and assuming there is not a high enough level of disease to deplete the susceptible population, the disease will continue to exist at the baseline level indefinitely,” The N&O reported.
Harris Teeter cuts store hours again
Harris Teeter is temporarily shortening its hours from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. starting Monday, Jan. 10 as the coronavirus pandemic impacts business.
The shortened hours will give employees more time to stock shelves and clean, The Charlotte Observer reported. About 60 stores in the Charlotte region will be affected.
Some stores were previously open until 10 or 11 p.m.
Festival to return to NC after COVID delays it for two years
A popular festival is returning to North Carolina after two years of coronavirus-related pauses, organizers said.
BOOM Charlotte, an event focused on art and performances, is scheduled for April 22-23.
Submissions are due Feb. 4 for the festival, being held in Charlotte’s Plaza Midwood neighborhood. The event is returning in-person after doing online and “limited capacity shows,” The Charlotte Observer reported.
Some routes won’t run with Wake bus drivers out due to COVID
Some Triangle-area families have to find other ways to get to and from school as bus drivers are out due to COVID-19.
On Jan. 7, there weren’t drivers for 15% of bus routes, Wake district spokesperson Matt Dees said. The absences are related to the coronavirus pandemic and bus driver shortages seen across the United States.
“If the status of your child’s bus route is ‘No Driver Available/Route Uncovered,’ you will need to make alternate transportation arrangements,” the school district said in an email. “We regret any inconvenience this may cause.”
Bank of America ask workers to stay home as omicron spreads
Bank of America, which has a major presence in the Charlotte area, is urging employees to work from home.
The bank, which had already encouraged remote work the week of Jan. 3, is now extending that period through next week, The Charlotte Observer reported. The bank said it “continue(s) to monitor the broader environment” as the omicron coronavirus variant leads to a rise in cases.
In July, the company started allowing vaccinated people to work in-person, becoming one of the first major Charlotte-area employers to reopen its offices. Bank of America hasn’t required vaccines but said it “strongly encourages” workers to get them.
Panthers place more players on COVID reserve list
A cornerback, wide receiver and defensive end for the Carolina Panthers have been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of the team’s final game of the 2021 NFL season.
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore, wide receiver Shi Smith and defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos were added to the list on Wednesday, Jan. 5, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Defensive tackle Phil Hoskins remains on the list from last week.
COVID surge causes shortage of over-the-counter medicine
Some stores in the Charlotte area have limited stock of NyQuil, Sudafed and Tylenol amid an uptick in COVID-19 cases.
“We have seen significant demand for cough, cold and flu medicines,” a national Walmart spokesperson told The Charlotte Observer. “We’ve been able to keep fairly good inventory levels but are working closely with our supplier to meet this demand and get the needed product to our customers.”
Cold and flu symptoms are similar to that of the coronavirus, and at-home COVID-19 tests are in short supply, making it difficult for some people to know which they have, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Retailers didn’t say when they’ll be able to restock the popular over-the-counter medicines.
NC eases school COVID quarantine rules
The Department of Health and Human Services has shortened the quarantine requirement for students exposed to COVID-19 or who test positive for the virus.
The State Board of Education voted to approve the changes during a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 6, The News & Observer reported. Under the new rules, people who test positive need to isolate for five days and wear a face mask for five additional days afterward, which aligns with updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Unvaccinated individuals exposed to someone who tests positive will need to quarantine for five days, but those who are fully vaccinated do not.
In school districts that require face masks, students who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated and are exposed to the coronavirus can stay in school as long as they don’t test positive for it.
Hospitals urge people not to come to ER for COVID testing
The Triangle’s three hospital systems are urging people not to show up in the emergency department seeking a COVID-19 test as they grapple with overcrowding.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chris DeRienzo with WakeMed said about 40% of patients in the emergency department as of late have needed help with COVID-19 or related respiratory problems, while about 5% of all visitors just wanted a coronavirus test.
“Our big ask for the community is, if that’s not what you need right now, then there are many other places where you can seek care,” DeRienzo said.
Individuals who are not experiencing significant symptoms can get tested at urgent care centers, testing clinics or pharmacies, The News & Observer reported.
NC doctors consider future of COVID
As the coronavirus pandemic continues, North Carolina doctors are considering the future of COVID-19.
While it’s not likely that COVID-19 will completely disappear, medical experts think it could become endemic. In that phase, the virus’s spread could be more predictable and hospitalizations and deaths could be lower, The Charlotte Observer reported.
“There will be no avoiding this virus,” said Dr. David Priest, an infectious disease expert at Novant Health. “As it becomes endemic, everyone will eventually have antibodies in their system to it — through either getting infected or getting vaccinated against it.”
The omicron coronavirus variant could be a step toward the virus becoming endemic, and the best step people can take now is to get their COVID-19 vaccines, doctors said.
With hospitalizations rising, fewer patients are in ICUs
COVID-related hospitalizations have risen in North Carolina, but fewer people are needing intensive care as the omicron coronavirus variant spreads.
The portion of patients needing ventilators is also down to 13%, compared to 24% in October, The News & Observer reported.
“We are seeing less acuity, less severity, even among the people who do end up hospitalized,” said Dr. David Wohl of UNC Medical Center in Chapel Hill. “This is the silver lining of omicron. It’s spreading widely; many people are getting infected, but mildly to moderately.”
Hospitals have been testing people for COVID-19 on a routine basis, and more patients are now being diagnosed without having symptoms.
“When the community prevalence gets so high, and in particular with this variant that is less severe, people do come in with heart attacks and strokes and trauma and are found to be positive,” said Dr. Lisa Pickett of Duke University Hospital.
This story was originally published January 7, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
