Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Feb. 3
Click here for updates for Feb. 4.
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
Death toll passes 21,000
At least 2,457,857 coronavirus cases have been reported in North Carolina, and at least 21,027 people have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday, Feb. 3, reported 14,966 new COVID-19 cases, up from 12,335 the day before. An additional 123 coronavirus-related deaths were added.
At least 4,556 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 on Feb. 3, including 753 adults being treated in intensive care units. The total patient count was down from 4,725 the previous day, according to state health officials.
As of Feb. 1, the latest date with available information, 22.2% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.
Roughly 75% of adults in North Carolina have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and about 71% are fully vaccinated. Of the state’s total population, about 60% are fully vaccinated and about 65% have received at least one dose. State officials round vaccination numbers to the nearest whole number.
More than 2.9 million ”additional/booster” doses have been administered in North Carolina as of Feb. 3, 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.
About 99% new COVID-19 cases in the nation were attributed to the omicron variant as of Jan. 29, the latest date for which data is available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Video of Wake County school official discussing masks goes viral
A video of Wake County Assistant Superintendent Paul Koh discussing face masks for 2-year-olds has gone viral among opponents who say it’s evidence of the school district’s intention to require masks in schools indefinitely.
But school district officials say Koh’s comments have been taken out of context, The News & Observer reported.
“The district has no interest in requiring face coverings indefinitely,” the district said in a statement Thursday, Feb. 3. “Such a suggestion is wrong. Our priority is to maintain in-person instruction. And at this time, state health officials have made clear that safely achieving that goal includes the use of face coverings.”
In the 26-second clip widely viewed on Twitter, Koh recommended including 2- to 4-year-olds in the face mask mandate based on state health department guidelines. He said teachers know younger children can’t wear masks for as long as older students, but including them in the mandate would help them practice for when they get older.
“That’s what we’re trying to do,” Koh said, “and it is with a developmental lens and not a ‘you must do this or else’ lens.“
The school board did not vote to expand the face mask mandate, keeping it in place only for ages 5 and up, according to The N&O.
Harris Teeter will offer free N95 masks
Free N95 masks will be available at Harris Teeter stores as part of a partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, The Charlotte Observer reported.
The Matthews-based grocer said masks will be available while supplies last.
“Wearing a mask and getting vaccinated continue to be the top defense tools in our nation’s fight against COVID-19,” Casey Killough, Harris Teeter’s director of pharmacy, said in a statement.
Customers can look for a branded display in any Harris Teeter or ask an associate for help.
‘Downward spiral’ of cases leads NC district to change COVID rules
Some parents are calling for state intervention after a Charlotte-area school district changed coronavirus-related rules.
Union County Public Schools voted to keep face masks optional and change other rules after officials saw a “steady downward spiral” of cases, The Charlotte Observer reported.
“It’s very obvious we had a spike the week of Jan. 10, (with) 1,331 cases,” said Gary Sides, a school board member. “The numbers are less than half now. (The) spike has occurred as predicted and is now falling.”
As of Monday, Feb. 7, some contact tracing and quarantine rules will end for students and workers in the district. Those who have COVID-19 symptoms or test positive for the virus must stay home, but there won’t be that requirement for people who may have been exposed, according to the Observer.
Free N95 face mask supplies run out at Durham County libraries
Durham County is pausing the distribution of free N95 face masks at libraries after supplies ran out.
More than 30,000 masks had been offered at public libraries to help protect people from COVID-19. But the day after the effort started, there were no masks left, The News & Observer reported on Feb. 3.
During the coronavirus pandemic, health experts have said N95 face masks offer better protection than those made out of cloth. The N95 masks are still available for people getting drive-thru tests at Optum Serve locations, Durham County officials said.
Also in the Triangle, Orange County had no more face coverings left hours after starting to give them out. Wake County has been low on masks and planned to restock as of Feb. 2.
How accurate are at-home COVID tests?
While at-home COVID-19 tests can be useful to have during the coronavirus pandemic, experts say you may not want to rely on the results of one of those tests alone.
“A single negative self-test result may not be reliable, especially if you have symptoms associated with COVID-19,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on its website.
Kits people have in their homes are rapid-antigen tests, which are less sensitive compared to laboratory tests, also called PCR, The Charlotte Observer reported Feb. 2.
“That’s why if someone has COVID-19, but hasn’t yet reached the test’s threshold of viral particles, they may still test negative with an antigen test but positive on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test,” Dr. Emily Landon wrote in an article.
Request to require vaccines for some NC high schoolers denied
A request to require North Carolina high school seniors to be vaccinated against COVID-19 was unanimously rejected.
The N.C. Commission for Public Health voted against the petition, which had called for adding the requirement for 17-year-olds or those “who are entering 12th grade as of July 1,” The News & Observer reported. The request came from four North Carolina professors.
“I am a strong proponent for the vaccines,” said Dr. Ronald May, commission chairman. “I do believe that they save lives and I think they prevent very, very serious illness in a great number of people. As I suggested, I don’t think this is the right time to address this for school-age children, and whether there will be a better time it’s yet to be seen.”
Some members of the commission said getting the shots should be a choice for families to make.
“The commission could consider adding a COVID-19 vaccine to the childhood immunization schedule at a later date,” Dr. Kelly Kimple, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Women’s and Children’s Health Section chief, told commission members.
’New normal’ could come soon, Duke expert says
After the omicron coronavirus variant brought a surge in cases to North Carolina, we’re now equipped to prevent another wave, a Duke University health policy expert said.
Mark McClellan, who in the past served as commissioner for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said COVID-19 won’t go away, but it’s possible to help prevent outbreaks through vaccines and other efforts.
“An important component of keeping COVID from really disrupting our lives and our health care system again is going to be the opportunity for people to get tested and, if they test positive, to get access to quick treatment that could help prevent a serious complication,” McClellan told media outlets.
In January, state health officials reported an average of over 22,000 daily COVID-19 cases. But coronavirus trends appear to have reached a peak, and about 8,000 cases were reported on Feb. 1, according to The News & Observer.
Coronavirus-related hospitalizations have also gone down, though deaths haven’t slowed.
“If we’re able to continue the decline in the surge at the rate that’s been happening the past week, I do see some real opportunities for relaxing mask mandates, for relaxing our activities, just within the next month, not too far off at all,” McClellan said.
This story was originally published February 3, 2022 at 7:08 AM.
