Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Feb. 15
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We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 3,000 hospitalizations reported
At least 2,543,260 coronavirus cases have been reported in North Carolina, and at least 21,835 people have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday, Feb. 15, reported 2,888 new COVID-19 cases, down from 3,383 the day before. An additional 54 coronavirus-related deaths were added to the total.
At least 3,042 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Feb. 15, including 552 adults being treated in intensive care units, health officials said. The total patient count was down from 3,076 the previous day, according to state health officials.
As of Feb. 13, the latest date with available information, 17.8% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.
Roughly 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 61% are fully vaccinated and about 65% have received at least one dose. State officials round vaccination numbers to the nearest whole number.
More than 3 million ”additional/booster” doses have been administered in North Carolina as of Feb. 15, 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 23% of new COVID-19 cases in the nation were attributed to the omicron variant while others were attributed to its related “lineages” as of Feb. 12, the latest date for which data is available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Husband, wife die of COVID minutes apart in NC
Thomas Fortenberry and his longtime partner, Diane, died from COVID-19 on the same day in side-by-side hospital beds in North Carolina.
The pair were high school sweethearts and had just celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary, McClatchy News reported.
“Tommy and Diane had such an amazing love for each other and we don’t believe their leaving their earthly home only 4 minutes apart was a coincidence,” the couple’s obituaries said.
The husband and wife, who were in their 60s, grew up in Mississippi but lived in Clayton, North Carolina. They got COVID-19 around Christmas and were admitted to the ICU at WakeMed Cary Hospital. When their daughter ultimately decided to withdraw care, they were extubated and moved to the same hospital room.
“With their daughters standing beside them, husband and wife were side by side, holding hands, their heads facing one another and, I swear Mr. Fortenberry had a smile on his face,” a WakeMed nurse said in a blog post.
Harris Teeter changes hours as COVID cases drop
Harris Teeter will return to later closing hours after shortening them last month amid a wave of new coronavirus cases.
All but 13 locations were closing at 9 p.m. to allow employees time to restock shelves and clean stores, The Charlotte Observer reported. That closing time will now be pushed back to 10 p.m.
The change comes as the number of new COVID-19 cases has been steadily declining.
Chatham schools will soon be ‘mask optional’
The Chatham County school board voted to transition to an optional masking program slated to begin around March 7.
The board also voted to stop requiring athletes to wear face masks at sporting events, The News & Observer reported.
Officials said they would delay the start of the transition to give staff and students time to get vaccinated. But the exact timeline will depend on guidance from state health officials, the Chatham County Health Department and the ABC Science Collaborative.
“Staff and students who want to continue to mask are welcome to do so,” said Superintendent Anthony Jackson. “But we recognize others in the community want the option of removing the mask, and we believe it is now time to offer that choice.”
Traffic-related deaths up during pandemic
Traffic-related deaths have gone up during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 2021 marking the deadliest year in decades, data show.
The number of people killed on North Carolina roads last year was 1,755 — the most since 1,892 deaths were reported in 1973.
“We have seen traffic fatalities moving in the wrong direction for a couple years in North Carolina and across the country,” Governor’s Highway Safety Program Director Mark Ezzell said in a statement. “It’s going to take an all-hands-on-deck approach from communities, organizations and individual drivers to reverse this trend.”
The state has seen deaths spike since 2011, “with the largest jumps coming since the coronavirus pandemic began in early 2020,” The News & Observer reported. Though people drove less during coronavirus-related restrictions, officials think some people may have not used seat belts and that open roads could have led to speeding.
Johnston schools will soon go face mask optional
The Johnston County school board voted on Monday, Feb. 14, to drop certain stipulations that could have resulted in some schools requiring face masks, clearing the way for all schools to go mask optional. The vote was unanimous.
Prior to the vote, less than 4% of a school’s students and staff had to test positive for COVID-19 and/or be quarantined for it to make face masks optional starting Feb. 21, The News & Observer reported.
The decision comes after the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services made major changes to its COVID-19 guidelines in schools.
Wake school board holds off on face mask vote
The Wake County school board will wait until March 1 to vote on the district’s face mask policy, casting aside a board member’s request to move the vote up to Tuesday, Feb. 15.
School board member Karen Carter asked to push it forward because of the new state health guidance released last week regarding COVID-19 quarantine protocol, The News & Observer reported. But school board chairwoman Lindsay Mahaffey said there wasn’t enough support.
“I just think it’s worthy of a public discussion,” Carter told The N&O. “But I guess we are not now.”
State law requires school boards to vote at least monthly on their face mask policies. The Wake County school board held its last vote on Feb. 1.
This story was originally published February 15, 2022 at 6:59 AM.
