Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on March 4
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 2,300 new cases
At least 2,598,014 coronavirus cases have been reported in North Carolina, and at least 22,763 people have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday, March 4, reported 2,646 new COVID-19 cases, up from 2,377 the day before. An additional 38 coronavirus-related deaths were added to the total.
At least 1,336 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of March 4, including 284 adults being treated in intensive care units, health officials said. The total number of patients was down from 1,397 the day before.
As of March 2, the latest date with available information, 4.3% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.
Roughly 76% 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 3.1 million ”additional/booster” doses have been administered in North Carolina as of March 4, the health department said. Health officials have urged those who are eligible to get booster shots, as data suggests they offer increased protection against the omicron coronavirus variant.
Across the nation, virtually all new COVID-19 cases were attributed to the omicron variant and its related “lineages” as of Feb. 26, the latest date for which data is available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Charlotte drops face mask mandate on school buses
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools announced it will follow updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and no longer require students to wear a face mask on school buses.
As of March 7, face masks won’t be mandated on buses or vans operated by either public or private schools, The Charlotte Observer reported. Masks will also be optional in all CMS facilities starting March 7.
The school district does, however, still recommend that face masks be worn indoors.
What is Biden’s ‘Test to Treat’ program?
President Joe Biden said during his State of the Union speech that he plans to get antiviral treatments to people immediately after they test positive for COVID-19 under a new “Test to Treat” program.
“People can get tested at a pharmacy, and if they’re positive, receive antiviral pills on the spot at no cost,” Biden said.
White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said the program will launch this month at hundreds of sites across the U.S., The Charlotte Observer reported. They include Walgreens and CVS locations in Charlotte, but the pharmacies have not said when it will launch.
“Our pharmacists and pharmacies have played an essential role in response to COVID-19, and stand ready to further support in the timely and accessible delivery of COVID-19 treatments to patients,” a Walgreens spokesperson said in a statement. “We will provide additional details regarding rollout in our stores as it becomes available.”
Triangle district keeps indoor face mask rule but lifts it for outside
One Triangle-area school district will stop requiring face masks outside, but they must be worn indoors for at least a few more weeks.
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro school board in a unanimous vote decided to end the district’s outdoor mask rule. The change goes into effect March 7.
Board members also voted 6-1 to have a “masks recommended” policy starting April 4, The News & Observer reported.
The district has had both indoor and outdoor face covering policies since the delta coronavirus variant caused a spike in cases in August. Officials considered the new rules as infection rates drop and more people get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Parents say Charlotte bus driver gave students COVID tests
A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bus driver has been suspended after parents said the driver paid $5 to swab students’ cheeks for COVID-19 while on the bus.
Officials with the school district said the tests were not authorized.
Mecklenburg County Health Director Dr. Reynard Washington said he was alarmed after hearing the reports from parents, saying the cheek swab tests aren’t always effective.
“It’s not what we have been encouraging advising or recommending, there are not providers that we, I guess, refer people to that are doing those kinds of tests,” Washington said.
He also said it wasn’t clear why the bus driver was offering to pay students to take the test.
“I can’t tell you why somebody would pay someone to do a COVID-19 test,” Washington said. “Certainly, that’s not something that we have engaged in as a department and would not encourage, I’m not sure why you would do that.”
Teacher turnover rose early in pandemic
Though teacher turnover went up in North Carolina last school year, a state education leader says a report about the figures doesn’t reflect anecdotal information that educators were leaving their jobs in droves early in the COVID-19 pandemic.
“To be sure, attrition from the state’s teacher corps remains a concern and a challenge that we must address more aggressively, but the numbers for the 2020-21 school year show that the state didn’t see a big surge in teachers leaving the classroom, at least in the first 12 months of the pandemic,” State Superintendent Catherine Truitt said in a news release.
“We’ll be assessing the impact of the second year of the pandemic when we’re able to analyze data from the 2021-22 school year.”
Using data from last school year, the report shows the percentage of teachers who retired or left their jobs was 8.2%, an increase from 7.5% the year before, The News & Observer reported.
This story was originally published March 4, 2022 at 7:01 AM.
