Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on March 12
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 1,800 new cases
At least 2,606,754 coronavirus cases have been reported in North Carolina, and at least 22,922 people have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday, March 11, reported 1,849 new COVID-19 cases, up from 1,783 the day before. An additional 30 coronavirus-related deaths were added to the total.
At least 960 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of March 11, a drop from 1,012 the day before. The last time fewer than 1,000 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 was July 25, 2021.
182 adults were being treated in intensive care units as of March 10, health officials said.
As of March 8, the latest date with available information, 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 10, 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.
Across the nation, virtually all new COVID-19 cases were attributed to the omicron variant and its related “lineages” as of March 5, the latest date for which data is available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Charlotte man accused of stealing over $200K in COVID relief funds
A Charlotte man used stolen identities to take $219,000 in coronavirus relief money, prosecutors said.
The 31-year-old man was sentenced to five years in prison, The Charlotte Observer reported March 11.
He is accused of using the identities of people in multiple states to receive unemployment benefits. He “took advantage of the American people whose lives have been disrupted by the pandemic to try and enrich himself through fraud,” Tommy Coke, a U.S. Postal Service inspector in charge, said in a news release.
Exhibit portrays resilience of restaurants during COVID
An interactive photography exhibit on display Saturday portrays resilient Asheville restaurants during the pandemic, the Asheville Citizen Times reported.
Carol Spagnuola photographed nearly 50 restaurants, breweries and other food and beverage establishments in May 2020, according to the newspaper.
The two-night Curbside Revival Asheville Gallery Show opened Friday and continues from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Archetype Brewing-North, 174 Broadway St.
Tickets are $15, with all proceeds benefiting the Asheville Independent Restaurant Association..
Buy tickets at Eventbrite.com.
Omicron “burned its way through the community,” doctor says
Citing a rapid decline in COVID-19 patients, the chief medical officer at a hospital in the N.C. mountains told WLOS that the omicron variant of the coronavirus “has burned its way through the community.”
“And I think a lot of people have some immunity from the vaccine or a previous infection, so that’s good for now,” Dr. Teresa Herbert of AdventHealth Hendersonville said.
As of Sunday, March 6, data from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services showed just 56 hospitalizations in the mountains, the station reported.
Funding plan aimed at those struggling from pandemic
With many people struggling to recover from effects of the pandemic, North Carolina’s 18 western-most counties are part of a $650 million pilot program to address housing, food, transportation and safety needs in parts of the state, WLOS reported Friday.
Bounty & Soul is among many Western N.C. organizations participating in the program, called Healthy Opportunities Pilots.
The Black Mountain-based nonprofit organization will use Medicaid reimbursements from the program to give “boxes of healthy food, and nutritional cooking lessons,” to people who qualify for them, WLOS reported.
