Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on March 16
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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.
Death toll passes 23,000
At least 2,613,901 coronavirus cases have been reported in North Carolina, and at least 23,005 people have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, March 16, reported 1,519 new COVID-19 cases, up from 649 the day before. An additional 39 coronavirus-related deaths were added to the total.
At least 799 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of March 16, including 140 adults being treated in intensive care units. The patient count was down from 832 the day before.
As of March 14, the latest date with available information, 2.6% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.
Health officials on March 16 said an error led to the total number of tests being lower than expected.
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 3.2 million ”additional/booster” doses have been administered in North Carolina as of March 16, 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 12, the latest date for which data is available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Rent relief program seeing high demand as COVID continues
A program that offers rent relief in the Charlotte area is seeing demand at an all-time high.
After reopening applications, the Mecklenburg County program in the past two weeks received about 4,800 applications.
“There are parts of us that believe that the pandemic is going in the right direction and that maybe people are becoming more stabilized,” said Erin Barbee of DreamKey Partners, which distributes the federal funds. “But these numbers prove we are still in a very dire situation for people experiencing hardship as a result of COVID.”
To apply for assistance with utilities or housing costs, people must meet income requirements and have “pandemic-related income loss, illness or other financial hardship,” The Charlotte Observer previously reported.
Anyone seeking information can visit rampcharmeck.com.
NC man gets prison for $1.7M COVID fraud
A 40-year-old man from Garner, North Carolina, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison after prosecutors said he fraudulently obtained more than $1.7 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tristan Bishop Pan received the money in 2020 and initially applied for over $6.1 million in PPP funds, The News & Observer reported.
Pan reportedly used bogus businesses to apply for the loans, three of which were references to the HBO series “Game of Thrones.” They included White Walker, Khaleesi and The Night’s Watch.
Wake school cafeteria workers could get bonuses
School administrators in Wake County recommended using COVID-19 relief dollars on bonuses for school cafeteria workers who kept working during widespread worker shortages.
The proposal would provide bonuses between $450 and $1,350 and would be in addition to other bonuses and raises previously instituted to recruit more school nutrition workers, The News & Observer reported. The school board is slated to approve the bonuses on April 5.
“We know the importance of the work that they do for our students each and every day, so thank you for bringing this to us and to those folks who have worked really hard over this pandemic,” said school board chairwoman Lindsay Mahaffey.
Charlotte area sees lowest COVID positivity rate in months
Mecklenburg County — home to Charlotte — is close to hitting the lowest COVID-19 positivity rate it’s ever recorded.
As of March 13, the area’s positivity rate was 3.4%. That’s near the all-time lowest weekly average of about 2% reported in June 2021, data show.
The figures are also down from January, when the Charlotte region reported an average positivity rate of 33% as the omicron coronavirus variant spread, according to The Charlotte Observer.
This story was originally published March 16, 2022 at 7:02 AM.
