Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on March 19
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 1,700 cases added
At least 2,616,864 coronavirus cases have been reported in North Carolina, and at least 23,058 people have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday, March 18, reported 1,740 new COVID-19 cases, up from 1,223 the day before. An additional 28 coronavirus-related deaths were added to the total.
At least 723 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of March 18, including 126 adults being treated in intensive care units. The patient count was down from 768 the day before.
As of March 16, the latest date with available information, 2.3% 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 72% 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 18, 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.
Group wanting class rankings to end says COVID made competition worse
A group is calling on Raleigh-area and state education leaders to end high school class rankings.
The families say the Wake County practice puts students in competitive high schools at a disadvantage. They think the issue has worsened during the coronavirus pandemic, which forced North Carolina schools to hold remote classes.
“As a result, the State Board of Education approved a temporary policy change where high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors could use their numerical grade as of March 13, 2020 as their final grade for spring courses,” The News & Observer reported. Students could also take a PC19 or WC19 grade — showing they passed or withdrew from a class — which wouldn’t count on their GPA.”
Some students at Green Level High School reportedly chose to skip numerical grades, which “artificially” raised their GPAs, the N&O reported. Also, a hybrid class schedule meant some students weren’t able to get advanced courses they wanted.
“You guys are intentionally printing useless and damaging data,” parent Ruth Willenborg told the Wake County school board. “You are deliberately harming the students of Wake County by not addressing these issues. Please get the policies fixed at whatever level you need to.”
Taproom reopens after 2-year COVID closure
After a two-year COVID-19 hiatus, popular Asheville-based Wicked Weed Brewing will hold a grand reopening celebration of its Wicked Weed West taproom in Candler on Saturday, March 19.
“We’re back, baby!” Wicked Weed posted on Facebook.
Wicked Weed management closed the taproom “out of an abundance of caution … until we felt comfortable where it made sense to start reopening more of our retail spots,” Jared Edwards, Wicked Weed director of pub operations, told the Asheville Citizen Times.
The celebration from noon to 9 p.m. at 145 Jacob Holm Way will feature live music, gift-card giveaways and a food truck.
Woman spent COVID money on ‘shopping sprees,’ feds say
A Charlotte woman went on “shopping sprees,” booked hotel stays and bought cars with federal COVID-19-relief money she lied to obtain, federal prosecutors said Thursday.
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Nkhenge Shropshire and unnamed others in her scheme made up information on at least 10 applications for COVID-19 relief money, according to a grand jury indictment that charged the 48-year-old Shropshire with wire fraud conspiracy.
Shropshire and the others used fake business names and other false information on their applications to the Small Business Administration from July to September 2020, U.S. Attorney Dena King said in a news release.
The group tried to get at least $331,000 from the SBA, which paid at least $45,000 to Shropshire and the others before investigators unraveled the scheme, court records show.
Shropshire couldn’t be reached by The Charlotte Observer on Friday. Prosecutors said she’s in federal custody pending an initial court appearance. Her court date hasn’t been announced.
Outer Banks county eliminates weekly COVID updates
Dare County on the Outer Banks cited falling COVID case numbers for posting its last weekly COVID-19 update this week.
“This decision was made due to significant improvements in the COVID-19 related data over the last several weeks,” the Dare County Department of Health and Human Services posted on Facebook Tuesday.
“Reported positive cases and tests have been trending downwards,” and at least 70% of county residents are vaccinated against the virus, county officials said.
For two weeks, the county has been classified as a “low (or green) COVID-19 community level,” according to the county post.
A weekly COVID-19 dashboard update will appear Mondays on the county COVID-19 website.
$4.25M awarded to NC nonprofits hurt by COVID
The North Carolina Community Foundation distributed $4.25 million in grants to nonprofits that lost revenue and demand for services due to COVID-19, foundation officials said this week.
The foundation awarded a total of 115 NC Healing Communities Fund grants, from $25,000 to $55,000, according to a foundation news release, and has $1 million more to distribute.
Such nonprofits as Acción Hispana in Mecklenburg County ($30,000), Advocacy House Services Inc. in Guilford County ($55,000) and East Wake Education Foundation Inc. in Wake County ($25,000) received grants.
“Nonprofit organizations are where people turn in times of need,” foundation official Leslie Ann Jackson said in a news release. “With the financial impacts of the pandemic, nonprofits were the ones in need this time, particularly in our most vulnerable communities, and the NC Healing Communities Fund was there for them.”
Various corporations and foundations contributed to the fund, including the State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation, Duke Endowment and Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.
Feds honor NC help to families amid COVID
A recent video by the federal Administration for Children & Families honored North Carolina for helping families financially hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic pay their water bills.
Since December, at least 20,000 households have received help paying their water bills through the state’s Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, according to a news release Tuesday by the state Department of Health and Human Services.
“North Carolina was awarded more than $38 million in federal funds for the program and has distributed nearly $7 million to date,” according to the release.
The program sends payments to the families’ utility companies.The program continues through September 2023, or as long as funds are available.
Apply for help at Epass.NC.Gov.
