NC hospitals have nearly 800 COVID patients in the ICU, the most since January
North Carolina reported nearly 800 COVID-19 patients in intensive care units Monday, approaching the state’s all-time high recorded last winter.
There are 797 COVID-19 patients in ICUs. That’s about 1 in 4 of the state’s total 3,197 hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
The state’s highest COVID-19 intensive care total was 880 on Jan. 15, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Hospitalizations have increased by over 80% in the past two weeks, The News & Observer reported Friday.
Reported deaths have increased every month this summer, and they’re trending younger than earlier in the pandemic, The N&O reported last week.
DHHS reported 61 deaths over the weekend but didn’t specify the dates of those deaths. As of Monday, 14,120 North Carolinians have died due to the virus.
DHHS also reported nearly 17,000 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend.
Over the past week, more than 5,600 new cases have been reported per day. That rate has increased nearly 20 times since the beginning of the July.
The delta variant
More than 86% of sequenced virus in North Carolina is the delta variant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is more than three times as contagious as the original virus strain.
Meanwhile DHHS reported this month that over 90% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients statewide are unvaccinated.
As of Monday, 49% of North Carolina’s total population and 57% of those eligible for the shot, ages 12 and up, are fully vaccinated.
Among those age 65 and up, 85% are fully vaccinated.
The average age of hospitalization has decreased to 44. In January, it was 61, according to the DHHS report.
Among COVID test results reported Saturday, 13.1% were positive. Health officials want that rate at 5% or lower.
FDA grants full approval to Pfizer vaccine
The Food and Drug Administration gave full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Monday for those age 16 or older. The vaccines from Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are authorized for emergency use, a step below full approval.
In a webinar hosted by Duke University on Monday, Dr. Mark McClellan, health policy expert at Duke and former FDA commissioner, said that among unvaccinated Americans in a recent survey, 30% said FDA approval would make a difference in their decision to get vaccinated.
“That may make a difference for some of these individuals who have been hesitant,” McClellan said.
Another area that approval could impact, he said, are vaccine mandates.
In late July, Gov. Roy Cooper ordered employees at certain public agencies associated with his office or headed by members of his cabinet to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 1 or get weekly COVID-19 testing, The N&O reported.
Earlier this month, Wake County announced that government employees must be fully vaccinated by Sept. 15 or get tested weekly.
Live Nation Entertainment, which operates venues in the Triangle and North Carolina, announced last week that concert-goers, starting Oct. 4, would need to show proof of vaccination or a recent negative test, The N&O reported. The Durham Performing Arts Center also announced it will require proof of vaccination, or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of a show, for entry into events this fall.
“I expect to see more of that happening,” McClellan said.
Vaccine requirements are more likely to come from local businesses or state and local governments, he said, citing the Biden administration’s saying it’s not the federal government’s role to require vaccination for those not under its direct jurisdiction.
A spokesperson for Cooper’s Office told The N&O in an email that approval of the Pfizer vaccine should encourage more people to receive vaccines.
A Wake County spokesperson said the county hopes the approval will encourage Wake residents and employees to get vaccinated.
After Monday’s announcement, the Pentagon announced it would require its 1.4 million active-duty troops to be vaccinated.
New York City announced that it will require vaccines for all education staff, including teachers and principals, The New York Times reported.
“Those things are going to bump up our vaccination numbers,” McClellan said.
Other than the full approval, McClellan said nothing new was announced by the FDA regarding the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.
“We know that it’s very effective. We know that there are rare temporary side effects, but that the benefits really do seem to clearly outweigh the risks,” he said.
This story was originally published August 23, 2021 at 2:05 PM.