Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Feb. 2
Click here for updates for Feb. 3.
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 8,000 cases added
At least 2,442,891 coronavirus cases have been reported in North Carolina, and at least 20,904 people have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, Feb. 2, reported 12,335 new COVID-19 cases, up from 8,757 the day before. An additional 87 coronavirus-related deaths were added.
At least 4,725 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 on Feb. 2, including 750 adults being treated in intensive care units. The total patient count was down from 4,832 the previous day, according to state health officials.
As of Jan. 31, the latest date with available information, 24.2% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.
Roughly 75% 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 60% are fully vaccinated and about 65% have received at least one dose. State officials round vaccination numbers to the nearest whole number.
More than 2.9 million ”additional/booster” doses have been administered in North Carolina as of Feb. 2, 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.
About 99% new COVID-19 cases in the nation were attributed to the omicron variant as of Jan. 29, the latest date for which data is available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Request to require vaccines for some NC high schoolers denied
A request to require North Carolina high school seniors to be vaccinated against COVID-19 was unanimously rejected.
The N.C. Commission for Public Health voted against the petition, which had called for adding the requirement for 17-year-olds or those “who are entering 12th grade as of July 1,” The News & Observer reported. The request came from four North Carolina professors.
“I am a strong proponent for the vaccines,” said Dr. Ronald May, commission chairman. “I do believe that they save lives and I think they prevent very, very serious illness in a great number of people. As I suggested, I don’t think this is the right time to address this for school-age children, and whether there will be a better time it’s yet to be seen.”
Some members of the commission said getting the shots should be a choice for families to make.
“The commission could consider adding a COVID-19 vaccine to the childhood immunization schedule at a later date,” Dr. Kelly Kimple, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Women’s and Children’s Health Section chief, told commission members.
’New normal’ could come soon, Duke expert says
After the omicron coronavirus variant brought a surge in cases to North Carolina, we’re now equipped to prevent another wave, a Duke University health policy expert said.
Mark McClellan, who in the past served as commissioner for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said COVID-19 won’t go away, but it’s possible to help prevent outbreaks through vaccines and other efforts.
“An important component of keeping COVID from really disrupting our lives and our health care system again is going to be the opportunity for people to get tested and, if they test positive, to get access to quick treatment that could help prevent a serious complication,” McClellan told media outlets.
In January, state health officials reported an average of over 22,000 daily COVID-19 cases. But coronavirus trends appear to have reached a peak, and about 8,000 cases were reported on Feb. 1, according to The News & Observer.
Coronavirus-related hospitalizations have also gone down, though deaths haven’t slowed.
“If we’re able to continue the decline in the surge at the rate that’s been happening the past week, I do see some real opportunities for relaxing mask mandates, for relaxing our activities, just within the next month, not too far off at all,” McClellan said.
Wake schools don’t expand face mask mandate to preschoolers
The Wake County school district will continue a face mask mandate for children ages 5 and older after its board struck down a proposal to expand the requirement to preschool students.
The proposal had called for the Triangle-area school system to require kids between ages 2 and 4 to have on face coverings when they weren’t taking naps, eating or drinking.
“I can’t see holding children of that age to the same standard as high school students,” school board vice chairman Chris Heagarty said, according to The News & Observer.
Other school board members said the district should consider new state health guidelines, which call for masking of kids ages 2 and older. An amendment to recommend instead of require the masks for younger kids passed in a 6-2 vote.
Some NC residents are leaving jobs during COVID
North Carolina is among the states with the highest rates of people quitting their jobs, rankings show.
Over the past year, the resignation rate was 3.2%, according to the personal finance website WalletHub.
Laura Stanley, a professor at the Belk College of Business at UNC Charlotte, said some people leave their jobs as they seek fulfillment and flexibility in the workplace.
“The pandemic has caused people to reevaluate their lives, and how they want to spend 40 to 60 hours a week,” Stanley said, according to The Charlotte Observer. “Now more than ever, they really want to be passionate about their work.”
Charlotte-area hospital facing surge will get federal help
A North Carolina hospital is getting help from the federal government as it experiences a surge of COVID-19 patients.
The medical support is scheduled to come to Atrium Health Pineville, a provider in the Charlotte area. Atrium didn’t immediately answer The Charlotte Observer’s questions on Feb. 1.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to send 15 people from the National Disaster Medical System. Officials said those teams have provided support across the country, and the Charlotte-area one could be in place for as long as two weeks.
“These NDMS teams serve as a lifeline to hospitals by providing temporary relief to staff, adding bed capacity, decreasing wait times, and improving outcomes for COVID-19 patients,” Dawn O’Connell, the health agency’s assistant secretary for preparedness and response, said in a statement.
How to keep pets safe from COVID
During the coronavirus pandemic, people are urged to avoid contact with their pets if they contract COVID-19.
National data show “110 cats and 95 dogs have tested positive for the virus” that causes COVID-19, and some animals may show symptoms including coughing, trouble breathing and vomiting, The Charlotte Observer reported Feb. 1.
If your pet becomes sick, a veterinarian may be able to share the best ways to keep your pet isolated.
Mecklenburg IDs unvaccinated workers in email mistake
Mecklenburg County sent an email to workers who haven’t shared proof of getting a COVID-19 vaccine, raising privacy concerns.
The county said the message didn’t violate HIPAA, which prevents health care providers from revealing some patient information.
“The email was intended to go to all County employees, not just a select group,” Mecklenburg County said in a statement. “Unfortunately, it went only to those employees who have not submitted proof of vaccination pursuant to county policy.”
The workers were mistakenly identified as officials hoped to inform employees that it had re-instated suspension rules related to COVID-19 testing. It had temporarily stopped the policy for those who are unvaccinated due to wait times for tests, The Charlotte Observer reported on Feb. 1.
This story was originally published February 2, 2022 at 7:14 AM.
