Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Feb. 14
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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.
More than 3,000 new cases reported
At least 2,540,372 coronavirus cases have been reported in North Carolina, and at least 21,781 people have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday, Feb. 14, reported 3,383 new COVID-19 cases, down from 4,810 on Feb. 13 and 6,445 on Feb. 12. The state doesn’t update case counts over weekends.
An additional 116 coronavirus-related deaths were added to the total.
At least 3,094 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Feb. 14, including 589 adults being treated in intensive care units, health officials said. The total patient count was down from 3,143 the previous day, according to state health officials.
As of Feb. 12, the latest date with available information, 14.4% 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 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 million ”additional/booster” doses have been administered in North Carolina as of Feb. 14, 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 96% of new COVID-19 cases in the nation were attributed to the omicron variant while others were attributed to a subvariant as of Feb. 5, the latest date for which data is available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Johnston schools will soon go face mask optional
The Johnston County school board voted on Monday, Feb. 14, to drop certain stipulations that could have resulted in some schools requiring face masks, clearing the way for all schools to go mask optional. The vote was unanimous.
Prior to the vote, less than 4% of a school’s students and staff had to test positive for COVID-19 and/or be quarantined for it to make face masks optional starting Feb. 21, The News & Observer reported.
The decision comes after the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services made major changes to its COVID-19 guidelines in schools.
Wake school board holds off on face mask vote
The Wake County school board will wait until March 1 to vote on the district’s face mask policy, casting aside a board member’s request to move the vote up to Tuesday, Feb. 15.
School board member Karen Carter asked to push it forward because of the new state health guidance released last week regarding COVID-19 quarantine protocol, The News & Observer reported. But school board chairwoman Lindsay Mahaffey said there wasn’t enough support.
“I just think it’s worthy of a public discussion,” Carter told The N&O. “But I guess we are not now.”
State law requires school boards to vote at least monthly on their face mask policies. The Wake County school board held its last vote on Feb. 1.
This story was originally published February 14, 2022 at 1:02 PM.
