Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on March 11
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 1,800 new cases
At least 2,606,754 coronavirus cases have been reported in North Carolina, and at least 22,922 people have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday, March 11, reported 1,849 new COVID-19 cases, up from 1,783 the day before. An additional 30 coronavirus-related deaths were added to the total.
At least 960 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of March 11, a drop from 1,012 people the day before.
.
As of March 8, the latest date with available information, 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 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 3.1 million ”additional/booster” doses have been administered in North Carolina as of March 11, 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 5, the latest date for which data is available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Charlotte man accused of stealing over $200K in COVID relief funds
A Charlotte man used stolen identities to take $219,000 in coronavirus relief money, prosecutors said.
Now, the 31-year-old man is ordered to serve five years in prison, The Charlotte Observer reported March 11.
An Observer report didn’t include comment from him or his attorney.
He is accused of using the identities of people in multiple states to receive unemployment benefits. He “took advantage of the American people whose lives have been disrupted by the pandemic to try and enrich himself through fraud,” Tommy Coke, a U.S. Postal Service inspector in charge, said in a news release.
Rebounding Wake test scores after impact of COVID
Though a new report shows all North Carolina students experienced learning loss last school year, test results from Wake County show scores in the state’s largest district are starting to rebound.
End-of-course (EOC) scores in fall 2021 were higher than they were the previous year, The News & Observer reported.
“We’re already seeing a rebound in our academic scores during the first semester, namely in our high school EOCs,” Edward McFarland, the chief academic advance officer for Wake, told the district’s school board. “We also expect that we’re going to see similar improvements in our elementary and middle school results later this year.”
McFarland and other school leaders said helping students to recover from the coronavirus pandemic could take years. Across the state, districts have been trying to address learning disruptions amid quarantine rules, limited face-to-face classes and other factors, the N&O reported.
Are Charlotte residents still wearing face masks?
As Mecklenburg County and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools lift their face covering requirements, some people still report seeing voluntary mask wearing in the Charlotte area.
In an informal survey, people told The Charlotte Observer the top places where they saw them were at grocery stores, on public transit and at schools and universities. More than 800 people participated in the survey, in which more than 60% of people agreed with lifting mask mandates and 39% wanted the rules to stay.
“Of those who voted, 58% said they would be keeping their masks, while 41% said they would throw them away,” the Observer reported March 10.
Senate fails to override Cooper’s school masking bill veto
After Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed a bill calling for face masks to be optional in public schools across North Carolina, the state Senate failed to override it.
Though the Senate voted 27-22, that didn’t reach the three-fifths majority needed for the override, The News & Observer reported March 9.
Several schools already have eased mask requirements, and just five of the 115 districts in the state haven’t announced when face coverings will be optional.
Gas prices impact delivery services during pandemic
As prices rise at the pump, delivery services that people have used during the COVID-19 pandemic are experiencing impacts.
During coronavirus-related lockdowns, DoorDash, Uber Eats and other companies have helped to keep small businesses running. But some worry rising gas prices could push drivers away as it becomes more expensive to fill up their tanks.
“It’s going to hurt us,” said Ricky Gardner, a freelance food delivery driver. “If the company paid for gas it’d be a different story, but we do. So it’s coming out of my income.”
Companies are considering higher delivery fees and raising other costs in an effort to keep their workers, The News & Observer reported.
This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 7:13 AM.
