For now, the state’s mask mandate will remain in place, though that’s subject to change if state health officials can successfully vaccinate two-thirds of North Carolina’s population.
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News in brief: NC eases COVID-19 restrictions, opens vaccinations for all eligible adults
The latest executive order from Gov. Roy Cooper raises the indoor mass gathering limit from 25 to 50 people and the outdoor mass gathering limit from 50 to 100. All North Carolina adults will become eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations on Wednesday, April 7.
Cooper urges all K-12 schools to reopen for in-person learning
New policies from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and the N.C. Department of Public Instruction recommend all elementary schools open for in-person learning under Plan A, which does not require 6-foot social distancing between students and teachers. Middle and high schools are encouraged to reopen in-person under Plan B, which requires 6-foot social distancing at all times.
North Carolina’s COVID-19 vaccine supplies remain limited
“Our biggest problem right now is that millions of people want a shot, but we only have hundreds of thousands of doses,” said Gov. Roy Cooper at a Jan. 27 press conference. “There will be a time when everyone can get one, and we want to make sure everyone can access it as quickly as possible.”
North Carolina’s COVID-19 metrics, vaccine rollout gradually improving
As of Jan. 21, more than half a million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been distributed throughout the state, although supplies remain far lower than demand.
White House Coronavirus Task Force issues new warnings to NC
Anyone under the age of 40 who gathered with someone outside of their household over the Christmas holiday should act as if they became infected with COVID-19, members of the national task force said. Anyone over the age of 65 or with underlying health conditions should not enter any indoor setting with people who are not wearing masks.
From NC Health News: NC hospitals to reach ICU capacity by January if COVID trends continue
Hospitals across the state are bracing for a coronavirus surge that could push them to the brink.
Cooper announces modified stay-at-home order effective Dec. 11
Starting Friday at 5 p.m., North Carolina will move into a modified stay-at-home order, requiring most people to remain in their homes from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily. All businesses will be required to close by 10 p.m.; all on-site alcohol consumption must end by 9 p.m.
State COVID-19 hospitalizations, positivity rate remain elevated
Following a weekend of consecutive record increases in new COVID-19 cases, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported that 2,240 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Dec. 6 — the fifth consecutive state high for coronavirus-related hospitalizations.
COVID-19 cases shatter previous state record
On Dec. 3, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported 5,637 new cases, more than 1,000 above the previous record set on Nov. 22 and the largest margin by which a previous high has been exceeded.
From CPP: Vaccine on the horizon for North Carolinians
State plans to make COVID-19 vaccine available for free, prioritized first to health care workers, residents and workers at long-term care facilities.
From CPP: Staffing demands as pandemic surges could cripple NC hospitals
While beds and ventilators were a concern for hospitals early in the pandemic, officials now worry about having enough trained staff to handle the rising case load, and frontline workers cope with burnout.
Ahead of Thanksgiving, COVID-19 spreads across North Carolina
On Nov. 22, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported 4,514 new cases of COVID-19 across the state, marking the latest record for the most cases recorded in a single day.
As COVID-19 metrics worsen, NCDHHS launches county alert system
The system uses per-capita case rates, the percent of positive tests and a composite hospital score to pinpoint viral hot spots. State health officials also released additional health recommendations for individuals, business owners and public officials residing in high-risk counties.
Rural counties see increase in COVID-19 cases
Since September, nearly twice as many COVID-19 cases have been reported in rural counties as in urban or suburban areas, according to a new report from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. The majority of these rural cases have occurred in white, non-Hispanic individuals under the age of 49.
Buncombe, Asheville schools debut COVID-19 case tracker
The collaborative effort is meant to quell community fears and rumors about COVID-19 in K-12 school settings, said Buncombe County Schools Superintendent Tony Baldwin. The first report, shared Nov. 5, identified eight cases across six schools.
Communicating COVID: How WNC counties are delivering the message
In North Carolina, local health departments are not required to publicly post or share COVID-19 data, leaving it up to each local entity to decide if, when and how to do so. And while WNC counties are making vital pandemic-related information public, they’re not all taking the same approach.
New Cooper order seeks to prevent COVID-19 evictions
Gov. Roy Cooper said the order would clear up legal confusion about whether an existing moratorium, issued by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, covered tenants who live outside of federally subsidized housing.
North Carolina will stay in Phase 3 for three more weeks
Instead of reimposing additional statewide restrictions — something Gov. Roy Cooper has repeatedly said he wants to avoid unless absolutely necessary — the governor asked local law enforcement agencies to “enhance prevention efforts.”
North Carolina hits new COVID-19 peak
The 2,532 new COVID-19 cases reported Oct. 15 marked the state’s highest one-day increase since the pandemic began in March. With worsening metrics, North Carolina residents need to step up and do their part to slow the viral spread, Gov. Roy Cooper said.
COVID-19 cluster confirmed at Oakley Elementary
Five staff members at Oakley Elementary School have tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the school district’s first coronavirus cluster. Plus, North Carolina’s COVID-19 metrics are moving in the wrong direction, says Gov. Roy Cooper.