COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Oct. 22
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
More than 2,600 cases added
At least 1,463,410 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and at least 17,765 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday reported 2,609 new COVID-19 cases, down from 3,003 on Thursday.
Sixty-nine additional coronavirus-related deaths were reported Friday. Health officials don’t specify the specific dates for the newly reported deaths.
At least 1,693 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Friday, including 468 adult patients who are being treated in intensive care units, health officials said.
On Wednesday, the latest date with available information, 4.4% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.
Roughly 71% of adults in North Carolina have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and about 66% have been fully vaccinated. State officials round vaccination numbers to the nearest whole number.
Vaccine lottery had no impact on rates, study finds
A new study from the Journal of the American Medical Association found North Carolina’s vaccine lottery had no impact on the state’s vaccination rates.
The study examined vaccination data from late April to July 1 in the 19 states that offered vaccine lotteries, including North Carolina, The News & Observer reported.
“Estimates of the association between an announcement and vaccination rates were very small in magnitude and statistically indistinguishable from zero,” the researchers wrote.
The number of first doses of a coronavirus vaccine that were administered in the 19 states with lottery programs actually went down, the study found. The decline correlated with a nationwide decrease in vaccinations that started before states announced the lottery incentives.
NC student’s denied face mask exemption sparks outrage
A North Carolina school denied a face mask exemption for a kindergartner, leading to outrage among some conservative activists.
The student’s mother told Powell Elementary School in Raleigh that a doctor said her child wasn’t able to “keep a face mask on because of sensory processing disorder,” The News & Observer reported Friday.
The mother and school principal discussed the exemption request in September, and a taped phone call was sent to podcaster Matthew “Jax” Myers. He and others have slammed the principal’s request for the child’s medical records, The N&O reported.
“The district has reviewed the circumstances described in the recording and, at this time, believes that the school’s actions are consistent with district policies and practices,” Lisa Luten, a Wake County school district spokesperson, said in a statement.
Bill would force change in rental aid process
A new bill that calls for forcing North Carolina rental aid programs to accept landlords’ applications could slow the process down, an official said.
Laura Hogshead of the N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency, which runs the COVID-19 rental assistance program called Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Eviction, said the process could take more time because landlords can’t honestly say how much their tenants make.
“We would have to reconfigure our system to allow for applications to pass back and forth between landlords and applicants,” Hogshead said.
But Janae Moore, government affairs director of the Apartment Association of North Carolina, said letting landlords apply would help when units are abandoned.
“Once that tenant leaves the unit, and they don’t share where they’re going, provide additional contact information, you now have a sitting unit, and you can’t turn over that unit,” Moore said.
The Republican-sponsored HB110 was changed to allow for landlord applications, but the House on Wednesday “voted unanimously not to concur with the amended bill,” The News & Observer reported.
“Still got some work to do,” state Rep. Bobby Hanig said. “We’re going to bring it to conference and get it settled out so that everyone’s happy.”
Most unvaccinated in NC are unlikely to get their shots, poll finds
About two-thirds of North Carolinians who haven’t gotten their COVID-19 shots say it’s not likely they will get them, new poll results show.
The Elon University Poll also found roughly 70% of respondents had already been vaccinated against the virus, similar to the statewide rate for adults.
In the survey, about 65% of residents said they had already gotten a booster shot or planned to do so. Also, 60% of people supported the federal government’s rule that large businesses require workers to be vaccinated or test for COVID-19 each week, The Charlotte Observer reported Friday.
The poll had more than 1,200 responses between Oct. 15 and Oct. 17.
Changes to 911 calls in Charlotte area as pandemic lingers
Mecklenburg EMS is making changes to its 911 response to help manage resources during COVID-19 and a shortage in health care workers.
Starting Thursday, callers will get “lights and sirens” from the Charlotte Fire Department but not from Medic, an emergency service agency in Mecklenburg County. Patients at low risk also will get “no lights and sirens” from Medic ambulances, The Charlotte Observer reported.
“Only 1 to 1.5% of patients required ... potentially life saving interventions,” said John Studnek, deputy director of Medic. “More than 25% required no transport at all.”
Also during the pandemic, Medic formed a partnership that uses ride-share services to help low-risk patients get to hospitals.
Cawthorn introduces bill to ban vaccine travel mandates
North Carolina Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn has introduced a bill called the ‘‘Let Me Travel America Act,’’ which would ban the government from instituting a vaccine mandate for people traveling in the U.S.
“Vaccine requirements for interstate travel are in direct opposition to the United States Constitution,” Cawthorn said in a release announcing the legislation. “The Biden Administration continues to flaunt their blatant disregard for the law in pursuit of their left-wing radical agenda.”
There are no vaccine mandates for travel currently in effect, The News & Observer reported, and the measure isn’t likely to pass in either the U.S. House or the Senate — where Democrats have the majority.
House votes on bill that would limit governor’s emergency powers
A bill that calls for limiting the North Carolina governor’s powers during emergencies passed the state House on Wednesday.
The proposal is similar to what other states have considered in response to orders issued during the pandemic.
The bill, which passed 65-45 mostly along party lines, “would limit the governor’s ability to declare long-running states of emergency without agreement from other members on the Council of State, who are the 10 statewide elected officials including the lieutenant governor, attorney general and labor commissioner,” The News & Observer reported Wednesday.
Now, the proposal goes to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who will likely veto it. A Cooper spokesperson said the governor must be able to quickly respond during emergency situations.
This story was originally published October 22, 2021 at 7:25 AM with the headline "COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Oct. 22."
