Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Jan. 4
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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 10,000 new cases reported
At least 1,742,844 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and at least 19,494 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday, Jan. 4, reported 10,276 new COVID-19 cases, down from 12,989 the day before.
Another 37 coronavirus-related deaths were reported on Jan. 4. Health officials don’t specify the dates on which newly reported deaths occurred.
At least 3,008 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 on Jan. 4, up from 2,728 the day before, health officials said.
As of Jan. 2, the latest date with available information, 29.7% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.
Roughly 74% of adults in North Carolina have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and about 69% have been fully vaccinated. Of the state’s total population, about 59% are fully vaccinated and 63% have received at least one dose. State officials round vaccination numbers to the nearest whole number.
More than 2.5 million “additional/booster” doses have been administered in North Carolina as of Jan. 3, the health department said. Health officials have urged those who are eligible to get boosted, as data has suggested it offers increased protection against the omicron coronavirus variant.
Some students need COVID test to get into Duke game
Duke University continued to update its COVID-19 protocols on Tuesday, Jan. 4, in the lead-up to its basketball game at Cameron Indoor Stadium against Georgia Tech.
Under the rules, some students could have to pay $45 for an on-site rapid antigen test to prove they are COVID-19 negative, The News & Observer reported. If a student tested positive for the virus after early October but before Christmas Day, they will be allowed in without proof of a negative test.
Duke postponed the start of in-person classes to Jan. 18 but has allowed on-campus venues to continue operating.
Face coverings will be required at Tuesday night’s game, and spectators from the general public have to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test result.
Cooper urges vaccinations amid omicron wave
Gov. Roy Cooper urged North Carolinians to get vaccinated — including getting their booster shots — and continue wearing masks as the omicron variant causes a spike in COVID-19 metrics statewide.
“We will have to learn how to live with it, and continue to keep kids in schools and businesses open, and government operations running effectively and efficiently,” Cooper said of the coronavirus pandemic.
Demand for tests has driven down supply, but Cooper said it should increase in the next few weeks. He also said he plans to extend an executive order requiring all state employees to get vaccinated or agree to weekly COVID-19 testing.
Kody Kinsley, the new director of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, said the state has continued to break records in terms of new daily cases.
“Last week we set a single day record for COVID-19 cases,” he said. “The next day, we broke it. And the next day, we broke it again.”
What to do if you lose, damage COVID vaccine card
Residents who lose or damage their COVID-19 vaccine card have options to potentially replace it, The Charlotte Observer reported.
Individuals who got their shots from a retailer, such as CVS or Walgreens, will have to contact the store directly. But if they got vaccinated at a doctor’s office, hospital, locally owned pharmacy, health department office or community event, they may be able to access their proof of vaccination online at North Carolina’s COVID-19 Vaccine Portal.
The portal will show a QR code on a person’s printable records that can be scanned by a QR reader app or a mobile phone camera to display their proof of vaccination.
Dancing doctors are back at UNC Children’s Hospital
A group of pediatricians at UNC Children’s Hospital has returned with a catchy dance video to recognize medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It’s the second time the team of doctors led by Dr. Stuart Gold has made a video to celebrate the end to another tough year.
“I think COVID hurt the world,” Gold said. “We expected it to be better this year. It wasn’t.”
The video is set to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September” and follows Gold and his team of doctors as they twist and twirl through exam rooms, The News & Observer reported. All of the dancers are vaccinated and were wearing masks.
It’s a follow-up to their first hit, released at the end of 2020, that featured Gold in a gold jacket with sparkling dance shoes lip-synching to Whitney Houston.
COVID is ‘pushing the boundaries’ for NC hospitals
Though the omicron coronavirus variant is believed to cause fewer serious illnesses, hospitalizations are rising in North Carolina.
“We’re still pushing the boundaries of what hospitals can handle,” said Dr. David Priest, an infectious disease expert at Novant Health.
In Mecklenburg County, home to Charlotte, the rate of positive tests is 27.6%. That’s above 5%, the threshold required for one week before the county would stop mandating face masks. Charlotte-area providers are expanding testing options as the contagious omicron variant leads to a spike in infections.
“We are seeing steeper increases (in cases) than we’ve ever seen before in a shorter timeframe,” infectious disease expert Dr. Katie Passaretti of Atrium Health said, according to The Charlotte Observer.
Report suggests Mecklenburg jail lower number of inmates
A North Carolina state inspection of the Mecklenburg County jail found “significant safety concerns around staffing shortages,” including those linked to coronavirus outbreaks that have left dozens of workers sick.
The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office said it’s working to reduce the number of inmates and plans to address topics mentioned in the state report, such as transfers and early release.
The inspection found the jail couldn’t safely have an emergency evacuation or control a violent incident fast enough, The Charlotte Observer reported on Jan. 3.
“Our staff has worked through the COVID-19 Pandemic since the beginning of 2020,” Sheriff Garry McFadden said in a news release. “They are fatigued, coping with loss due to the virus or battling the virus themselves while still fulfilling their duties at MCSO. We must take all of these factors into account, but we will not cease in our efforts to adequately operate our detention facility.”
Charlotte-area EMS asks for ‘strike teams’ as omicron spreads
Mecklenburg EMS has asked for “ambulance strike teams” to help with a staffing shortage amid the spread of the omicron coronavirus variant and increased demand for services.
Jon Studnek, deputy director of Medic, said 33 workers were in isolation due to COVID-19 on Jan. 3.
“We know that COVID is spreading rapidly in our community, and it is impacting Medic the same as other members of our community,” Studnek said, according to The Charlotte Observer.
Last year, Medic got five “strike” teams after the N.C. Department of Public Safety requested extra support from the federal government. Those teams were focused on taking non-emergency patients from hospitals so additional space would be available.
NC inmate dies after contracting COVID
A man living at a North Carolina prison died over the weekend after contracting COVID-19, officials said.
The man was housed at the Greene Correctional Institute, which had seven active coronavirus cases as of Jan. 3. At least 181 had been tied to the Eastern North Carolina prison since the start of the pandemic, The News & Observer reported.
The inmate, a man in his 70s, was hospitalized after he tested positive for the disease on Dec. 21. He had pre-existing medical conditions and hadn’t gotten vaccinated against COVID-19.
“We are working hard in our ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons,” Todd Ishee, commissioner of prisons, said in a news release. “The health and safety of the staff and the offenders is our top priority. We strongly encourage all offenders to elect to be vaccinated and boosted.”
COVID checklist for sending kids back to school
The Charlotte Observer compiled a checklist for parents preparing to send their kids back to school on Tuesday, Jan. 4, amid an uptick in COVID-19 cases and concerns surrounding the omicron variant.
A mask mandate is still in effect for most indoor spaces within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Mecklenburg County. Health experts recommend N95, KN95 or KF94 masks.
COVID-19 testing of school district employees will resume this week, and students can be also be tested as long as they receive parent permission ahead of time. While the school district is barred from switching to full remote learning under a new state law, CMS can go to remote learning daily on a school-by-school, grade-by-grade or class-by-class basis.
That means families should have a plan for remote instruction in place, The Observer reported.
Wake cuts capacity at school board meetings
The Wake County School Board is cutting capacity at its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 4, citing a surge in COVID-19 cases across the area.
Under the restrictions, the meeting room will accommodate 30 people — half its usual capacity — consisting mostly of board members, district staff and members of the media, The News & Observer reported. Only a few seats will be made available to members of the public through a lottery system.
“It’s simply looking at community spread,” board chairwoman Lindsay Mahaffey said. “I did speak to some staff members and the vice chair, but ultimately it was my decision to do that.”
She told The N&O people can watch the meeting online at www.youtube.com/user/WakeCountySchools/videos or listen by phone, and the same number of spots will still be available for public speakers.
Weather cancels, delays COVID testing in Triangle
Severe weather predictions led to changes at COVID-19 testing sites in two Triangle counties on Monday, Jan. 3.
In Wake County, the services were paused at multiple sites. Though some had reopened by late morning, testing is expected to remain closed until Jan. 4 at Five County Stadium in Zebulon as well as PNC Arena and Word of God in Raleigh, The News & Observer reported.
In Orange County, a Hillsborough testing location delayed its start until 1 p.m. due to weather conditions. Snow and powerful winds brought the potential for hazardous roads, damage to trees and power outages to central North Carolina.
This story was originally published January 4, 2022 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Jan. 4."
