Coronavirus updates for Feb. 9: Here’s what to know in North Carolina this week
We’re tracking information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back every Thursday for updates.
11,000 COVID cases added
At least 11,811 new coronavirus cases were reported in North Carolina last week, down from 12,718 the week before, according to preliminary data from state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services also reported 834 new weekly COVID-19 hospital patient admissions, a drop from 1,004 the previous week, according to figures through Feb. 4, the most recent metrics available. The daily average of adult coronavirus patients in intensive care was 134, compared with 145 the week before.
The figures — which were released Wednesday, Feb. 8 — show roughly 78% of adults in North Carolina have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and about 74% have finished an initial round of vaccine doses. Of the state’s total population, about 63% finished their initial round and about 67% have received at least one dose. State officials round vaccination metrics to the nearest whole number.
“Out of all people who have finished their initial vaccines in North Carolina, 59% have been vaccinated with at least one booster, and 21% with an updated omicron booster,” the health department wrote on its website.
Health officials have urged those who are eligible to get boosted, as data shows it offers increased protection against the omicron coronavirus variant. Across the state, virtually all new COVID-19 cases were attributed to omicron strains in the two weeks leading up to Jan. 28, the latest time period for which data is available.
Is preventing long COVID possible? What a study found
“Simple lifestyle changes” may help prevent health problems that can linger months after a coronavirus infection, new research suggests.
A team from the T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University studied more than 1,900 women who tested positive for COVID-19. Those who fit at least five lifestyle factors had a 49% lower risk of experiencing long COVID symptoms compared to the other study participants, results show.
“The lifestyle factors include maintaining both a healthy body weight and diet, getting good sleep, regular exercise, avoiding smoking and moderate alcohol consumption,” McClatchy News reported on Feb. 7.
Researchers said the tie between the healthy habits and long COVID risk “is strictly an association and not causal, meaning they didn’t find a direct influence,” McClatchy News reported.
Long COVID symptoms can include fatigue, heart issues and breathing problems. More information about the study on long-term impacts is available here.
Some Triangle offices empty years after pandemic hit
Almost three years after North Carolina reported its first coronavirus case, many office spaces in the Triangle are unoccupied.
While the coronavirus pandemic led some people to do their jobs remotely, tech-sector layoffs also are pushing “sublease vacancy rates to record highs,” The News & Observer reported.
A CBRE Raleigh Research report published Feb. 6 shows about 3.5 million square feet of vacant space is available, amounting to roughly 5.9% of inventory.
“CBRE estimates space needed per worker will reach ‘a new equilibrium’ that could reduce demand ‘by up to 15%’ from the pre-pandemic norm,” the N&O reported.
This story was originally published February 9, 2023 at 6:56 AM with the headline "Coronavirus updates for Feb. 9: Here’s what to know in North Carolina this week."
