Coronavirus updates for Feb. 16: 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 new COVID cases
At least 11,028 new coronavirus cases were reported in North Carolina last week, down from 12,078 the week before, according to preliminary data from state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services also reported 822 new weekly COVID-19 hospital patient admissions, a drop from 834 the previous week, according to figures through Feb. 11, the most recent metrics available. The daily average of adult coronavirus patients in intensive care was 113, compared with 134 the week before.
The figures — which were released Wednesday, Feb. 15 — 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 Feb. 4, the latest time period for which data is available.
Long COVID, money struggles common after hospital visits, study finds
For people who received COVID-19 treatment in a hospital, lingering health- and money-related problems are common, new research finds.
About half of patients hospitalized due to a COVID-19 infection can anticipate struggling to pay bills or experiencing long COVID symptoms in the months after they receive care, results published on Feb. 14 show.
To come up with the findings, researchers focused on 825 patients who had been in U.S. hospitals the year leading up to July 2021, before the discovery of the omicron coronavirus variant.
“Most COVID-19 patients studied, 67%, developed lingering symptoms linked to the heart and lungs — such as coughing, a fast heartbeat and chest troubles — in the first month after being discharged from the hospital, according to the study,” McClatchy News reported. “This number jumped even higher at about six months after discharge, with 75% of patients experiencing cardiopulmonary issues.”
Meanwhile, about 66% of patients reported facing financial troubles one month after their hospital visits, and 56% reported experiencing that type of hardship six months later, findings show.
Read more about the COVID-19 hospital patient research here.
16% of NC residents developed long COVID, survey finds
About 16% of people in North Carolina experienced lingering symptoms after an initial COVID-19 infection, survey results show.
That means the state has one of the highest rates of long COVID in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But even as researchers are looking into the causes of the condition, mystery remains.
“There is still not a clear understanding of the exact risk factors that would cause someone to have long COVID,” said Dr. John Baratta of the UNC COVID Recovery Clinic.
Now, health professionals are focused on treating patients’ symptoms, which can range from brain fog to fatigue, The News & Observer reported on Feb. 11.
COVID vaccines added to list of routine shots
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has added COVID-19 shots to a list of recommended routine vaccinations for kids and adults.
The COVID-19 vaccines, including initial doses and booster shots, are now among those that the federal agency encourages people ages 6 months and older to receive. Updated recommendations also were made for other vaccines, including the one that helps protect against the flu, McClatchy News reported on Feb. 10.
“Immunizations are among the most cost-effective and successful way to keep ourselves, our families, and our communities healthy,” Dr. Tochi Iroku-Malize, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, wrote in a statement to McClatchy News.
Read more about the updated vaccine recommendations here.
This story was originally published February 16, 2023 at 7:02 AM with the headline "Coronavirus updates for Feb. 16: Here’s what to know in North Carolina this week."
