COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Feb. 6
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.
NC reports 85 additional deaths
At least 791,521 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and 9,926 have died since March, according to state health officials.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Saturday reported 4,172 new COVID-19 cases, down from 5,547 on Friday and 5,495 on Thursday.
On Saturday, 85 COVID-19-related deaths were reported, down from 113 on Friday. The previous two days, the state reported at least 150 deaths. Deaths do not all occur on the day the state reports them. DHHS revises its daily figures as information becomes available. As of Saturday, according to DHHS, the deadliest days of the pandemic in North Carolina were Jan. 4 and 15 — 101 people died on each of those days.
At least 2,468 people in North Carolina were reported hospitalized with the coronavirus as of Saturday, down from 2,523 on Friday and 2,654 on Thursday. The number of hospitalizations has been dropping steadily since mid-January.
On Saturday, 7.8% of coronavirus tests were reported positive, state health officials said. As of Wednesday, the latest previous day for which data are available, 7.9% of coronavirus tests were positive. Health officials say the number should be about 5% or lower to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
COVID relief budget includes bonuses for teachers, college staff
N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper’s budget recommendations for coronavirus relief spending include one-time bonuses for educators.
The plan would give $2,500 to teachers and principals, $1,500 to non-certified school personnel in public K-12 schools and $2,000 to employees in community colleges and the UNC system, The News & Observer reported.
“These teachers and school personnel are the only state employees who did not get raises the last two years, and we need this boost to help keep them on board and reward their hard work,” Cooper said at a press conference on Thursday.
At least 2,100 to be vaccinated outside PNC Arena
PNC Arena will serve as a mass COVID-19 vaccination site on Thursday, Feb. 11, and Saturday, Feb. 13, The News & Observer reported.
Drive-through vaccinations in the arena parking lot will be available by appointment only, with people selected from the county’s wait list, Wake County Public Health announced.
Young, healthy adults dying more often from COVID in Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg County saw an 80% increase in the percentage of total deaths from COVID-19 between October and January among healthy younger people and adults, according to a new Charlotte Observer analysis of public health data.
In mid-October, spread of the coronavirus was low.
January was the deadliest month of the pandemic in Mecklenburg County. The month saw a higher rate of deaths among adults under 40 and those without underlying health conditions, according to the data analysis.
Adults ages 20-39 still account for just 1.64% of all county deaths — but that is a roughly 50% jump since mid-October, based on data published by Mecklenburg County Public Health on Friday.
Health experts say a lack of information about such deaths makes it difficult to know why the seemingly healthy adults under 40 couldn’t recover from respiratory ailments.
Spectrum Center in Charlotte to be a vaccination site
The Spectrum Center in North Carolina is set to host a mass clinic for administering COVID-19 vaccines.
The venue, home to the Charlotte Hornets, will offer shots to people ages 65 and older, Novant Health said Friday.
The provider said the clinic scheduled for Feb. 13 is near public transportation and parking, allowing residents to have increased access to vaccines. Smaller vaccine clinics are also planned to target “marginalized communities who are disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic,” The Charlotte Observer reported.
Large-scale vaccination events recently have been held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway and Bank of America Stadium, home to the Carolina Panthers.
This story was originally published February 6, 2021 at 8:34 AM with the headline "COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Feb. 6."
