Two inmates die from COVID-19; NC reports partial case count due to technical problems

Two inmates at a North Carolina prison have died from COVID-19, the N.C. Department of Public Safety reported Saturday.

Both inmates were men in their 60s at Franklin Correctional Center and died Friday in the hospital after their condition had worsened. One had pre-existing medical conditions, according to DPS.

The department said it would not identify either inmate, citing privacy laws.

State prisons have been the site of multiple outbreaks since the pandemic began last year. DPS reports that 52 inmates have died from the virus.

COVID-19 data across N.C.

The state reported 892 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, but said the actual number would be higher because technical problems affected reporting.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reports new COVID-19 data daily Monday through Saturday, but said that technical issues experienced Friday by its COVID reporting system had led to fewer reported cases and tests Saturday. The cases and tests reported on Monday will be higher to account for this error, according to DHHS.

DHHS also reported 1,028 hospitalizations — a drop of nine from the day before. It’s the lowest number of hospitalizations the state has reported in five months. Saturday’s data on hospitalizations is based on reporting from 96% of hospitals statewide.

The state reported that more than 3 million doses of vaccine have been administered, and on Friday N.C. reported just over 1.2 million people were fully vaccinated against the virus. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines both require two doses spaced a few weeks apart to reach full effectiveness, while the recently approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only a single dose.

As of Friday, 5.4% of tests in the state were returning positive. That’s slightly higher than the 5% threshold state health officials set for curbing the spread of the virus.

DHHS added 28 deaths to the state’s total, which reached 11,691 Saturday. Deaths are not always reported the same day they occur, and the state updates its counts as new information becomes available. The News & Observer has reached out to DHHS to clarify whether the inmate deaths reported Saturday were included in the day’s added deaths.

Here are other COVID-19 statistics released Saturday, with changes from the day before:

• Total cases: 882,715 (+892)
  
  
• Deaths: 11,691 (+28)
• Tests: 10,723,058 (+19,499)
• Hospitalizations: 1,028 (-9)
• COVID-19 adult ICU patients: 271 (-2)
• Available ICU beds: 602 (+36)
• Available inpatient beds: 5,831 (+318)
• Patients on ventilators: 914 (-3)

Vaccine statistics reported Friday:

• First doses arrived: 1,918,820
• First doses administered: 1,825,922 (95%)
• Second doses arrived: 1,213,775
• Second doses administered: 1,081,799 (89%)

• Single shot doses arrived: 83,700

• Single shot doses administered: 31,410 (38%)

Vaccine doses administered in N.C. through the federal long-term care program:

• First doses arrived: 145,900
• First doses administered: 125,903 (86%)
• Second doses arrived: 145,900
• Second doses administered: 97,601 (67%)

Overall vaccine statistics:

• Total doses administered: 3,162,635
• Number of people fully vaccinated: 1,210,810
• Percent of population partially vaccinated: 18.6%
• Percent of population fully vaccinated: 11.5%

This story was originally published March 13, 2021 at 12:25 PM with the headline "Two inmates die from COVID-19; NC reports partial case count due to technical problems."