NC coronavirus updates: 18,000 COVID instances added final week

We’re monitoring details about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Verify again each Thursday for updates.

18,000 new COVID instances

At the least 18,447 new coronavirus instances have been reported in North Carolina final week, down from 20,186 the week earlier than, in response to preliminary knowledge from state well being officers.

The N.C. Division of Well being and Human Providers additionally reported 1,011 new weekly COVID-19 hospital affected person admissions, a drop from 1,112 the earlier week, in response to figures via Sept. 17, the latest metrics accessible. The each day common of grownup coronavirus sufferers in intensive care was 112, in comparison with 133 the week earlier than.

The figures have been launched Wednesday, Sept. 21, greater than 5 months after well being officers began adjusting data on their coronavirus dashboard and publishing weekly COVID-19 knowledge. The information had beforehand been launched virtually day-after-day.

Roughly 78% of adults in North Carolina have acquired not less than one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and about 73% have completed an preliminary spherical of vaccine doses. Of the state’s whole inhabitants, about 63% completed their preliminary spherical and about 67% have acquired not less than one dose. State officers spherical vaccination metrics to the closest entire quantity.

Greater than 3.9 million “booster/further” doses have been administered in North Carolina as of Sept. 21, the well being division mentioned. Well being officers have urged those that are eligible to get boosted, as knowledge reveals it presents elevated safety in opposition to the omicron coronavirus variant.

Throughout the state, nearly all new COVID-19 instances have been attributed to the omicron variant’s “lineages” within the two weeks main as much as Sept. 10, the most recent time interval for which knowledge is on the market.

Well being supplier opens appointments for brand spanking new booster pictures

A Charlotte-area well being care supplier is now providing appointments for the brand new COVID-19 booster pictures.

The bivalent booster pictures — which goal the omicron coronavirus variant — can be found for Atrium Well being sufferers ages 12 and older who’ve had not less than two months go since their final vaccine dose.

Additionally within the Charlotte space, Mecklenburg County Public Well being and StarMed have openings for these wanting an additional dose. Pharmacy chains even have been providing the doses, The Charlotte Observer reported.

Face masks advertisements noticed in Charlotte space

Charlotte-area commercials encourage individuals to put on face coverings, regardless of a public masks mandate expiring in February.

At the least one of many advertisements from the Mecklenburg County Well being Division is working on a Charlotte Space Transit System bus. It options two masked individuals and says: “THE FLU IS STILL HERE … AND SO IS COVID,” in response to The Charlotte Observer.

Mecklenburg County in an announcement mentioned: “Whereas the masks mandate is over, the sporting of masks nonetheless goes on.”

The advert reportedly was positioned earlier than this yr. Today, well being officers advocate sporting masks in transportation buildings in addition to in counties the place there’s excessive transmission of COVID-19.

Mecklenburg County is at a low degree, the Observer reported.

This story was initially printed September 22, 2022 7:14 AM.