RALEIGH, N.C. — Get the latest COVID-19 updates from Gov. Roy Cooper and the state task force, health departments, universities, school districts, and more in this story. We'll put North Carolina's COVID-19 numbers in context for you, and explain what it could mean for the reopening process. Call the North Carolina Coronavirus Hotline at 866-462-3821 or 2-1-1 for immediate questions.
Sunday, January 17, 2021
4:22 p.m. The Davidson County Health Department announced that on Monday, January 18th, COVID-19 vaccine appointments for the upcoming week will open.
Due to the holiday, the hours will be 10 am-2 pm. The health department says you will be able to make an appointment by using the phone (336) 236-3096 or website: https://www.co.davidson.nc.us/976/COVID-19-Vaccine.
If all appointments are not taken during this time, they will open the phones and website back up on Tuesday at 8 a.m.
'We will vaccinate Tuesday-Saturday at the health department and add Davidson-Davie Community College on Thursday and Friday. Please note all appointments are limited to those 75 and older or frontline healthcare workers. This is unique to Davidson County due to high demand. Online registration must be completed with an individual email address, no shared email addresses will work. We look forward to serving you!'
12:00 p.m. NCDHHS reports 674,637 total cases of COVID-19 in North Carolina as of Sunday at 10:55 a.m. There is also a reported 8,862 hospitalizations and 8,083 deaths in total as of Sunday.
Saturday, January 16, 2021
4:27 p.m. There are currently 667,826 total cases of COVID in North Carolina as of Saturday at 11:08 a.m. NCDHHS also reports 3,895 current hospitalizations and 8,016 deaths.
4:21 p.m. UPDATE: All of the Forsyth County COVID vaccine appointment slots are now booked.
9:54 a.m. The Forsyth County Public Health's COVID-19 vaccine website is now open and taking appointments for those over 75 and for healthcare workers.
The appointment site is Bit.Ly/FCNCCovidVaccine and will not be accepting appointments for seniors under 75. Forsyth Public Health will announce when it is ready to start vaccinating those 65 and over in the coming weeks.
Currently, Public Health is not excepting phone calls for appointments and has plans to have both phone and online appointment options soon.
The website has 2,300 appointments available from Jan. 20-23, based on the amount of vaccine Forsyth Public Health has been allotted. After those appointments are done, the website will temporarily close until Public Health is ready to schedule appointments for the next vaccine allotment. Vaccination appointments before the Jan. 20 have already been booked.
The site will send an email confirmation that will allow users to cancel the appointment. It’s important to either attend the appointment or cancel at least two hours ahead of time so staff can schedule someone else and no vaccine is wasted.
Only those who qualify should make an appointment. Screening questions will be reviewed by staff and those who do not meet the criteria will have their appointments canceled.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2021
7:45 p.m. - Moses Cone Hospital and Wesley Long Hospital in Greensboro, & Burlington’s Alamance Regional Medical Center will not offer non-emergency surgeries beginning Jan. 25.
Without entirely halting non-emergency surgeries, Annie Penn Hospital in Reidsville plans to reduce the number of elective surgeries it offers during this time.
5:08 p.m. -- The Guilford County Health Department received 1,500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Appointment slots will open Friday at 5 p.m. to register for the vaccine. A limited number of appointments are available.
Eligible community members in Phase 2 (those aged 65 and older) may register for a vaccine appointment online at www.healthyguilford.com
COVID-19 vaccine clinics are currently being held at the following locations:
• Mount Zion Baptist Church, 1301 Alamance Church Road, Greensboro, NC 27406
• High Point University Community Center at Oak Hollow Mall, 921 Eastchester Drive, Suite 1230, High Point, NC 27262
• Greensboro Coliseum, 1921 W Gate City Blvd, Greensboro, NC 27403
Dr. Iulia Vann, Director of the Guilford County Division of Public Health said, “It has been incredibly encouraging to see so many Guilford County residents at the vaccine clinics these past few weeks. It is my goal to ensure that everyone in Guilford County seeking to be vaccinated can do so safely and efficiently. Public Health staff are scheduling and administering the vaccine based on the allotted dosages that we have received, and we are asking for everyone’s continued patience as we work to distribute them as quickly as possible.”
Appointment registration will remain open until all appointment slots have been filled.
1:15 p.m. -- Cone Health filled all 19,000 available vaccine appointments through the end of February. The hospital is hosting mass vaccine events at the Greensboro Coliseum. Registration opened Friday morning and all spots were filled in just a couple hours. It's unclear when more appointments will be available. Guilford County Health Department is also booked up through Jan. 21.
12:30 p.m. -- Certain statewide metrics like percent positive and hospitalizations show signs of stabilizing. These metrics remain high but show flattening on their curves.
In Greensboro, Cone Health ICU is 81% full on Friday. The hospital is projected to be over capacity by next week and thus will have to cut many non-COVID procedures, like biopsies, hernias, etc.
Statewide Data:
- Newly-confirmed cases: 8,914
- Total cases (including presumed recoveries): 659,840
- Percent positive: 11.2%
- Current hospitalizations: 3,916
9:30 a.m. - Novant Health will hold a news briefing to give more details about six statewide mass COVID-19 vaccination administration sites delivering one million doses by April. We will live stream the briefing in this blog.
- Novant Health is working to open 6 mass vaccinations across the state.
- Two large sites would be in Charlotte and Winston-Salem.
- The Winston-Salem site would be at the former Sears building at Hanes Mall.
- The goal is to administer 95,000 doses a week.
- Novant Health is also in talks with Rowan County to open a mass vaccine site there.
RELATED: Novant Health to open 6 statewide mass COVID-19 vaccination sites, requesting 95,000 doses a week
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2021
6:40 p.m. - The Alamance County Health Department said it's in the process of planning to add individuals age 65 and older to its vaccination rollout in the coming weeks as more vaccine becomes available.
The Health Department will begin accepting appointments from persons age 65 and older after it becomes available.
The COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Line will reopen on Jan. 19 at 8:30 a.m. to schedule appointments for Jan. 20 until all appointments are filled. The Health Department fills appointments based on its current vaccine supply. Appointments are only being made for first responders and healthcare workers, and adults 75 and older at this time.
Expect high call volumes and wait times. Please exercise patience.
4:21 p.m. - Randolph County Health Department said due to the limited availability of vaccines, it will not begin vaccinating those 65 and older at this time.
Due to the limited availability of vaccines, all vaccine appointments are currently filled. Please continue to check our appointment line at 336-365-6110 for appointment availability.
4:10 p.m. - Greensboro will modify operating hours for some facilities beginning Tuesday, Jan. 19, to Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the immediate future due to an increase in COVID cases.
“Following the holidays, Guilford County has seen a drastic rise in COVID-19 cases and a steady climb in the positivity rate. Because of this, it is imperative we reduce our operating hours and limit exposure for both our residents and our City staff,” said City Manager David Parrish. “This allows many City employees to reduce contact and helps create a safer environment. Residents will not see any change to our services during this time, and we will continue doing everything we can to keep our residents and staff healthy and safe.”
Residents are encouraged to avoid visiting City facilities that require indoor interactions. Instead, the public can use other methods of handling City business, such as by website, phone, email, postal mail, etc.
The City’s trash and recycling collections will continue under the current operating schedule. The Water Resources and Parks and Recreation departments, along with Workforce Development, will also continue with current schedules. The Greensboro Police Department will also limit its public facilities to the City’s operating hours of 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the public. This will limit GPD substations and headquarters to allowing walk-ins during this time.
The Greensboro Public Library branches will continue offering computer services, by appointment, during the reduced hours for non-recreational computer use. Each branch will offer curbside pickup for holds. The Central Library Branch will provide Grab & Go library service during the reduced hours. Customers will be allowed to place up to 10 items on hold on the Library website or by calling a branch, and pick them up at their neighborhood branch.
Visit the City’s COVID-19 webpage, www.greensboro-nc.gov/COVID-19 for the latest news, vaccine information, and service changes.
4:03 p.m. - Forsyth Public Health is in the process of planning to add individuals age 65 and older to its vaccination rollout in the coming weeks as more vaccine becomes available but is not currently accepting appointments for seniors under 75 at this time.
Forsyth County Department of Public Health’s vaccine appointment hotline is still not taking calls for appointments, as staff continues to fill the remaining open appointments by calling back people who previously called the appointment line before it closed on Jan. 7. Appointments are currently only being made for healthcare workers and first responders and people 75 and older.
The public will be informed when appointment options reopen through Public Health's website, social media and local news media.
Daily updates: Forsyth County Health Department
3:57 p.m. -- The Davidson County Health Department said at this time (Jan. 14) it doesn't have an adequate supply of vaccine to start vaccinating those under the age of 75.
The department said it's working to continue vaccinating healthcare and frontline workers who are at the highest risk of exposure to COVID-19 and those who are over the age of 75.
The Davidson County Health Department will notify the public through local media, our website, and social media outlets once thesupply allows for opening appointments for those who are eligible and under the age of 75.
At this time, all available appointments are booked. Please keep checking with the Davidson County Health Department Website, Facebook Page, and other media outlets for next appointments.
Check for updates: Davidson County Health Department
3 p.m. -- Due to Guilford County’s approval of its Board of Health (BOH) Rule regarding how to address violations of Governor Cooper’s Executive Order 176, Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan has rescinded the City’s emergency declaration originally issued on November 20, 2020. The County’s action, which supersedes the City’s remains in effect until it is modified or rescinded. The civil restrictions enacted by the BOH Rule affects all residents of Guilford County.
2 p.m. -- NCDHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen announced Thursday that adults 65 and older in the state can now get the COVID-19 vaccine. This is because of new CDC guidelines.
State leaders are also working on large-scale vaccine events.
RELATED: Adults 65+ can get the COVID vaccine
12 p.m. -- NCDHHS releases latest COVID-19 data
North Carolina hit another record-high for hospitalizations on Thursday (3,990). NCDHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen is expected to address rising hospitalizations today during her 2 p.m. press conference.
STATEWIDE DATA
- New cases: 9,853
- Total cases: 650,926
- Hospitalizations: 3,990 (highest yet)
- Total deaths: 7,825
- Percent positive: 11.1%
10 a.m. -- Wake Forest Baptist Health infectious disease expert Dr. Christopher Ohl will gives an update on COVID-19 in the Triad.
Ohl speaks about the coronavirus vaccine trial, vaccine distribution, and answers COVID-19 and vaccine questions.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2021
4:05 p.m. - Rockingham County cancels two drive-thru vaccination clinics for this month.
The Phase 1b “Drive-thru” Vaccination Clinics scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021 and Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021 has been canceled.
A Code Red message will be shared with county residents and updates will be provided on our website and social media outlets.
Additional information will be released when vaccine allocations are received.
Check for updates: Rockingham County FB page
For more information: Rockingham County Health Department
12:30 p.m. -- Technical issues prevented some labs from submitted COVID data to NCDHHS, so case and test results are artificially lower Wednesday and will be artificially higher on Thursday when the missing cases are added.
Cone Health hospitalizations reached the second-highest total Wednesday (270), and the total ICU capacity is 79% full.
Guilford County's percent positive is about 14%, which influenced the school board's decision to delay reentry for middle and high schoolers. The county's highest percent positive was recorded at 21% on January 3.
STATEWIDE DATA
- NEWLY-CONFIRMED CASES: 5,098
- DAILY PERCENT POSITIVE: 14.7%
- TOTAL CASES: 641,073
- TOTAL DEATHS: 7,745
- CURRENT HOSPITALIZATIONS: 3,951 (SECOND-HIGHEST)
11:45 a.m. -- COVID-19 outbreak at Guilford County Detention Center in Greensboro
Twenty-six inmates have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a release from Sheriff Danny Rogers. The cases are confined to one housing pod at the detention center in Greensboro. Rogers said three inmates began showing symptoms of a fever last week. Those inmates were quarantined and later tested positive for COVID-19. The remaining 23 inmates in the housing pod were also tested, and their results came back positive as well. Rogers said the additional 23 inmates who tested positive are asymptomatic. They are being closely monitored by jail medical staff. Officials say there's no indication that the virus has spread beyond the one housing pod.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021
6:45 p.m. - Alamance County Health Department is currently offering COVID-19 vaccinations to persons in Phase 1b, Group 1- Adults age 75 and over, by appointment only.
Beginning Wednesday, January 13, multi-day appointments can be made for Thursday, January 14 through Tuesday, January 19. Callers will be assigned a specific day and time. Interested persons should call 336-290-0650 to make an appointment. The COVID-19 vaccine appointment line is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. or until all appointment slots are full.
Expect high call volumes and wait times. Please exercise patience.
5:10 p.m. - An inmate has died of COVID-19 at a hospital.
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety said the offender at the Alexander Correctional Institution had pre-existing medical conditions.
The offender tested positive on Dec. 17. He was hospitalized on Dec. 24. His condition worsened, and he died on Jan 11.
“We are working hard to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in our prisons. The health and safety of the staff and the offender population continues to be our top priority,” Todd Ishee, Commissioner of Prisons said.
Prisons leadership has taken more than four dozen actions throughout the North Carolina prison system to try to prevent transmission of the virus.
4:30 p.m. - Cone Health and the Guilford County Department of Public Health will begin a vaccination clinic at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center.
The vaccination clinic will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 19.
The vaccinations are appointment only and for those 75 and older.
Walk-ins will NOT be accepted. To register through the GCDPH, Guilford County residents should visit healthyguilford.com and click on the “COVID-19 Vaccine Info” rectangle or call 336-641-7944 and select Option 2. To register through Cone Health, people should visit conehealth.com/vaccine or call 336-890-1188. Note that individuals living outside of Guilford County should register through Cone Health.
After Sunday, Jan. 17, GCDPH will discontinue vaccinations at BurMil Park moving staff to the coliseum.
GCDPH clinics at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Greensboro and High Point University Community Center at Oak Hollow Mall in High Point will remain open.
Cone Health will discontinue its vaccination clinic at Green Valley campus in Greensboro. People with appointments scheduled for Jan. 19 and later Green Valley will go to the coliseum instead.
People are asked to wear a mask when coming to the coliseum.
Parking is free and individuals are encouraged to park in Zone A of the main Coliseum parking lot, near the Greensboro Aquatic Center.
4:25 p.m. - The Alamance County Health Department reports a COVID-19 cluster at Positive Attitudes Youth Center (PAYC) in Burlington.
The department said there are eight COVID-19 cases among six children and two staff members.
4:15 p.m. - The Alamance County Health Department reports a COVID-19 cluster at Southern Alamance High School in Graham.
Six cases have been confirmed including three children and three staff members. The school system has disinfected the school and is notifying staff and parents about the cases.
3:30 p.m. - North Carolina to partner with 14 health systems, local health departments and community centers to give more than 45,000 vaccines.
Right now, local health providers are vaccinating health care workers who are treating COVID-19 patients and next are people age 75+, some areas have already started.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services along with the state’s emergency management have identified hundreds of state employees who can be deployed to assist with vaccine distribution in communities across the state.
Key updates: Gov. Roy Cooper and the state task force will give an update on COVID-19 in North Carolina at 3:30 p.m. He's expected to address the record number of new cases over the weekend, hospitals facing critical capacities and the vaccine rollout process. You can watch the update live in this blog.
12:30 p.m. -- Car lines for the COVID-19 vaccine are backed up at the Rockingham County Health Department. The county started drive-thru vaccinations Tuesday for adults 75 and older. The department says it may have to turn some people away because of limited supply.
12 p.m. -- The state health department released the latest COVID-19 numbers for North Carolina. Hospitalizations remain high across the state. Cone Health in Greensboro is caring for over 260 COVID patients and only expects to get more. The hospital expects it will exceed capacity by January 21. More than 173,000 people have had their first COVID-19 shot in the state, and over 20,000 people have completed their second dose.
STATEWIDE COVID-19 DATA:
- New cases: 6,851
- Total cases: 635,975
- Hospitalizations: 3,940
- Percent positive: 14.7%
- Deaths: 7,638
FACTS NOT FEAR
Remember facts, not fear when talking about the coronavirus. You should take the safety measures recommended by health leaders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Abide by the three W's. That means wearing a mask, washing your hands, and waiting at least six feet from another person. You also want to avoid touching your face and make sure to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw it away.
WHERE YOU GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS IS IMPORTANT
It is important to make sure the information you are getting about the coronavirus is coming directly from reliable sources like the CDC and NCDHHS. Be careful not to spread misinformation about coronavirus on social media.
For more information visit the CDC OR NCDHHS website.
NC CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE
The state also has a special hotline set up where you can call 866-462-3821 for more information on the coronavirus. You can also submit questions online at ncpoisoncontrol.org or select chat to talk with someone about the virus.
You can also text keyword VIRUS to WFMY News 2 at 336-379-5775 for the latest.
Stay connected to local, national, and breaking news: Download the WFMY News 2 app.
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