According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ dashboard, the numbers keep dropping in North Carolina as Covid cases decline and vaccines slowly creep up. Of the 10.49 million population in North Carolina, 37.5% is fully vaccinated, with 41.8% partially vaccinated.
The 65-and-older population have reached 75% full vaccination compared to 47.4% of the 18-to-64 population.
There are 995,754 Covid-19 cases in the state, and hospitalizations continue a downward trek from 815 to 763, with 12,958 deaths since Covid began. Newly reported cases have gone up since last week from 688 to 1,020. The state’s percent positivity fell from 4.7% to 3.4%.
Let’s take a look at Covid-19 data, including cases, clusters and outbreaks, and vaccinations, across the tri-county region and at New Hanover Regional Medical Center as well.
North Carolina now has 43.69% of the population fully vaccinated, with 50.3% partially vaccinated. Gov. Cooper has been making his rounds to vaccination sites…
New Hanover County has inoculated 34% of its population. (Port City Daily/File)
North Carolina now has 46.4% of the population fully vaccinated, with 51.5% partially vaccinated. Gov. Cooper had been pressing the message over the last few months that he would lift the mask mandate when two-thirds of the population have at least one shot. Yet, following the CDC’s announcement last week that vaccinated people could go maskless in public, the governor surprised North Carolinians on Friday by announcing he would drop masks for both vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
The only exception: Masks must still be worn on public transportation, in childcare centers, schools, prisons, and other public-health settings.
More than 60,000 people have been fully vaccinated in New Hanover County. (Port City Daily / Courtesy New Hanover County)
While just a month or so ago, folks were scurrying to get hard-to-come-by vaccine appointments in the tri-county region, today slots are readily available. Currently, all three public health departments New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender are reporting appointments open. They have been all week, in fact.
Does that mean people are less interested in receiving the Covid-19 vaccine? Or that there is more supply?
Judging by state numbers alone, over the last five weeks, North Carolina was vaccinating over 400,000 people a week, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ dashboard. This week the number was down almost by half, at around 230,000 vaccinations.
SOUTHEASTERN NC Vaccinations continue moving at a steady pace in the state. More than 3 million total shots have been given, and the state’s positivity rate has now fallen below the 5% mark, tracking at 3.7%.
Gov. Cooper announced he will open the vaccination queue on Wednesday, March 17, to people with high-risk health conditions and those who live in congregate settings in Group 4.
The rest of Group 4 frontline essential workers will open on April 7.
As well, more vaccine providers have opened in North Carolina, including CVS pharmacies.
As more folks are getting vaccinated nationwide in an effort to reach 73% herd immunity, the CDC released new guidance this week as well about fully vaccinated individuals gathering without masks in certain settings: