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:
By the Numbers: Covid-19 updates in New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender for week of Mar. 1 portcitydaily.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from portcitydaily.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The FDA gave emergency use approval of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine over the weekend and now the CDC has to approve its distribution, expected today, Sunday, Feb. 28. (Port City Daily/File)
SOUTHEASTERN NC Over the weekend the FDA approved the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for emergency use. It now awaits approval from the CDC for distribution. Once that happens, the nation will be gearing up for more supply, as almost 4 million doses will be available immediately, upping vaccine supply to states by 25%. Doses could increase by 20 million by the end of March.
Gov. Roy Cooper and N.C.’s top health official, Mandy Cohen, addressed the one-dose shot at last week’s press conference, saying more information will be communicated this week upon its possible rollout.
Covid-19 numbers continue to track a downward trend on infections as vaccinations rise. (Port City Daily/File)
SOUTHEASTERN NC As vaccinations continue to rise, N.C. continues its downward streak of new cases weekly, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Though Saturday, Feb. 20, had more than 3,400 cases in one day 685 were accounted for from numbers at the end of December today the dashboard is reporting 2,500 cases. It’s a vast decline from Feb. 3’s last major spike of more than 12,000 new cases in one day.
Positive tests rose a little this week to 7.1%. positivity test rate, with 840,096 people in the state reported as contracting Covid-19 since March 2020 up by 21,372 since last week.