Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. provided an update on the state’s COVID-19 key metrics and trends.
All tagged covid
Financial incentives for COVID-19 vaccination are effective, finds evaluation of NC program by NCDHHS, NCCU and UNC-Chapel Hill
The $25 Summer Card pilot program operated by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) was successful in encouraging COVID-19 vaccination, according to a published research letter by authors from NCDHHS, the Advanced Center for COVID-19 Related Disparities (ACCORD) at the Julius L. Chambers Biomedical Biotechnology Research Institute at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), and the Departments of Biostatistics and of Health Behavior at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill).
NCDHHS expands demographic data on vaccine dashboard to help identify equity gaps
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has expanded its vaccine data dashboard to provide more statewide demographic data for COVID-19 vaccinations. Users will be able to see vaccination rates by race for age groups and ethnicity for age group. The information will be displayed on a new tab named “Additional NC Demographic Data” on the dashboard.
Senate passes 'No Patient Left Alone Act'
Senate Bill 191, “No Patient Left Alone Act,” is headed to the governor’s desk. The bill passed the state Senate, 49-0, on Wednesday, Oct. 6.
Governor Cooper visits pharmacy to urge vaccinations and receive flu shot
Governor Roy Cooper and State Health Director Betsey Tilson got their flu shot today at Health Park Pharmacy in Wake County and encouraged North Carolinians to get their COVID-19 vaccine and flu shot.
NCDHHS Awarded $9M from CDC to support statewide community health worker infrastructure
North Carolina’s Community Health Worker Initiative will expand as part of the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion's Community Health Workers for COVID Response and Resilient Communities (CCR) initiative. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services was awarded a total of $9 million with $3 million per year distributed over the next three years.
Pfizer COVID-19 Booster Shots Available for High-Risk Groups
To strengthen and extend protections against severe illness, North Carolinians at high risk for serious illness or exposure, and who have been fully vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech (COMINARTY) vaccine for six months or more, can now receive a COVID-19 booster shot.
Executive order extends school immunization, health assessment deadlines to provide NC families and schools flexibility amid ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order 234 extending, but not waiving, proof-of-immunization and health assessment documentation deadlines for school and child-care facilities. To ensure children are not excluded from school because of increased demands on health care providers amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the order will give students and families more time to complete their required vaccines and health assessments. Vaccinations and health assessments are essential to protecting public health and should not be skipped or ignored.
Labor force shouldn’t be shrinking
North Carolina’s economy has enjoyed a substantial recovery from the depths of the Great Suppression — that is, from the COVID-19 downturn of 2020. Most businesses are back up and operating. So are schools and universities. More employees than ever before are working from home. That’s had positive consequences for worker satisfaction and traffic congestion (although the consequences for productivity are admittedly unclear). State government is flush with revenue. North Carolina’s headline unemployment rate was just 4.3% in August.
NCDHHS responds to actions taken by Union County Board of Education, outlines required COVID-19 control measures to protect students, staff and community
In response to actions taken by the Union County Board of Education, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services issued a letter to the Board’s Chair outlining required COVID-19 control measures all schools in the state must implement to protect student, staff and community health and noting that failure to comply may prompt legal action.
Governor Cooper visits monoclonal antibody treatment site in New Hanover County
Governor Roy Cooper visited Cape Fear Clinic in Wilmington to see their COVID-19 operations. The clinic offers COVID-19 tests, vaccinations and monoclonal antibody treatments.
Governor Cooper pushes vaccination requirements and urges schools districts to keep mask mandates
"We know that keeping kids learning in the classroom is the most important thing for our students right now. Getting vaccinated, wearing a mask in public indoor settings and following the science is what we need to do," said Governor Cooper. "The faster we put this pandemic behind us, the sooner we can all rest easy and stay healthy."
Health officials urge North Carolinians to get vaccinated for flu as COVID-19 cases remain high
Public health officials with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are urging North Carolinians to protect themselves, their families and those around them by getting vaccinated against Influenza as the state enters flu season while experiencing a surge of COVID-19 caused by the Delta variant.
Senate passes bill to ease bottlenecks of HOPE Rental Assistance Program
The N.C. Senate passed House Bill 110 on Wednesday, Sept. 8, which would modify rules to the HOPE rental assistance program.
COVID-19 clusters increase among middle and high school sports teams; NCDHHS encourages vaccination, strong COVID-19 protection measures
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is seeing a sharp increase in COVID-19 clusters among school sports teams. For the period between July 1 and Sept. 2, 2021, clusters among school sports teams accounted for 45% of all clusters in North Carolina middle and high schools, despite most school sports activities not beginning until August as schools began the fall semester. School sports teams are urged to follow NCDHHS guidance for youth sports.
As push for masks surges, young Republicans take stand against mandates
Climbing COVID-19 hospitalizations in North Carolina have energized the campaign for renewed mask mandates. The rules have also sparked protests from some who view it as a threat to personal liberty and dispute the efficacy of masking toward mitigating the spread of coronavirus.
Treasurer Folwell Asks Gov. Cooper Not to Use CARES Money to Extend Extra Unemployment Benefits
Additional federal unemployment benefits are scheduled to expire on Sept. 6, as the pandemic emergency employment compensation and pandemic unemployment assistance programs are ending. These programs are paying an additional $300 a week to eligible unemployment applicants. Many feel that the extra payments are preventing people from returning to work. In fact, a majority of states have already ended the extra benefit for workers prior to the programs’ termination next week.
Families are swinging suburban
It’s my go-to slide. I’ve shown it to all the classes I teach at Duke University. The slide is striking. It’s revealing.
And now it’s out of date.
Governor Cooper visits Pizzeria Mercato to highlight business efforts encouraging vaccination
Governor Roy Cooper visited Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro to thank the owner, Gabe Barker, and employees for their work to help protect staff, patrons and the community. The restaurant requires customers to show their vaccine card or a photo to dine indoors.
FDA approves Pfizer vaccine for those 16 and older
The Food and Drug Administration has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which will Pfizer is calling Comirnaty, for the prevention of COVID-19 disease in individuals 16 years of age and older.