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.
RELATED: Gov. Cooper drops mask requirement for unvaccinated, some rules still apply
To date, upward of 79% of the 65-and-older population in the state has been vaccinated with at least one shot, compared to 51.5% of the 18-to-65 population.
A new group of Covid-19 vaccine recipients is now open, too, after Pfizer received emergency approval for its vaccine to be given to ages 12 and up. New Hanover and Brunswick counties both announced it would begin taking appointments for youth.
Almost topping out at 1 million Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations are down from last week, now at 815, with 12,891 deaths since Covid began. Newly reported cases have dropped drastically from 1,932 to 688 since last week. The state’s percent positivity is up slightly at 4.7%, but still below health officials’ goal of 5%.
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.
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New Hanover County
CASES
The NHC dashboard is reporting 19,410 cases in New Hanover County since March 2020. The death toll is still up by two over the last week to 166, breaking its streak of no new deaths for three weeks.
CDC is reporting New Hanover’s positivity rate is at 4.97%.
CLUSTERS AND OUTBREAKS
Updated May 14, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) shows clusters at two schools:
- Myrtle Grove Christian: 11 total cases, with 1 staff and 10 students
- John T Hoggard: 6 total cases, all students
Port City Daily does a tri-county school check-in every week, breaking down cases according to what the schools are reporting. It can be read here.
Childcare facilities reporting cases include:
- The Learning Tree: 19 total, with 10 staff and 9 children
As of May 14, clusters and outbreaks in congregate-living facilities include:
- Autumn Care of Myrtle Grove: 2 total staff cases
- Liberty Commons Rehabilitation Center: 3 total staff cases
- Morningside of Wilmington: 6 total staff cases
- Spring Arbor of Wilmington: 17 total cases, with 9 staff and 8 residents
VACCINATIONS
The NCDHHS dashboard shows, through NC providers — not including the federal pharmacy program — the county has inoculated more than 3,000 people in one week, with 79,640 people fully vaccinated; 84,645 have been partially vaccinated.
Vaccines are currently available through NHC public health on May 17 and 19. Folks can choose between Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines at the Schwartz Center, 601 North Front St., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. As well, interested parties can head to Independence Mall at 3500 Oleander Dr. from noon to 7 p.m. Both are walk-up clinics.
Other vaccination partners:
- NHRMC: Vaccinations can be scheduled at nhrmc.org/coronavirus or by calling (910) 662-2020 when appointments are available. NHRMC now has an email list available for anyone to sign up to receive notifications when COVID-19 vaccine appointments are available. The link to sign up can be found here.
- Wilmington Health: Vaccinations can be scheduled at WilmingtonHealth.com/COVIDvaccine or by calling (910) 407-5115 when appointments are available.
Brunswick County
CASES
Brunswick County’s case count is at 9,223. Its death count has maintained at 134, and the county is reporting 153 active cases and 8,936 recovered.
CDC is reporting Brunswick’s positivity rate is down from 3.69%.
Brunswick’s Covid-19 dashboard has been down since Jan. 24 due to technical issues. However, it has updated numbers listed on a table chart.
CLUSTERS AND OUTBREAKS
Updated May 14, NCDHHS is reporting one cluster at schools:
- Roger Bacon Academy: 10 total cases, 1 staff and 9 students
Port City Daily does a tri-county school check-in every week, breaking down cases according to what the schools are reporting. It can be read here.
There are two congregate-living facilities on the list as of May 14:
- Carolina Dunes Behavioral Health: 30 total, with 28 staff and 2 residents
- Universal Health Care: 2 total staff cases
VACCINATIONS
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is reporting Brunswick administered more first doses this week at 57,947 through NC providers — not including the federal pharmacy program. It’s fully vaccinated 54,628 people.
Folks can check in here for Brunswick County Public Health appointment availability; questions can be sent to coronavirus@brunswickcountync.gov.
Folks who don’t have access to the internet can call public health at 910-253-2339, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Pender County
CASES
According to Pender County Health and Human Services, last updated May 17, and the NCDHHS Covid dashboard, there have been 5,458 positive tests to date, up 200 over the last few weeks. Of those cases, 99% have recovered, and deaths have remained stable for a few weeks now at 69. Pender also reported one hospitalization.
Pender breaks down its cases by area percentages:
Burgaw: 18% cases
Hampstead: 36% cases
Rocky Point: 18% cases
Watha/Willard: 7% cases
Other: 21% cases
CDC is reporting Pender’s positivity rate is up from 7.29% to 8.89% since last week.
CLUSTERS AND OUTBREAKS
Updated May 14, NCDHHS lists the following clusters and outbreaks in Pender County congregate-living facilities:
- Ashe Gardens Care Facility: 2 total staff cases
- The Laurels of Pender: 129 total cases, 61 staff, 68 residents, 11 deaths
- Woodbury Wellness Center: 146 total cases, 53 staff, 93 residents and 9 resident deaths
- Pender County Jail: 22 total inmates
Its also reporting in K-12 schools:
- Rocky Point Elementary: 8 total cases, 1 staff and 7 students
Port City Daily does a tri-county school check-in every week, breaking down cases according to what the schools are reporting. It can be read here.
VACCINATIONS
Vaccinations have gone up in the county from last week with more people vaccinated at 16,915 through NC providers — not including the federal pharmacy program. As well, 18,395 have been partially vaccinated.
Appointments are open through Pender County Public Health.
Folks can call 910-663-4200 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m or make online appointments at pendercountync.gov.
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
New Hanover Regional Medical Center serves a seven-county region so numbers from its Covid-19 dashboard aren’t necessarily reflective of only residents from New Hanover County.
Stats on NHRMC’s dashboard were updated May 14.
NHRMC has 2,043 Covid-19 patients admitted to the hospital for Covid-19. Of the overall patients, 1,713 were discharged and 313 have died (up one from last week).
The daily average of hospitalized Covid-19 patients has gone down 22 to 19.
NHRMC has increased vaccinations to 93,471 doses administered.
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