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 across the state, urging folks who have yet to be inoculated to get out for their shot(s). It’s part of the state’s “Bringing Summer Back” campaign to get North Carolina closer to the goal of two-thirds of the population at least receiving one shot by June 1.
RELATED: Governor Roy Cooper rallies vaccine staff in visit to Wilmington
Cooper and Charlene Wong, the state’s chief health policy advisor, visited New Hanover County’s MLK Center last Thursday, each touching on concerns facing the Covid-19 vaccine rollout. For one, stronger messaging is required to reach the remainder of the North Carolina population — the younger crowd. Upward of 78% of the 65 and older population has been vaccinated with at least one shot, compared to 50% of the 18-to-65 population.
Cooper also noted a shift away from larger vaccine sites to smaller offices, like family practitioners. “We’re constantly evolving our messaging, getting out vaccine not as much to big health providers, but into the general practice offices,” he said.
Those likely will include pediatrician offices since the Pfizer vaccine received emergency approval for ages 12 and up as of Monday afternoon.
To date across the state, there have been more than 980,000 Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began. As of Friday, May 7, there were 1,006 hospitalizations, 12,780 deaths, and 1,932 newly reported cases. The state’s percent positivity is 4.4%, 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 the NCDHHS dashboard is reporting 18,845 cases in New Hanover County — up by over 200 from last week. The death toll is still at 164, with no new deaths now in a few weeks.
CDC is reporting New Hanover’s positivity rate has decreased from 5.83% to 4.83%.
CLUSTERS AND OUTBREAKS
Updated May 7, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) shows clusters at two schools:
- Myrtle Grove Christian: 7 total cases, with 1 staff and 6 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: 17 total, with 10 staff and 7 children
As of May 7, clusters and outbreaks in congregate-living facilities include:
- Liberty Commons Rehabilitation Center: 2 total staff cases
- Morningside of Wilmington: 2 total staff cases
- New Hanover County Detention Facility: 97 total cases, with 31 staff and 66 inmates
- Spring Arbor of Wilmington: 17 total cases, with 9 staff and 8 residents
VACCINATIONS
The NCDHHS dashboard shows the county has inoculated 76,339 people fully; 83,254 have been partially vaccinated through NC providers — not including the federal pharmacy program. That puts New Hanover County at 32.6% of its population fully vaccinated and 35.5% partially vaccinated.
Vaccines are currently available through NHC public health on May 11 and 13. Folks can choose between Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines at the Health & Human Services building, 1650 Greenfield St., from 8 a.m. to noon. As well, interested parties can head to Independence Mall at 3500 Oleander Dr. from noon to 7 p.m.
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 9,173. Its death count has maintained at 152, and the county is reporting 152 active cases and 8,848 recovered.
CDC is reporting Brunswick’s positivity rate is down from 5.83% to 3.78%.
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 7, 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 7:
- 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 57,396 through NC providers — not including the federal pharmacy program. It’s fully vaccinated 53,046 people — or 37.1% of the population.
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 on May 7, there have been 5,261 positive tests to date. Of those cases, 98% have recovered, and deaths have remained stable since last week at 69. Pender also reported two hospitalizations.
Pender breaks down its cases by area percentages:
Burgaw: 18% cases
Hampstead: 36% cases
Rocky Point: 17% cases
Watha/Willard: 7% cases
Other: 22% cases
North Carolina’s dashboard shows Pender County has had 5,388 cases and 164 deaths.
CDC is reporting Pender’s positivity rate is down from 11.79% to 7.29% since last week.
CLUSTERS AND OUTBREAKS
Updated May 7, 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
According to the state, vaccinations have gone up in the county from last week with more people vaccinated at 16,228 through NC providers — not including the federal pharmacy program. As well, 18,157 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 7.
NHRMC has 2,030 Covid-19 patients admitted to the hospital for Covid-19. Of the overall patients, 1,695 were discharged and 312 have died (up two from last week).
The daily average of hospitalized Covid-19 patients has gone down from 25 to 22.
NHRMC has increased vaccinations to 92,884 doses administered.
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