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FRIDAY MORNINGS
The COVID-19 vaccination will be given at Walgreens stores in North Carolina starting Friday.
The state is just one of 15 states where the national pharmacy will distribute vaccines.
Walgreens is following North Carolina guidelines for vaccine distribution – which means that you must be a healthcare professional or be over 65 to receive the vaccine at this time.
The pharmacy also only makes vaccines by appointment. You can make an appointment and find out which location near you has a vaccine stock.
The health department said the goal of allowing vaccines to be distributed through Walgreens is to help ensure that people living in underserved areas have access to the vaccine.
State health officials confirmed on Thursday that the variant COVID-19 first discovered in South Africa has now been confirmed in North Carolina.
North Carolina becomes the first state to report a confirmed case of the South African variant, which so far looks more contagious, but not more serious.
All of this occurs at a time when COVID-19 metrics appear to be improving. On Thursday, the state reported a positive daily rate of COVID-19 percent below 6% for the first time since October.
New numbers are expected to be released around 12 pm today.
THURSDAY
7:50 pm
The Fayetteville Area Transit System (FAST) suspended several bus routes after three employees tested positive for COVID-19.
The following bus routes are suspended due to a lack of drivers:
- Route 9 – Stacy Weaver Drive / Rosehill Road
- Route 10 – Strickland Bridge Road
- Route 11 – Country Club Drive / Pamalee Drive
- Route 15 – Cape Fear Valley Medical Center / Cross Creek Mall
- Route 19 – Yadkin Road
- Route 31 – Owen Drive / Gillespie Street (includes Enterprise Avenue)
Route 7 – Raeford Road will operate during reduced service hours.
At least 30 other people are quarantined after exposure. The initial official tested positive for COVID-19 on February 10. The Fayetteville Human Resources Development team is working on tracking contacts
6:30 pm
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported the first identification of variant B.1.351 of COVID-19, a variant first detected in South Africa, in a North Carolina resident.
Variant B.1.351 was detected in South Africa in October and in the United States in January.
The case of the North Carolina B.1.351 variant was identified in a sample of an adult from the central region of the state who had not recently traveled, according to the NCDHHS.
The specimen was tested by LabCorp and selected for sequencing as part of a partnership with CDC.
North Carolina is the fourth state to report an identified case of this variant. As of February 9, nine cases of infection with the variant have been identified in residents of South Carolina, Maryland and Virginia.
Viruses change all the time, and the NCDHHS said it expects to see new variants of COVID-19 in the state as the pandemic continues.
The data suggest that this variant may be more contagious than other variants, but it does not suggest that it causes more serious illness. Current COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be effective against this and other new variants.
“Although we anticipated the arrival of variant B.1.351 in NC, it is a reminder that the fight against COVID-19 is not over. The emergence of variants that are more infectious means that it is more important than ever to do what we know works. to slow the spread – wear a mask, wash your hands, wait five feet away and get vaccinated when it’s your turn, “said NCDHHS secretary Mandy K. Cohen, MD
1:10 pm
The NC House passed Senate Bill 37, which requires school districts to provide an in-person learning option this school year.
The measure, which passed a 74-44 vote, now returns to the Senate for a concurrent vote.
If approved there, the bill will go to Governor Roy Cooper’s desk for approval or veto.
Senate Bill 37 allows students to continue remote learning if they wish.
Rep. Jeffrey Elmore, R-Wilkes, a public school teacher and co-chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said the legislation provides security for families in education and economic planning.
“Currently our students are subject to changes in executive orders and confusing messages from the administration, which has created confusion and led to local delays, making it very difficult for parents to plan their jobs and their children’s education,” said Elmore on Thursday. . “This legislation gives North Carolina families security and access to classrooms, combining more than a billion dollars in new education funds with local decision-making to implement a return to face-to-face learning now.”
Mayor Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, said the current restrictions that keep students out of the classroom are forcing parents to skip work or seek education alternatives, and the legislation gives school systems the flexibility to adjust students’ assignments for personal learning.
“School closures have been damaging economically for families in North Carolina, while young people lag behind in their studies, having a devastating impact on student performance and exacerbating socioeconomic disparities,” said Moore on Thursday. “We are listening to educators, health experts, parents and, most importantly, our students, who have a constitutional right to access education communities that meet their academic needs.”
11:40 am
The positive daily COVID-19 percent rate continued its sharp drop with Thursday’s updated metrics.
The rate was for teenagers last week, but Thursday’s report showed the rate at 5.9%. The state target, which has not reached since autumn 2020, is to stay below 5%.
State metrics showed another 113 new deaths from the virus, bringing the total count to 10,294.
One hundred and six fewer people were hospitalized with the virus.
For a complete analysis of Thursday’s metrics, you can click here.
THURSDAY MORNING TITLE
The PNC Arena parking lot opens Thursday as the first mass vaccination site for COVID-19 in Raleigh.
However, you will not be able to just show up and get vaccinated. The supply of vaccines remains extremely limited; that’s why you should make an appointment to get vaccinated at PNC Arena for now.
The slots are full for today and Saturday. However, you can sign up for the waiting list – if you are a health worker or over 65 years old. At this point, the waiting list is said to have more than 90,000 people.
To do this, go to COVID19.wakegov.com or call 919-250-1515.
Authorities said they hope to vaccinate 2,100 people at the PNC Arena on Thursday. The website’s goal is to continue operating regularly, but of course it all depends on how many doses of vaccine the area receives.
Tomorrow, Walgreens will participate in the North Carolina vaccination race. The pharmacy is shipping 31,000 doses of the vaccine to 300 stores in North Carolina.
Walgreens is also not accepting visitors. You should make an appointment on your website.
You can also see reports that CVS is also opening appointments for COVID-19 vaccines. However, CVS is not yet shooting in North Carolina.
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