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FRIDAY MORNING CUPS
COVID-19 vaccinations will be given from Friday at Walgreens locations in North Carolina.
The state is just one of the 15 countries where the national pharmacy will distribute the vaccines.
Walgreens follow North Carolina’s guidelines for vaccine distribution, which means you must be a health care professional or over 65 to receive the vaccine at this time.
The pharmacy also only does vaccination by appointment. You can make an appointment and find out which place is close to your vaccination.
The health department said the goal of distributing vaccines through Walgreens is to ensure that people living in medically underserved areas have access to the vaccine.
State health officials confirmed on Thursday that the COVID-19 variant, which was first discovered in South Africa, has now been confirmed in North Carolina.
North Carolina is becoming the first state to report a confirmed case of the South African variant, which so far appears more contagious, but not worse.
This is all because COVID-19 statistics are improving. The state reported a positive COVID-19 percent below 6% on Thursday for the first time since October.
New numbers are expected to be released today at 12 p.m.
THURSDAY
19:50
Fayetteville Area Transit System (FAST) has suspended several bus routes after three employees tested positive for COVID-19.
The following bus routes have been suspended due to the shortage 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 according to a reduced service schedule.
At least 30 other people are in quarantine after exposure. The initial employee was tested positive for COVID-19 on February 10th. The City of Fayetteville Human Resource Development Team is working on contact detection
18:30
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported the first identification of the COVID-19 variant B.1.351, a variant that was first detected in South Africa, a North Carolina resident.
The B.1.351 variant was detected in South Africa in October and in the United States in January.
The case of North Carolina B.1.351 was identified according to NCDHHS in a sample of an adult in the central part of the state who did not travel recently.
The sample was tested by LabCorp and selected for sequencing as part of a partnership with the CDC.
North Carolina is the fourth state to report an identified case of this variant. On February 9, nine cases of infection with the variant were identified in residents of South Carolina, Maryland and Virginia.
Viruses are changing all the time and NCDHHS said they expect to see new COVID-19 variants in the state as the pandemic continues.
Data suggest that this variant may be more contagious than other variants, but this does not suggest that it causes more serious diseases. Current COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be effective against these and other new variants.
“Although we expected the arrival of the B.1.351 variant in NC, it is a reminder that the fight against COVID-19 is not over yet. The rise of more contagious variants means that it is more important than ever to “do what we know works. slow down the spread – wear a mask, wash your hands, wait 6 feet apart and be vaccinated if it’s your turn,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, MD.
13:10
The NC House has passed Bill 37 of the Senate, which requires school districts to offer a personalized learning option for this school year.
The measure, which was voted 74-44, is now going back to the Senate for a vote.
If it succeeds there, the bill will go to the government Roy Cooper’s table for approval or veto.
Senate Bill 37 allows students to continue distance education if they prefer.
Rep. Jeffrey Elmore, R-Wilkes, a public school teacher and co-chair of the Home Credit Committee, said the legislation provides families with security in education and economic planning.
“Currently, our students are subject to the shift of executive orders and mixed messages from the administration which has created confusion and led to local delays, making it very difficult for parents to plan for their work and their child’s education,” he said. Elmore said Thursday. “This legislation provides North Carolina families with security and access to classrooms by combining more than $ 1 billion in new education funding with local decision-making to implement a return to personal learning now.”
House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, said the current restrictions that keep students out of the classroom force parents to miss work or look for alternatives to education, and the legislation gives school systems the flexibility to adjust student assignments for personal learning.
Moore said Thursday: “The closure of schools has taxed families in North Carolina economically while young people fall behind in their studies. It has had a devastating impact on student performance and exacerbated social inequalities.” “We listen to educators, health professionals, parents and especially our students, who have a constitutional right to access educational communities that meet their academic needs.”
11:40 am
The percentage daily positive COVID-19 rate continued its strong decline with Thursday’s updated statistics.
The rate was as recent as last week in the teens, but Thursday’s report showed the rate was at 5.9%. The state target, which it has not achieved since the fall of 2020, is to be below 5%.
State statistics showed another 113 new deaths due to the virus, bringing the total score to 10,294.
One hundred and six fewer people were reported to be hospitalized with the virus.
For a full breakdown of Thursday’s stats, click here.
THURSDAY MORNING CUP
The parking lot at PNC Arena opens Thursday as the first COVID-19 mass vaccination site in Raleigh.
However, you will not only be able to show up and be vaccinated. Vaccine supply remains extremely limited; therefore, you must first have an appointment to be vaccinated at PNC Arena.
Slots are all full for today and Saturday. However, you can sign up for the waiting list – if you are a healthcare worker or older than 65 years. At this stage, there are reportedly more than 90,000 people on the waiting list.
To do so, go to COVID19.wakegov.com or call 919-250-1515.
Officials said they hope to vaccinate 2,100 people at PNC Arena on Thursday. The purpose of the site is to continue regularly, but this of course depends on how many doses of the vaccine the area receives.
Tomorrow, Walgreens will participate in the race to vaccinate in North Carolina. The pharmacy sends 31,000 doses of the vaccine to 300 stores in North Carolina.
Walgreens also does not accept boarding. You need to make an appointment on his website.
You can also see reports that CVS is also opening bookings for COVID-19 vaccine appointments. However, CVS does not yet give shots in North Carolina.
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