RALEIGH, N.C. (WAVY/WNCN) – As hospitalizations continue to decline overall, Governor Roy Cooper and members of the Coronavirus Task Force held a COVID-19 update briefing Wednesday.
Cooper announced he is extending the Modified Stay at Home Order.
“I’m announcing that we will extend our Modified Stay at Home Order until February 28, 2021. That means the 10 p.m. curfew is still in place, as are the mask mandate, mass gathering limits, and capacity limits for businesses and retail.”
He has also extended the moratorium on evictions to help people stay in their homes during the pandemic.
“Health experts have shown that keeping people in their homes is an important way to slow the virus. An evictions moratorium is important as we stay under a Modified Stay at Home Order,” he continued.
To support businesses working to serve customers during the pandemic, he has also extended the order allowing to-go and delivery sales for mixed beverages to remain in effect through March 31, 2021.
Cooper said that as of today, the state has administered 99.8% of the first doses the state has received from the federal government.
NCDHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said the Secretarial Directive is still in effect. The directive instructs individuals to take immediate action in an effort to protect themselves and others from COVID-19.
As for the numbers, North Carolina’s COVID-19 hospitalizations continued to decline overall as state health officials reported 3,305 on Wednesday.
Seven of the last eight days have seen a decline in hospitalizations with Tuesday’s numbers being the only exception.
Another 5,587 lab-confirmed cases were announced Wednesday, bringing the state’s total to 733,010.
A total of 8,915 deaths are being attributed to the virus – up 139 from Tuesday.
The percent positive decreased to 11.1 percent after Tuesday’s reported 13.3 percent.
As of Monday, Jan. 25, about 635,543 patients are presumed to have recovered from the virus.
Wednesday Metrics
- Total Cases 733,010
- Completed Tests 8,580,157
- Currently Hospitalized 3,305
- Total Deaths 8,915
- Newly Reported Cases 5,587
- Daily Percent Positive 11.1%
Local Cases
- Bertie: 1,496 cases – 35 deaths
- Camden: 443 cases – 5 deaths
- Chowan: 1,177 cases – 20 deaths
- Currituck: 1,056 cases – 13 deaths
- Dare: 1,629 cases – 6 deaths
- Gates: 516 cases – 12 deaths
- Hertford: 1,761 cases – 54 deaths
- Pasquotank: 2,593 cases – 71 deaths
- Perquimans: 733 cases – 5 deaths
Vaccine Update
Several North Carolina hospitals and health departments received fewer or no first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the state this week, forcing them to cancel scheduled vaccination appointments.
Two groups that advocate for hospitals and health departments criticized the state’s decision to reallocate vaccines to mass clinics, saying doses should be distributed equitably.
On Monday, the Dare County Department of Health and Human Services (DCDHHS) announced that some appointments for an upcoming COVID-19 vaccination clinic may be canceled.
DCDHHS says its allotment this week was cut in half. As a result, about 300 appointments scheduled for Friday, Jan. 29 may have to be rescheduled.
The Outer Banks Hospital and Onslow Memorial Hospital transferred some of their vaccines to DCDHHS, which prevents them from having to reschedule all 1100 appointments scheduled for Friday.
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