NORTH CAROLINA — Raw data continues to show new daily case counts, the percent positive rate and the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations trending downward overall across the state.
Gov. Roy Cooper and N.C. public health officials held a news conference in mid-March and said the time has come for North Carolinians to move into a new phase in the pandemic, which includes making sure hospitals are prepared and people are taking personal responsibility for their safety.
DHHS says there are now better treatments to deal with the virus overall since the start of the pandemic, like wide access to vaccines. Their office will soon start updating their COVID-19 metrics dashboards with data weekly, instead of daily.
U.S. regulators authorized another COVID-19 booster for people age 50 and older. The FDA said those people can seek a fourth dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine several months after their previous booster.
As of Wednesday, new cases stood at 1,067, according to data from NCDHHS, while 624 new cases were reported Tuesday.
The test positive percentage has hovered between 2% and 5% in March, according to NCDHHS, which is a large drop from the more than 30% reported in January during the omicron surge. Health officials have noted 5% as a mark that indicates cases are stabilizing. The state's report of new cases does not include the results of many at-home tests.
The number of people identified by DHHS as hospitalized COVID-19 patients reached 465 as of Tuesday. Total deaths climbed to 21,066 as of Monday.
Cooper and health officials have urged people to get vaccinated, boosted and use safety measures, like masking and distancing, to help protect themselves and others.
North Carolina's Vaccine Distribution
North Carolina still lags behind the country in vaccination rates, but the state's rate is improving. Of the total population in North Carolina that is now eligible to receive a vaccine, it is estimated that 61% is now fully vaccinated, while 65% is at least partially vaccinated.
DHHS said the agency is working with schools and other organizations to reach children and young adults, including using TikTok videos to reach a younger audience.
The coronavirus vaccine rollout in North Carolina got off to a slow start initially, but the pace picked up. This is the biggest vaccination campaign in the history of the United States. Since the beginning of 2021, the campaign has gone from not having enough doses to go around to having plenty of vaccine available and trying to convince holdouts to get their shots.
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RELATED: FAQ: Getting the Coronavirus Vaccine in North Carolina
How to Protect Yourself and Others
According to the CDC, there are several simple steps you can take to help protect yourself and others during the coronavirus outbreak.
- Clean your hands thoroughly and often
- Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick
- Stay at home if you are sick, except to get medical care
- Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing
- If you are sick, wear a facemask
- Clean and disinfect any frequently touched surfaces daily
If you or someone you know becomes ill, the CDC recommends taking the following steps:
- Stay home, except to get medical treatment
- Separate yourself from others, including animals, in your home
- Call ahead before visiting your doctor
- Wear a facemask if you are sick
- Cover coughs and sneezes
- Clean your hands thoroughly and often
- Avoid sharing any personal household items
- Clean any "high-touch" surfaces on a daily basis
- Monitor your symptoms
- Remain on home isolation until instructed to leave
Any North Carolinian seeking additional information on COVID-19 can call NC 2-1-1, which is an information and referral service that families and individuals can call to obtain free and confidential information on health and human services resources within their community, or text COVIDNC to 898211 to receive general information and updates about COVID-19.