Meck County now in ‘red zone’; Cooper opts for no new restrictions

RALEIGH — More than half of North Carolina’s counties, including Mecklenburg County, are seeing critical viral spread within their communities just days before the holidays.

Gov. Roy Cooper and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen held a news conference Tuesday where they encouraged people to forego Christmas gatherings to fight the spread of COVID-19.

Last week, Cooper urged North Carolinians to gather virtually for the holiday and doubled down on that request at Tuesday’s briefing after health officials reported that more than 90% of North Carolina counties are now in the red or orange tier on the county alert system.

“North Carolina needs to drive down our numbers. To do that, we all need to change our holiday plans if you haven’t already,” Cooper said. “The best and safest option is to connect virtually or by phone. But if you gather in-person, keep it small and do it outside. Get a COVID-19 test before you go. Spread out the tables and chairs. Follow the modified Stay at Home Order and be home by 10 p.m. And, always, always wear a mask.”

The system assigns a color to counties based on the rate of cases, the percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive and a score given based on how local hospitals are faring with COVID-19 patients and staffing shortages. Counties in yellow are seeing significant community spread, while those in orange are seeing substantial spread and those in red have critical spread.

Mecklenburg County is now in the red. It was in the yellow when the system was first released.

[WANT TO WATCH ON OUR STREAMING APPS? CLICK HERE]

[COUNTY-BY-COUNTY COVID-19 RESOURCE GUIDE]

[CORONAVIRUS IN THE CAROLINAS; HERE’S HOW TO STAY INFORMED]

“This is alarming,” Cooper said. “92 of our 100 counties are designated as red or orange. In the last week, we saw a daily case record of 8,444 with the percent of tests positive coming back at more than 10 percent. This virus continues to spread quickly. Don’t get numb to these numbers.”

Cohen said if you live in a red or orange county, you should limit going out to essential activities and avoid people that you don’t live with.

Since the last report was released two weeks ago, the number of counties in the red has increased from 48 to 65. The number of counties in the orange has increased by 27. There are eight counties in the yellow.

>> NC County Alert System: See how your county is doing

“The county alert map shows how quickly things can escalate. As you think about the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays please avoid traveling and gathering. If you absolutely must, get tested ahead of time, wear a mask all the time, keep it small and keep it outdoors,” said Cohen.

If continuing to gather, state officials urge North Carolinians to get tested and keep get-togethers small and outside with social distancing and masks.

>> Full holiday guidance from NCDHHS here

The governor also reminded people that the statewide mask mandate and Modified Stay at Home Order requiring people to be home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. will still be in effect through the holidays until at least Jan. 8, 2021.

He did not issue any new restrictions.

“Despite, or maybe even because of the challenges that we’re facing, this has been a year like no other,” Cooper said. “And while it has been difficult and painful, North Carolinians have responded with compassion and resilience and courage at every turn. At the end of this unprecedented year, let’s recommit to keeping ourselves in each other safe so that we can be here next year to celebrate how far we have come.”

Not avoiding the question on many young minds this week, Cooper said Santa would be free to fly this Christmas, with the proper precautions.

”I’ll be making an important announcement pretty soon about exempting Santa from the stay-at-home order, so we’re going to make sure that he can make all of his rounds,” Cooper said. “He will wear a mask, however. He’s told me that he would.”

More than 25,000 North Carolinians have gotten COVID-19 vaccine, officials say

The NCDHHS started updating its COVID-19 dashboard to show the number of vaccinations in the state.

NCDHHS said there can be up to a 72-hour lag in data. As of Tuesday, 25,400 people have received their first dose. No one has yet received the full series.

62% of those who have been vaccinated are between the ages of 25 and 49.

Currently, the state is in Phase 1a of the plan, which means health care workers fighting COVID-19 and long-term care staff and residents can be vaccinated.

The NCDHHS reported that 2,081 people in Mecklenburg County have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

>> Have questions about the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the Carolinas? We have an entire section dedicated to coverage of the outbreak -- CLICK HERE FOR MORE.

Officials expect to get about 60,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 176,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine. The Moderna vaccine does not require ultra-cold storage and is slated to go to 59 hospitals and 97 local health departments.

According to Cohen, residents and staff at long-term care facilities will start receiving vaccines next week.

Cooper OKs to-go, delivered cocktails in latest step to curb virus spread

Cox Media Group