‘Stay home, stay safe’: Meck County leaders express virus concerns ahead of Christmas

MECKLENBURG, N.C. — Mecklenburg County health officials are warning people to stay home this holiday season as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to surge.

County Manager Dena Diorio and County Health Director Gibbie Harris issued the message of caution during a news conference on Monday.

The county reported 867 new virus cases on Saturday and 510 more on Sunday.

According to Harris, new daily cases have not dipped below 500 since early December. She also said at least 300 people have been admitted to the hospital every day for the past week due to the virus.

She attributes the spike to Thanksgiving gatherings and believes holiday celebrations this week and into the new year could cause an even greater surge.

“Travel, gatherings and extensive shopping -- please avoid those at all costs,” Harris said. “The safest thing to do is stay home with those you live with.”

When asked about how the hospitals are holding up during the surge, Harris said they are “maintaining.” She said officials feel like they have the capacity to deal with the increase in cases.

Harris said the influx of people showing up at sites for COVID-19 testing is becoming another concern.

“We’re also seeing a testing surge which is incredibly concerning to me because it could indicate risky behavior over the next few weeks as people figure out how they want to celebrate the holidays, and are testing ahead of time thinking that’s going to give them a pass to do whatever they want to do in terms of travel and gatherings,” she said.

It takes an average of 3 to 3-and-a-half days for test results to come back in Mecklenburg County due to the increase in testing demand, according to Harris.

Harris said state officials are exploring a new way to notify first-time cases. If a person tests positive for the first time, they may soon get a text or email from the state letting them know about their results. The program is expected to roll out sometime this week.

Despite the uptick in cases, Harris and Diorio said the county has not discussed implementing more restrictions.

On the vaccine front, Harris announced that the Mecklenburg County Health Department will receive 975 doses this week of the Pfizer vaccine. She said the doses have to stay at a certain temperature and the freezer they ordered has not come in yet, so they will be repacking them in dry ice until it arrives.

When asked about whether the health department will get doses of the Moderna vaccine, Harris said they could come within the next few weeks.

According to Harris, Mecklenburg County will have to vaccinate 200 long-term care facilities. Many of the facilities are small with five to six beds.

The county’s grim warning to stay at home over the holidays may not be enough to change behavior.

Holiday shoppers Channel 9′s Tina Terry talked to said old habits die hard.

“After holidays more people will heed the warnings I think its tough during the holidays,” one shopper said.

Atrium Health one of first in region to get Moderna vaccine

Atrium Health was one of the first in the region to receive the Moderna vaccine.

The healthcare center received an initial shipment of 1,000 doses of the vaccine on Monday. Officials said the supply will be used to vaccinate thousands of Atrium Health’s frontline healthcare workers, working in high-priority areas where they are at a higher risk of exposure, to receive the vaccine at a faster pace.

“We will immediately implement plans to start distributing 1,000 vials of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to approximately 10,000 front line teammates at Atrium Health hospitals in more rural parts of the state,” Atrium said in a Twitter posted.

According to officials, the vaccine has been clinically proven to be safe and 94.1% effective.

Airport vendors hope for a boost in holiday travelers

‘A major step forward’: Cooper thanks frontline workers after observing COVID-19 vaccinations at Duke Hospital

Gov. Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen visited Duke University School of Medicine Monday to see Duke Health frontline workers get the COVID-19 vaccine.

After months of caring for COVID-19 patients, the health care workers began receiving the vaccine last week.

“For months, our health care workers have sacrificed so much to care for COVID-19 patients, and seeing some of them receive this vaccine is a huge relief and a major step forward in our fight against COVID-19,” Cooper said.

'Hope is on the horizon’: Cooper lowers NC indoor gathering limit to 10 ahead of Thanksgiving

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