COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Dec. 2

We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back for updates.

More than 3,000 new cases reported

At least 1,537,044 people in North Carolina have tested positive for the coronavirus, and at least 18,776 have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, Dec. 1, reported 3,039 new COVID-19 cases, a jump from 1,755 new cases reported Tuesday, Nov. 30.

Thirty-six coronavirus-related deaths were also added Dec. 1. Health officials don’t specify the dates on which newly reported deaths occurred.

At least 1,157 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Nov. 30, including 299 adults being treated in intensive care units, health officials said.

As of Monday, Nov. 29, the latest date with available information, 7.3% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.

Roughly 73% of adults in North Carolina have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and about 69% have been fully vaccinated. Out of the state’s total population, about 57% are fully vaccinated and 61% have received at least one dose. State officials round vaccination numbers to the nearest whole number.

UNC doctor says delta bigger threat than omicron

Doctors at UNC Health said the new omicron variant of COVID-19 might not have as big of an impact in North Carolina as the delta variant did despite the numerous mutations that could make it more contagious.

Dr. Melissa Miller, director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at UNC, said it’s likely already in the U.S., which was confirmed Wednesday, Dec. 1, with the variant detected in California.

“Whether it out-competes and becomes the dominant strain remains to be seen,” Miller said, “because that’s not even the case in South Africa yet. It’s still at a very low frequency in South Africa.”

Delta is the dominant variant accounting for nearly all of the roughly 2,000 new COVID-19 cases reported daily in North Carolina. If omicron behaves similarly, it’s unlikely scientists will change their approach, said Dr. David Wohl, an infectious disease expert at UNC.

“A lot depends upon the consequences of omicron compared to other variants,” he said. “If it causes similar disease, then I think our footing would not be dramatically different.”

Parents plead against student reassignment plan amid COVID stress

Wake County parents urged the school board not to move forward with a plan to relocate students in 2022 to new and under-enrolled schools as part of an effort to reduce crowding at other schools.

The Wake County School Board is scheduled to vote on the plan next week, The News & Observer reported. But parents said during a public hearing on Nov. 30 that it will only serve to further the instability experienced by students amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“The effects of this global pandemic on the mental health of our students should be reason enough to postpone any and all reassignment discussions in our county,” said Cammy Sollie, a Raleigh parent.

Around 3,000 students could have to change schools if the plan takes effect, according to multiple media outlets. Officials have not confirmed that number.

Nearly all WakeMed employees comply with vaccine policy

More than 99% of WakeMed employees, or more than 10,000 workers, have complied with the hospital system’s COVID-19 vaccination policy either by getting vaccinated or receiving a waiver for religious or health reasons.

The 35 workers who have not complied will lose their jobs. Spokesperson Kristin Kelly told The News & Observer that most of them were part-time employees.

Of those who have complied, Kelly did not specify how many of them have been vaccinated and how many have received a waiver, according to the N&O.

WakeMed joins the Triangle’s other two health care systems, UNC Health and Duke Health, in completing an effort to get their workers vaccinated or ensure they have approved reasons for not getting a vaccine. The system announced its vaccine mandate a month later than Duke and UNC and gave its employees until Nov. 12 to comply, with a two-week probation period that ended Nov. 26.

About 55 of 29,000 UNC employees lost their jobs for not complying with its COVID-19 vaccination policy, and fewer than 20 of the 23,000 Duke Health employees were let go for non-compliance.