Looking for information about where to get vaccinated near you? North Carolina Health News has a comprehensive listing of county vaccines sites, which will be updated often. Find it here.
Need a ride? NCDOT and NCDHHS have distributed funding to help pay for transportation. Check with your local transit agency for more details. You can find your agency online NC_public_transit.pdfOpen PDF
Do you have a question about the COVID vaccine? We want to hear from you! Record your question as a voice memo on your cell phone and email us at voices@bpr.org or use the "talk to us" feature on the free BPR mobile app.
(2/14 12:00 p.m.) North Carolina has reported 821,894 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 3,170 from the day before. 1,989 people are currently hospitalized, a decrease of 112 from the day before. 10,491 have died from COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 38 from the day before. In the 13 North Carolina counties in Blue Ridge Public Radio's listening area, there are 42,331 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 706 deaths, an increase of 128 cases and 0 deaths from the day before.
(2/13 12:00 p.m.) North Carolina has reported 818,724 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 4,130 from the day before. 2,101 people are currently hospitalized, a decrease of 50 from the day before. 10,453 have died from COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 77 from the day before. In the 13 North Carolina counties in Blue Ridge Public Radio's listening area, there are 42,203 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 706 deaths, an increase of 171 cases and 4 deaths from the day before.
(2/12 12:00 p.m.) North Carolina has reported 814,594 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 4,128 from the day before. 2,151 people are currently hospitalized, a decrease of 34 from the day before. 10,376 have died from COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 82 from the day before. In the 13 North Carolina counties in Blue Ridge Public Radio's listening area, there are 42,032 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 702 deaths, an increase of 244 cases and 0 deaths from the day before.
(2/11 12:00 p.m.) North Carolina has reported 810,466 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 4,568 from the day before. 2,185 people are currently hospitalized, a decrease of 106 from the day before. 10,294 have died from COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 113 from the day before. In the 13 North Carolina counties in Blue Ridge Public Radio's listening area, there are 41,788 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 702 deaths, an increase of 267 cases and 6 deaths from the day before.
(2/11 10:00 a.m.) Western Carolina University in Cullowhee will soon be a covid-19 vaccination site. In a news release the school says the necessary freezers are already in place at its clinic in the Health and Human Sciences building. Clinic director Courtnee Lingerfelt says they’re hoping to start administering doses by the February 18th target date. Western Carolina says it’s partnering with the Jackson County Department of Public Health to reduce its backlog of residents seeking to get vaccines. Once that backlog is cleared, the clinic will begin adding appointments in compliance with state Department of Health and Human Services guidelines.
(2/10 4 p.m.) North Carolina educators, childcare workers and support staff will be eligible to receive a coronavirus vaccine starting Feb. 24 as part of a staggered rollout of the state's next phase of distribution. Governor Roy Cooper made the announcement during Wednesday’s coronavirus briefing and says the group includes childcare workers, pre-K to 12th grade principals and teachers at public, private and charter schools and support staff, such as janitors, bus drivers and cafeteria workers. Other groups the state considers “frontline essential workers” will start becoming eligible on March 10, though public health officials are still evaluating whether it will prioritize certain subgroups within that population.
(2/10 12:00 p.m.) North Carolina has reported 805,898 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 3,833 from the day before. 2,291 people are currently hospitalized, a decrease of 75 from the day before. 10,181 have died from COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 135 from the day before. In the 13 North Carolina counties in Blue Ridge Public Radio's listening area, there are 41,521 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 696 deaths, an increase of 226 cases and 8 deaths from the day before.
(2/10 11 a.m.) Governor Cooper and members of the Coronavirus Task Force will share an update on COVID-19 at 2 o'clock today (Wednesday). BPR will air the briefing on BPR Classic. You can also view a live stream here: https://www.ncdps.gov/news-conference
(2/9 4 p.m.) A handful of cases of the UK variant of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Buncombe County. Health director Stacie Saunders says the three cases were picked up during routine random sampling by the Centers for Disease Control, and while it may seem alarming - it was not unexpected. “This is often the nature of viruses, they look for ways to survive, and it is our job, yours and mine, to ensure that they don’t get that chance by following precautions,” says Saunders who stressed that the same measures (3-Ws) that are good at stopping the novel coronavirus work just as well on variants. She went onto say that the two COVID vaccines now being administered are effective against the more transmissible B-117. The three cases were not related and all are now out of isolation. North Carolina’s first case of the B-117 variant was confirmed last month.
(2/9 1:30 p.m.) Governor Cooper and members of the Coronavirus Task Force will share an update on COVID-19 at 2 o'clock. BPR is airing NPR’s special coverage of the second impeachment trial of President Trump and will not air the briefing, but you can view a live stream here: https://www.ncdps.gov/news-conference
(2/9 1:15 p.m.) North Carolina has reported 802,065 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 2,786 from the day before. 2,374 people are currently hospitalized, an increase of 35 from the day before. 10,046 have died from COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 55 from the day before. In the 13 North Carolina counties in Blue Ridge Public Radio's listening area, there are 41,295 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 688 deaths, an increase of 142 cases and 3 deaths from the day before.
(2/8 3:30 p.m.) The Eastern Band of Cherokee will begin to vaccinate adults 40 years and older this week. A clinic will be held Wednesday for adults 40 years and older who are enrolled members of the Eastern Band, and those who qualify for Primary Care Services at Cherokee Indian Hospital. As a sovereign nation, the Eastern Band receives its vaccine shipments from the Indian Health Service. The Eastern Band has now administered over 2,000 vaccines.
(2/8 3 p.m.) Macon County Public Health received notification today that three Macon County residents diagnosed with COVID-19 have passed away. To protect the family´s privacy, no further information will be released about these individuals. This death brings Macon County to 22 deaths related to COVID-19.
(2/8 12:30 p.m.) North Carolina has reported 799,279 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 3,084 from the day before. 2,339 people are currently hospitalized, a decrease of 39 from the day before. 9,991 have died from COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 8 from the day before. In the 13 North Carolina counties in Blue Ridge Public Radio's listening area, there are 41,153 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 685 deaths, an increase of 106 cases and 0 deaths from the day before.