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WNC COVID-19 Updates: Week Of May 10

Lilly Knoepp
The Tuckasegee River after a heavy rain outside Bryson City near Darnell Farms.

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.

Looking for information about where to get vaccinated near you?  Need to find a Pfizer vaccine for an adolescent or teen?  Find a vaccine near you https://myspot.nc.gov/

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

(5/14 4:45 p.m.) North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper immediately ended the state's capacity limits on businesses and nearly all the remaining statewide mask-wearing mandates, returning the state to almost normal operations after 15 months marked by COVID-19 lockdowns and limits.Read the full mandate here.

(5/14 2 p.m.) North Carolina has reported 989,338 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 1,501cases since yesterday. 926 are currently hospitalized statewide, a decrease of one since yesterday.  12,862 have died of COVID-19 statewide, an increase of 9 since yesterday.  In the 13 North Carolina counties in Blue Ridge Public Radio's listening area, there are 51,288 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 876 deaths. That's an increase of 54 cases and no additional deaths.

(5/13 3:30 p.m) The state health departmentis now encouraging  kids over 12 to get the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, following approval from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC guidance also okays getting a COVID-19 shot while getting other vaccinations, which could make it more convenient for families.

(5/13 3 p.m.) North Carolina has reported 987,837 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 1,894 cases since yesterday. 925 are currently hospitalized statewide, a decrease of 8 since yesterday.  12,853 have died of COVID-19 statewide, an increase of 23 since yesterday.  In the 13 North Carolina counties in Blue Ridge Public Radio's listening area, there are 51,234 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 876 deaths. That's an increase of 61 cases and one more death.

(5/12 1:45 p.m.) North Carolina has reported 986,443 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 1,493 cases since yesterday. 933 are currently hospitalized statewide, a decrease of 35 since yesterday.  12,830 have died of COVID-19 statewide, an increase of 29 since yesterday.  In the 13 North Carolina counties in Blue Ridge Public Radio's listening area, there are 51,173 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 875 deaths. That's an increase of 406 cases and a decrease of one death since yesterday. One death was recategorized because of a clerical error.

(5/11 4 p.m.) In response to a  high demand for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine,  MAHECand UNC Asheville  are adding an extra walk-in clinic  offering the one dose vaccine  on Saturday, May 15, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Reuter Center on the campus of UNC Asheville at 1 Campus View Road. No appointment is needed to receive a vaccine. The J&J vaccine provides full coverage after two weeks with just one dose.

(5/11 3 p.m.) North Carolina has reported 984,950 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 699 cases since yesterday. 968 are currently hospitalized statewide, an increase of 17 since yesterday.  12,801 have died of COVID-19 statewide, an increase of 11 since yesterday.  In the 13 North Carolina counties in Blue Ridge Public Radio's listening area, there have been 51,579 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 876 deaths. That's an increase of 487 cases and zero additional deaths since yesterday.

(5/11 11:38 p.m.) Haywood County Health and Human Services is hosting a COVID-19 May 19 a vaccine clinic for teenagers 12 and up from  11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at Haywood Community College. To book your vaccine appointment visit: https://myspot.nc.gov/

“As we move into vacation season, we want to focus on specific populations in our community that may not have had the opportunity to be vaccinated prior to now,” said Sarah Henderson, Haywood County Health Director. “As vaccination efforts shift, we want the community to remember that we are here and that everyone that wants to be vaccinated can be vaccinated.”

(5/10 1 p.m.) North Carolina has reported 984,251 confirmed cases of COVID-19, an increase of 3,753 cases over the weekend. 951 are currently hospitalized statewide, a decrease of 55 over the weekend.  12,790 have died of COVID-19 statewide, an increase of 10 over the weekend.  In the 13 North Carolina counties in Blue Ridge Public Radio's listening area, there are 51,092 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 876 deaths. That's an increase of 180 cases and zero additional deaths over the weekend.

 

Lilly Knoepp is Senior Regional Reporter for Blue Ridge Public Radio. She has served as BPR’s first fulltime reporter covering Western North Carolina since 2018. She is from Franklin, NC. She returns to WNC after serving as the assistant editor of Women@Forbes and digital producer of the Forbes podcast network. She holds a master’s degree in international journalism from the City University of New York and earned a double major from UNC-Chapel Hill in religious studies and political science.