Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. provided an update on the state’s COVID-19 key metrics and trends.
All in Coronavirus
GCS to take off the Masks after Break
At their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday night, the Greene County School Board voted to move the district to Mask Optional following Christmas Break.
Governor Cooper Highlights Expansion of COVID-19 Booster Eligibility and Encourages Vaccination for Safe Holiday Gatherings
Today, Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. provided an update on the state’s COVID-19 key metrics and trends.
Facial coverings optional effective immediately for LCPS
Beginning Tuesday, December 7th face coverings are optional for students and staff but required for visitors and anyone attending an indoor sporting event.
Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. discusses the Omicron Variant
On Wednesday, the first Omicron Variant was detected in the United States in California. South Africa was the first county to report the newest variant of the coronavirus. Congressman Greg Murphy, MD, released information about the variant in his “Medical Minute with Murphy”. He listed what was known, and unknown. Neuse News spoke with Dr. Murphy on Wednesday afternoon.
Lenoir County among those offering $25 prepaid Mastercard for first time vaccinations
From Saturday, Nov. 13, until Nov. 25, any adult who brings someone to a Family Vaccination Site for their first dose will receive a $25 prepaid Mastercard to offset the time and transportation costs of getting vaccinated.
Murphy on Vaccine Mandate as Violation of Patient/Doctor Relationship
This morning, Rep. Greg Murphy, M.D. (NC-03) joined dozens of his House Republican colleagues outside the U.S. Capitol for a press conference opposing President Biden’s decision to mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for businesses with over 100 employees.
Greene County Department of Public health will be offering evening appointments for individuals 18 years of age and older, wanting to receive the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.
Governor Cooper encourages faith leaders to help strengthen community vaccination efforts
Faith leaders from all religious backgrounds can be trusted figures in their communities. Their word can go a long way in encouraging people to talk with doctors and understand that these vaccines are safe and effective. The NC DHHS Healthier Together team is working with houses of worship to sponsor their own vaccine clinics.
Health Department offering additional Moderna/Pfizer dose
The Lenoir County Health Department is currently providing an additional dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine to those who are moderately to severely immunocompromised; for example, people who have had an organ transplant or who are undergoing treatment for cancer.
Governor Cooper signs executive order expanding access to Monoclonal Antibody Treatment for COVID-19
Governor Roy Cooper signed an Executive Order to make it easier for North Carolinians to access treatment for COVID-19. The Executive Order authorizes and directs State Health Director, Dr. Betsey Tilson, to issue a statewide standing order to expand access to monoclonal antibody treatment, which if taken early can decrease the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death. The Order will be in effect through November 30, 2021.
Local county managers respond to surrounding counties COVID mandates
Pitt County commissioners voted to require employees to get the vaccine or consent to weekly testing for COVID-19. Wake County is offering incentives to their vaccinated employees and unvaccinated employees will be tested weekly. We reached out to the county managers of Greene, Jones, and Lenoir Counties to ascertain whether they will require employee vaccininations or not.
As adult ICU patients hit record highs for the pandemic, new report shows unvaccinated people are more than 15 times more likely to die from COVID-19 compared to vaccinated people
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services yesterday released new data in the weekly respiratory surveillance report showing that unvaccinated people were 15.4 times, or 1,540 percent, more likely to die from COVID-19 during the four-week period ending Aug. 21, 2021. This comes as the state hit a pandemic high on Aug. 26 with 912 adults in the ICU with COVID-19. The number of COVID-19 patients on ventilators also reached a record high at 574.
Greene County Department of Public Health recommendation for the additional dose and booster
Greene County Department of Public Health would like to clarify the difference between the additional dose recommendation and the booster recommendation. Though both refer to a 3rd dose, there is a distinction.
Where Kinston's Mayoral candidates stand on vaccine mandates
Vaccine mandates have made headlines as cities and municipalities strive to combat the recent spike in COVID-19 cases. In recent news, as reported by WITN, City of Kinston Mayor Dontario Hardy gave his thoughts on if he would consider a vaccine mandate if COVID-19 cases continued rising. The other candidates, Mayor Pro Tem Felicia Solomon, Zac Holcomb, and Jeff Warren have also weighed in on vaccine mandates.
Governor Roy Cooper tours the Neuse Regional Library
Governor Roy Cooper visited the Neuse Regional Library to explore bridging the digital divide and bringing Internet access to more people through its programs. In addition to the Neuse Regional Library, Cooper also visited the Lenoir County Health Department to encourage vaccine use.
Governor Cooper visits Lenoir County Health Department to encourage more North Carolinians to get their lifesaving vaccine
Today, Governor Roy Cooper visited a vaccine clinic at the Lenoir County Health Department to encourage more North Carolinians get their COVID-19 shot.
Gov. Cooper, state health leaders urge some schools to revisit decisions and fully implement health protections
Today, Governor Roy Cooper, NC DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen and State Health Director Dr. Betsey Tilson sent a letter to school boards that have failed to adopt the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit urging them to protect their students and staff in the new school year.
COVID-19 hospitalizations hitting all-time highs; health officials urge vaccination
North Carolina experienced the largest single day jump in hospital ICU admissions since the beginning of the pandemic. Weekly COVID-19 hospitalizations among people ages 20-49 are at an all-time high.
Three week mask mandate for Lenoir County Public Schools
The Lenoir County School Board met on Monday, August 9, 2021. One of the items on the agenda up for discussion was the COVID-19 Response Plan for Opening the 2021-22 School Year. The discussion of mask-wearing was what most in attendance wanted to discuss. Board member W.D. Anderson made a motion that mask-wearing be required for all Lenoir County Public Schools for the first three weeks. The vote to approve the three-week mask mandate was five for the motion and two against, with Billy Davis and Keith King dissenting.