Coronavirus updates for Aug. 4: Here’s what to know in North Carolina this week

We’re tracking information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back every Thursday for updates.

Over 31,000 new COVID cases added

At least 31,848 new coronavirus cases were reported in North Carolina last week, down from 33,159 the week before, according to preliminary data from state health officials.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services also reported 1,350 new weekly COVID-19 hospital patient admissions, up from 1,289 the previous week, according to data through July 30, the most recent metrics available. The daily average of adult coronavirus patients in intensive care was 151, an increase from 125 the week before.

The figures were released Wednesday, Aug. 3, more than four months after health officials started adjusting information on their coronavirus dashboard and publishing weekly COVID-19 data. The data had previously been released almost every day.

Roughly 77% of adults in North Carolina have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and about 73% are fully vaccinated. Of the state’s total population, about 62% are fully vaccinated and about 67% have received at least one dose. State officials round vaccination metrics to the nearest whole number.

More than 3.8 million “additional/booster” doses have been administered in North Carolina as of Aug. 3, the health department said. Health officials have urged those who are eligible to get boosted, as data shows it offers increased protection against the omicron coronavirus variant.

Across the state, virtually all new COVID-19 cases were attributed to the omicron variant’s “lineages” in the two weeks leading up to July 23, the latest time period for which data is available.

Wake schools to end voluntary testing but will keep recommending masks

The Wake County school district is stopping a program that allowed students and workers to get COVID-19 tests on a volunteer basis.

While the tests had been offered on campuses each week, people who want to take them will now receive at-home tests.

Also in the Triangle-area district, a face mask recommendation will continue ahead of Aug. 29, the start date for many of the district’s nearly 160,000 students. Masks haven’t been required in schools since March, The News & Observer reported.

Some Charlotte businesses skip making mask rules, others planning for them

As coronavirus continues to spread in the Charlotte area, businesses have differed in their approaches to face mask rules.

While some places said they plan to require that their workers wear face coverings, others won’t implement mask rules unless the government reinstates a mandate.

“If something comes down from the government — federal, state or local — then we will certainly abide by that,” said Greg McCraw of the Neighborhood Theatre music venue, where all workers are vaccinated against COVID-19.

As of Aug. 2, Mecklenburg County was seeing a rise in cases tied to a branch of the omicron coronavirus variant. The subvariant BA.5 is believed to be more easily transmissible when compared to other omicron types, McClatchy News reported.

Masks now recommended indoors in most NC counties

Most North Carolina counties are now at the highest level for COVID-19, meaning people living in them are urged to wear face masks.

Of the 100 counties in the state, 62 are labeled as being high risk. That’s up from about 50 last week, The News & Observer reported.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chooses the highest-risk counties after considering coronavirus case and hospitalization metrics. The counties at the highest risk are marked in an orange color on the CDC’s map.

As of July 29, those counties included several in the Triangle, such as Chatham, Durham, Harnett and Orange.

People living in those counties who are at risk of getting seriously sick may want to avoid indoor activities that aren’t essential. They should also consider future steps if they test positive, according to the N&O.

Wake ends drive-thru COVID tests

Wake County, home to Raleigh, has ended its drive-thru COVID-19 testing program.

The testing sites officially closed on July 29, more than a month after officials announced they would scale back testing efforts at county-run sites.

Wake County Public Health has given more than 1 million tests at no cost since July 2020, according to spokesperson Leah Holdren.

“Before there was a vaccine, there was just testing, and it was a lifesaving tool for keeping people who were sick or exposed to the virus from spreading it to their loved ones and our vulnerable populations,” Holdren said.

The change came after Wake spent $131 million on tests and was also seeing lower demand.

Those seeking tests can pick up at-home kits in person or order them through the mail. Appointments and drive-thru services are available at other places in the area, The News & Observer reported.

Read more details about the current Wake County testing options here.

NC woman accused of selling fake COVID drug

A North Carolina woman accused of selling a fake COVID-19 drug has entered a guilty plea.

Diana Daffin of Charlotte sent the product HAMPL to an undercover agent and sold it to customers after receiving a warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier in the pandemic, according to federal prosecutors.

Officials said the drug claimed to provide “a stronger immunity against CV” and “immunity for humans,” which wasn’t true.

Daffin, who owned Savvy Holistic Health, didn’t immediately respond to The Charlotte Observer’s phone message on July 27. Her sentencing is scheduled for November.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned people to be “suspicious of products that claim to treat a wide range of diseases” or seem “too good to be true.” Federal officials said “teas, essential oils, tinctures and colloidal silver” were among the fake products that made it onto their radar during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those who test positive for COVID-19 are urged to get prescriptions for the medicines they need, the Observer reported.

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