Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Jan. 22

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

More than 35,000 cases added

At least 2,212,752 coronavirus cases have been reported in North Carolina, and at least 20,193 people have died since March 2020, according to state health officials.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday, Jan. 21, reported 35,395 new COVID-19 cases, up from 29,580 the day before.

At least 4,867 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 on Jan. 21, a daily record and up from 4,741 the day before. Eighty-five coronavirus-related deaths were also added.

As of Jan. 19, the latest date with available information, 34.3% of coronavirus tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower is the target rate to slow the spread of the virus.

Roughly 74% of adults in North Carolina have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and about 70% have been fully vaccinated. Of the state’s total population, about 60% are fully vaccinated and 64% have received at least one dose. State officials round vaccination numbers to the nearest whole number.

More than 2.8 million ”additional/booster” doses have been administered in North Carolina as of Jan. 21, the health department said. Health officials have urged those who are eligible to get boosted, as data suggests it offers increased protection against the omicron coronavirus variant.

About 99% of all new COVID-19 cases in the Southeast were attributed to the omicron variant as of Jan. 15, the latest date for which data is available, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

How to spot fake COVID test websites

Some websites claiming to allow users to request COVID-19 tests are actually fake, a consumer group said.

The Better Business Bureau is urging people to watch for scammers who may target your personal information.

To spot fake sites, look out for misspellings in web addresses and be cautious of sites that you access from social media ads or unsolicited messages. You shouldn’t be asked to pay or give out your Social Security number, The Charlotte Observer reported.

Information about getting test kits through the federal government is available at covidtests.gov.

Gov. Cooper seeks federal help as COVID overwhelms hospitals

Gov. Roy Cooper requested federal help as North Carolina hospitals face a spike in coronavirus patients, officials said.

On Jan. 21, Cooper’s office was working with Atrium Health to seek additional nurses and other resources from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, The Charlotte Observer reported.

Atrium Health, the largest hospital system in the Charlotte area, is at more than 95% capacity and has reassigned workers from some departments, the state said.

Across the state, most coronavirus patients in ICUs aren’t vaccinated against COVID-19. Health officials have urged people to get their shots and wear face masks as the omicron coronavirus variant spreads.

COVID positivity rate soars in N.C. mountain county

The COVID-19 positive-test rate has soared above 20% in Haywood County in the N.C. mountains, WLOS reported.

More than 70% of new cases this week were in unvaccinated people, health officials told the station, and nearly everyone hospitalized due to COVID was unvaccinated.

Haywood joins 10 other western N.C. counties with positive rates “well above 20%,” the station reported.

Hospital team honored for saving COVID patients’ lives

The North Carolina Healthcare Association recently honored a team at Mission Hospital in Asheville for saving the lives of the sickest COVID-19 patients, WLOS reported.

Patients were put on an ECMO, an artificial lung-type machine, according to the station.

The patients survived despite entering the hospital with a 5% survival rate because of their conditions, WLOS reported.

New testing service takes over at Greensboro Coliseum COVID mass testing site

Federally contracted eTrueNorth will replace Mako Medical as the COVID-19 testing provider at the Greensboro Coliseum mass testing site, state health officials said Friday.

Mako Medical, which has provided the testing under state contract, will shift to provide more testing at other N.C. sites, officials said.

The state requested the federal support last month, according to a state Department of Health and Human Services news release.

“We are grateful to receive this testing support from our Federal partners at a time when medical resources off all types are in extreme demand nationwide,” NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley said in the release.

Snow, bitter temps limit COVID outdoor testing sites

Snow and freezing temperatures limited the number of COVID-19 outdoor testing sites in Charlotte on Saturday.

StarMed Healthcare planned to open only four of its Mecklenburg County outdoor testing locations, each with a delayed start time of 11 a.m. and early closing at 4 p.m.

The sites are at 4001 Tuckaseegee Road; 6230 South Blvd., the CATS Archdale Park & Ride site; 9508 Northeast Court in Matthews; 5344 Central Ave., at the former Eastland Mall.

StarMed Healthcare’s testing lab will be stay open Saturday, as will its patient call center, 704-941-6000.

Updates: https://starmed.care.

Understaffed NC prisons facing COVID-related absences

North Carolina prisons are seeing a rise in unfilled correctional officer jobs, leaving some relatives concerned about safety.

About 17% were vacant in January 2021, compared to nearly 33% in December. In addition to unfilled jobs, about 800 prison workers have been off the job due to COVID-19, according to state prisons commissioner Todd Ishee.

“Our staff are exhausted,” Ishee told The Charlotte Observer. “We’re stretched very thin.”

Roughly 2,500 prison workers left their positions last year as the coronavirus pandemic and the prospect of safer jobs have led to openings across the nation.