GREENSBORO, N.C. — Get the latest updates on COVID-19 and vaccine supply from Gov. Roy Cooper and the state task force, health departments, universities, school districts, and more in this story. We'll put North Carolina's COVID-19 numbers in context for you, and explain what it could mean for the reopening process. Click here to find your spot to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
RELATED: COVID-19 Vaccine: Health departments, hospitals, pharmacies scheduling appointments in the Triad
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021
12:30 p.m. -- State leaders announced Friday a federally-funded mass vaccination site is coming to Greensboro. The mega-site will operate at Four Seasons Town Centre in the old Dillard's. Drive-thru vaccinations will also be available. The site has a goal of 3,000 vaccinations a day and will operate 24/7 for eight weeks.
12 p.m. -- COVID-19 data update
Hospitalizations statewide decreased again to the fewest since Nov. 15. Guilford County reported five more deaths in the past day. Cone Health hospitalizations dipped to 89 from 91 the previous day.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS FRIDAY:
- Newly-confirmed cases: 2,924
- Percent positive: 4.7%
- Total cases: 655,905
- Current hospitalizations: 1,465
- Total deaths: 11,186
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021
12 p.m. -- NCDHHS releases latest COVID-19 data
The state's percent positive dipped below 5% on Thursday, a threshold that state health officials say North Carolina needs to meet to ease more restrictions. If the percent positive remains steady under 5% for the next two weeks, it could mean more loosened restrictions.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS THURSDAY:
- Newly-confirmed cases: 3,351
- Percent positive: 4.5%
- Total cases: 852,981
- Current hospitalizations: 1,498
- Total deaths: 11,137
10 a.m. -- Dr. Christopher Ohl, infectious disease expert with Wake Forest Baptist Health, will give an update on COVID-19 trends and vaccinations in the Triad. Watch live in this story.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021
2 p.m. -- Gov. Cooper announced North Carolina will ease restrictions for bars, movie theaters, indoor and outdoor venues, and other businesses starting Friday.
12 p.m. -- NCDHHS releases latest COVID-19 numbers
Cone Health has the fewest COVID-19 patients in nearly four months (78).
Newly-confirmed cases more than doubled in a day (3,346). The percent positive stayed around 6%.
Gov. Cooper will speak at 2 p.m. today and could ease restrictions, including stadium capacity as high school football starts this week.
Statewide Data
- Newly-confirmed cases: 3,346
- Percent positive: 6.0%
- Total cases: 849,630
- Current hospitalizations: 1,530 (lowest since 11/17)
- Total deaths: 11,074
North Carolina teachers become eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations today.
About 4,600 Guilford County Schools staff members are signed up for vaccinations Thursday, Friday and Saturday. All of them must teach in Guilford County to be eligible but they do not have to live in Guilford County to get their shots.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2021
12:30 p.m. -- NCDHHS releases latest COVID-19 data
The statewide recovery report shows 94% of total cases are presumed recoveries, compared to 92% in Guilford County.
Cone Health is treating 88 COVID patients as of midnight, a slight increase from Monday (83).
The state task force will have a COVID briefing on Wednesday.
STATEWIDE DATA TUESDAY
- Newly-confirmed cases: 1,514 (The last time we reached a number this low was on Oct. 6 with 1,504 new cases.)
- Percent positive: 6.2%
- Total cases: 846,284
- Current hospitalizations: 1,563 (Only a slight dip from 1,567 hospitalizations the previous day)
- Total deaths: 10,965
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2021
9:00 p.m. - Governor Roy Cooper has ordered all United States and North Carolina flags at state facilities to be lowered to half-staff beginning today, Monday, Feb. 22 until sunset on Feb. 26 in remembrance of those who passed away from the coronavirus.
More than 500,000 Americans including nearly 11,000 North Carolinians have lost their lives due to COVID-19. As a tribute to these many individuals and their families, all North Carolinians are encouraged to join in the remembrance by lowering their flags.
"As we reflect on the lives lost to this cruel virus, let's remind ourselves this is far more than a grim statistic. Each of these 500,000 deaths represents an American whose communities are in mourning and I encourage North Carolinians to honor them with a moment of silence," Roy Cooper said.
12 p.m. -- Cone Health reported its lowest COVID-19 patient count since Nov. 6. There were no new COVID-19 deaths in Guilford County in the last day. Statewide hospitalizations also fell for another consecutive day. The next state task force briefing will be on Wednesday.
STATEWIDE NUMBERS:
- Newly-confirmed cases: 2,133
- Percent positive: 6.2%
- Total cases (including recoveries): 844,770
- Hospitalizations: 1,567
- Total deaths: 10,934
8:30 a.m. -- Alamance County will open more COVID-19 vaccine appointments this morning to be scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 23. The phone line for the health department will open at 8:30 a.m. The number to call is 336-290-0650. The appointments are for anyone in groups 1 or 2 - frontline healthcare workers or adults 65 and older.
FACTS NOT FEAR
Remember facts, not fear when talking about the coronavirus. You should take the safety measures recommended by health leaders to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Abide by the three W's. That means wearing a mask, washing your hands, and waiting at least six feet from another person. You also want to avoid touching your face and make sure to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw it away.
WHERE YOU GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS IS IMPORTANT
It is important to make sure the information you are getting about the coronavirus is coming directly from reliable sources like the CDC and NCDHHS. Be careful not to spread misinformation about coronavirus on social media.
For more information visit the CDC OR NCDHHS website.
NC CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE
The state also has a special hotline set up where you can call 866-462-3821 for more information on the coronavirus. You can also submit questions online at ncpoisoncontrol.org or select chat to talk with someone about the virus.
Stay connected to local, national, and breaking news: Download the WFMY News 2 app.
►Text the word APP to 336-379-5775
