covid-19
Atrium eases COVID visitor and masking restrictions
March 20. [Updated] Atrium Health is lifting visitor restrictions and modifying masking policies after a steady decrease in respiratory virus cases,. Beginning tomorrow, restrictions limiting visitors aged 12 and under will be removed at Charlotte-area Atrium facilities. Masking will be optional except for specific areas where higher levels of infection prevention are needed. These may […]
Another hospital chain restricts youthful visitors
Dec. 18. Novant Health has joined Atrium in visitor restrictions due to an increase in flu, COVID-19 and RSV cases. Starting Tuesday, Dec. 19 children under age 13 are asked not to visit patients to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. Visitor guidance from Novant: —Kids under 13, unless seeking care or other special circumstances, […]
COVID vaccines will soon be available
Sept. 13. Both the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have approved an updated COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna and Pfizer. Healthcare providers are preparing to distribute the newest vaccine which is designed to better protect patients against current COVID-19 variants circulating in our communities. Atrium and Novant officials say […]
Health experts spot uptick in COVID cases, a possible harbinger of fall/winter wave
Aug. 8. Atrium Health, like many hospitals around the region, is reporting a small increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. The CDDC says it could be the harbinger of a possible fall and winter wave, although it’s unlikely we’ll see the highs of previous winters. “The numbers are a slight uptick and a good reminder […]
Update: Newest COVID boosters are available locally
Sept. 9. | Updated Sept. 15. Novant Health is now administering the updated COVID-19 booster doses in its family medicine and pediatric clinics. Patients interested in the Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster can schedule an appointment through their primary care provider. This updated booster dose provides an immune response protective against COVID-19 the omicron variant. […]
NC scores second-place nationwide in COVID safety
Aug. 25. With two-thirds of the nation’s population fully vaccinated against COVID-19, a new study says North Carolina is the second-safest state in terms of COVID-19. WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across five key metrics—from community transmission to hospitalizations and deaths—to rank the states according to COVID safety. —North Carolina […]
County moves to highest COVID alert, while NC, Cornelius plan to rescind state of emergency
Aug. 1. Mecklenburg County has moved to the highest CDC COVID-19 Community Level: High/Orange. The change from medium to high reflects the ongoing increase in positive cases, which brings an increased burden on medical resources. Emergency department visits here are up 5 percent from the previous 2-week period; reported cases are up 10 percent. The […]
New COVID variant spreading, but not overwhelming hospitals
July 19. By Dave Yochum. As key COVID-19 metrics increase due to the BA.5 variant, medical experts are saying it is “incredibly contagious.” Dr. David Priest, Novant Health’s chief safety, quality and epidemiology officer, today said the new COVID wave is “running through the community,” but it has plateaued. “It’s not translating to really high […]
Study: NC 2nd-safest state during COVID-19 pandemic
June 28. North Carolina scored second place in a nationwide study of safest states during the COVID-19 epidemic conducted by WalletHub. WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across five key metrics: Community transmission, the rates of positive testing, hospitalizations and death, as well as the share of the eligible population getting […]
With COVID cases on the increase, Meck County suggests higher level of caution
June 6. Mecklenburg County moved from Low/GreenCOVID-19 Community Level to Medium/Yellow as of Friday last week based on hospital beds being used, hospital admissions and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in an area. The change from low to medium in the county reflects a “significant increase” in positive cases. Between May 13 and […]
