North Carolina's New COVID-19 Cases Jump By Nearly 5,000

CHARLOTTE, NC — North Carolina's tally of COVID-19 cases grew by 4,770 new cases since Sunday, increasing the state's total to 441,365 known cases, according to state public health officials. The news comes as the first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine arrived in the state.

At least 32 new deaths were reported Monday, increasing the state's death toll to 5,855. At least 103 state residents lost their lives to the virus since Friday, according to data released by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

As of Dec. 14, about 11.6 percent of tests conducted in the state were positive, up from 10.4 reported Friday.

Hospitalizations also jumped to 2,553 patients, at least 33 more than reported Sunday. According to DHHS data, 1,963 staffed intensive care unit beds — or about 81 percent of the supply reported in North Carolina — and about 74 percent of the state's 20,817 staffed inpatient hospital beds were in use as of Monday.

As of Monday, there were 47 COVID-19 clusters reported in K-12 schools in North Carolina. DHHS defines a cluster as five or more lab-confirmed cases that are linked. At least 774 positive COVID-19 cases were associated with K-12 school clusters, DHHS said.

SEE ALSO: NC's Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution Plan: What You Need To Know

At-risk healthcare workers in North Carolina are a step closer to getting additional protection from COVID-19. The first doses of COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in the state, Gov. Roy Cooper announced Monday.

"The first doses of COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in North Carolina," Cooper said. "It’s a limited supply for now, but this is a remarkable achievement for science and health. We all need to keep wearing a mask and acting responsibly while we get as many people vaccinated as fast as we can."

The initial shipment of 85,800 doses of the Pfizer-manufactured vaccine, which cleared federal hurdles for use over the weekend, was to be initially distributed to 11 North Carolina hospitals with ultra-cold storage needed for storage.

Here's how North Carolina's vaccination plan will prioritize those most at risk:

• Initial supplies of vaccine will go to healthcare workers at high risk for exposure, including those directly caring for or cleaning areas used by COVID-19 patients
• Future vaccine shipments will then be distributed to additional hospitals and health departments for high-risk healthcare workers.
• Hospitals will stagger distributing vaccines to staff to help avoid potential staffing challenges should someone have an adverse reaction to the vaccine.
• The next round of vaccinations in North Carolina will be earmarked for those living and working in long term care facilities, such as nursing homes. These vaccinations will be administered by the federal government through a partnership with Walgreens and CVS.
• The long term care group is expected to begin receiving vaccines once the Moderna vaccine is federally authorized.
• Vaccinations of top priority health care workers and long term care residents is expected to continue through December and into January.
• The next prioritized group will be adults with two or more chronic conditions who are more likely to have severe illness from the virus, and others who are at risk, such as frontline workers. Those workers include police, teachers and child care workers.
• As more vaccine shipments arrive in the state, they will then be made available to anyone who wants one, at clinics, pharmacies and community vaccination events. Widespread availability is expected around the spring.
• The vaccine will be free, with any fees paid for by insurance companies or the government.