North Carolina’s COVID-19 numbers have declined and remain stable, and there’s further good news as the newly approved one shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine is heading to the state.
During Tuesday’s press briefing, Gov. Roy Cooper noted the progress and announced all of North Carolina’s frontline essential workers in Group 3 will be eligible to receive a COVID vaccine starting Wednesday, March 3rd.
Those frontline essential workers in Group 3 include:
- First responders and other emergency personnel (police, fire, rescue workers)
- People that work in manufacturing
- Food and agricultural workers
- Grocery store employees
- Clergy
N.C. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen says persons in Group 4 will be eligible to receive the COVID vaccine starting March 24th starting with those with a medical condition or others living in a congregate living facility.
Gov. Cooper reminded the state still does not have enough vaccine, and some may have to be patient before receiving their shot.
While COVID trends have improved, North Carolinians are reminded to avoid complacency: Keep wearing a face covering, wait six feet apart, and wash your hands regularly.
As of Tuesday, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reports there have been 863,409 total laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state since the pandemic began. 11,288 of those cases have resulted in death.