April 21. The median of new COVID-19 cases over the past seven days (2,434) statewide is 15.25 percent ahead of the median of the past 31 days (2,112), based on data from Johns Hopkins University. Medians are calculated on business days, skipping Saturday and Sunday when the NC Dept. of Health does not report COVID-19 statistics.
Today’s NCDHHS report, due around noon, was updated as of 1:45 pm Wednesday.
According to Johns Hopkins, the United States is averaging around 67,000 new coronavirus infections daily, about 25 percent more than a month ago.
The new, more contagious B.1.1.7 strain is partly to blame as well as pandemic fatigue, a rise in infections among younger, often unvaccinated, individuals and loosened restrictions in general.
Then, too, those that have already received their vaccine are among those most likely to be vaccinated. By now, those that have not received their vaccine are among those more reluctant to be vaccinated.
Funding to increase vaccinations
Healthier Together, a public-private partnership between North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and NC Counts Coalition, will award $500,000 in grants for short-term vaccine equity initiatives through Aug. 31. Funds will go to organizations supporting NC communities that experience health inequities to ensure that individuals from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and other historically marginalized populations are able to access vaccines.
Grants will fund activities to conduct vaccine outreach and education efforts, help people schedule appointments and arrange transportation, coordinate local vaccine events at trusted and accessible locations, provide on-site interpretation services and help ensure people get to second dose appointments. The application period opens Tuesday, April 27 and ends Friday, May 14.
Community-based organizations can apply for grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000.
More information
There will be a webinar with the NC Counts Coalition on Monday, April 26, 2021, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/healthier-together-rfp-webinar-tickets-151389230263.
