State officials are reporting the first case in North Carolina of a more contagious strain of the coronavirus that was first detected in the United Kingdom in December.

Officials said in a news release Saturday that the B.1.1.7 variant was identified in a sample from an adult in Mecklenburg County. No other details about the person were released.

As of Friday almost 200 cases of B.1.1.7 had been reported in 21 states.

Health officials have said that early data suggest that the variant may be more contagious than other variants of the virus, but that the current COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be effective against it.

“While expected, identification of this COVID-19 variant in North Carolina is concerning, especially at the same time as we are already seeing very high numbers of cases,” said state Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen.

North Carolina residents are subject to a government stay at home order requiring them to stay at home between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Businesses including restaurants, bars and most retail stores are required to close by 10 p.m., and all onsite alcohol consumption sales must end by 9 p.m.

 

Related Stories
‹
North Carolina COVID Trends Improve Despite Low Vaccinations
Written by BRYAN ANDERSON While spread of COVID-19 remains high, transmission of the virus has noticeably declined in North Carolina over the last two weeks, according to new health department data released Monday. The data from the state Department of Health and Human Services showed a nearly 25% drop in hospitalizations in the last 14 […]
North Carolina Requiring State Health Workers To Get Vaccine
Written by BRYAN ANDERSON North Carolina’s health department will require workers, volunteers and others at 14 state-run health care facilities to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by Sept. 30 unless they qualify for a medical or religious exemption, according to a memo. The Associated Press obtained a departmental FAQ about the vaccine mandate that says those […]
1 in 37 North Carolina Vaccine Recipients Live Out of State
When Ottis Grimes tried to call a hotline after the state opened up vaccines for seniors last month, he was met with an endless supply of music as he remained on hold. Frustrated with the appointment booking process, the retired banker who lives in Lake Wylie, South Carolina, but still goes to the doctor in […]
North Carolina Health Experts Issue Guidance for Safe Thanksgiving Gatherings
North Carolina health experts are concerned about coronavirus trends shifting further during the winter. Their health guidance for Thanksgiving may help.
North Carolina Health Officials Cite First Flu-related Death
Written by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS North Carolina is reporting the first flu-related death of the season as the state continues to deal with the impact of COVID-19, health officials said Tuesday. The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services said an adult in the western part of the state died due to complications of influenza […]
COVID Spread Plummeting in North Carolina, State Data Shows
Written by BRYAN ANDERSON The spread of COVID-19 has dropped substantially in recent weeks, according to data released Tuesday by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. For the first time since mid-July, the state reported two consecutive days of new daily cases below 1,500. Over the past two weeks, the rolling average […]
Medically At-Risk North Carolinians Can Get Third COVID Shot
Written by BRYAN ANDERSON North Carolina health officials said Monday that medically vulnerable residents with certain health conditions can get an additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine, though some have already had a third Pfizer or Moderna shot after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it last week. The FDA signed off on the additional dose after […]
COVID-19 Surging as North Carolina Set To Ease Restrictions
Written by BRYAN ANDERSON The number of North Carolinians in the hospital due to COVID-19 has doubled in the last two weeks, the 14-day rolling average of new daily cases has increased by nearly 200% and the share of tests coming back positive is at its highest level in more than five months. The latest […]
Audit: NC Medicaid Failed To Confirm Provider Qualifications
North Carolina’s Medicaid agency fell short on ensuring doctors and other medical providers met licensing and ownership qualifications to serve patients in the program, state auditors declared Thursday. The report from State Auditor Beth Wood’s office examined samples from among the 90,000 Medicaid providers in the state in 2019. The performance audit found that the Division of […]
North Carolina Moves To Limit Out-of-State Access To Vaccine
North Carolina is shifting its vaccine distribution guidance to dissuade people from traveling long distances to receive a COVID-19 shot in the state. Under updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention clarifying travel policies, North Carolina has enacted stricter vaccination policies to improve North Carolinians’ access to the vaccine. “To promote the […]
›