Local

As of Thursday afternoon, 10,226 North Carolinians have died from the virus. A sobering total along with 811,000 cases in less than a year. About 8.9 percent of those cases were reported in Mecklenburg County. North Carolina is the fifteenth state to report over 10,000 deaths.

Local

One person who strongly disagrees with Cooper's assessment of the state's current education model is Steve Oreskovic. The 25-year veteran middle school teacher, co-chair of the CMS Superintendent's Teacher Advisory Council and member of the CMS Metrics Committee joined WBT's Bo Thompson Morning Show to give his perspective on state officials pushing to reopen schools for in-person instruction. 

Health

As of Friday, North Carolina was in the bottom half for vaccine distribution in the U.S. at No. 25. The efforts are a bit worse in South Carolina, who was ranked 33rd overall. West Virginia and North Dakota have set the standard in the country with 85 percent of vaccines distributed. 

National

The healthcare product manufacturer said that in the U.S. and seven other countries the single-dose vaccine was shown to be 66% effective against moderate and severe cases of COVID-19, and up to 85% against patients with near-death symptoms. 

NEWSROOM

This weekend Atrium Health is hoping to administer over 16,000 vaccinations to people who are at least 65 years of age at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The speedway is the first of two mass vaccination sites, Bank of America Stadium will host a similar vaccination event in the near future.

NEWSROOM

Mecklenburg County Public Health will be opening additional Covid-19 vaccine appointments for the first 3 weeks of February based on anticipated vaccine supplies. Vaccines will still only be available to people in groups 1 and 2. Appointments will available for scheduling beginning Thursday January 21 at 8:30am.

NEWSROOM

North Carolina is now lowering the age of who can get the coronavirus vaccine. Governor Roy Cooper said Thursday that North Carolinians 65 and older will now be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine. 

NEWSROOM

A big plan to vaccinate one million people in Charlotte by July 4th. Atrium Health, Honeywell, Tepper Sports & Entertainment and the Charlotte Motor Speedway have entered into a partnership with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

NEWSROOM

As this week begins, Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Gibbie Harris says “Unfortunately our situation in Mecklenburg County is not improving“. “Our numbers continue to rise both in positivity rate, case rate, and deaths in our community. We’re also seeing high numbers in our hospital system.”

NEWSROOM

The Governor said getting the vaccines to the public was a "top priority right now." Phase 1B: Group 1 started in Charlotte on Wednesday. Anyone 75 years of age or older is eligible to be inoculated on an appointment basis.