PEDIATRICIANS ARE SHARING WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MISS SEE DHEC TODAY ANNOUNCED ONE ADDITIONAL CASE IN A CHILD UNDER AGE 10 IN THE UPSTATE THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL TO THREE CASES IN THE UPSTATE AND FIVE TOTAL CASES IN SOUTH CAROLINA, MISSISSIPPI OR MULTI-SYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME IN CHILDREN CAUSES DECREASED BLOOD FLOW TO VITAL ORGANS LIKE THE HEART KIDNEYS AND BRAIN DOCTORS AT PARKSIDE PEDIATRICS, WHICH HAS OFFICES AROUND THE UPSTATE SE. MISSY IS THOUGHT TO BE AN INFLAMMATORY REACTION. HAPPENS TWO TO FOUR WEEKS AFTER A COVID-19 INFECTION. MY MESSAGE TO PARENTS WHO MAY BE WORRIED ABOUT IN MY –. HE IS THAT IT’S EXTREMELY EXCEEDINGLY RARE, BUT IT CAN BE A SERIOUS CONDITION. AND SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS TO WATCH FOR. DR. RACHEL SIGN SAYS IF YOUR CHILD HAS A FEVER FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS THAT YOU SEE THERE ON YOUR SCREEN. THEY SHOULD BE EVALUATED AND IF YOUR CHILD IS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING HAS A BLUISH TINT TO THEIR LIPS OR FACE OR CANNOT BE WOKEN UP EASILY. YOU SHOULD CALL 911. DR. SIGN SAYS THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT YOUR CHILDREN FROM DEVELOPING THIS C IS TO TAKE STEPS TO AVOID GETTING THE CORONAVIRUS INCLUDING SOCIAL DISTANCING WEARING A MASK AND RE
South Carolina teen dies from COVID-19-related condition, MIS-C, that affects teens, children, DHEC says
The 17-year-old in the Upstate region died from MIS-C on Jan. 27.
Updated: 11:04 AM EST Jan 29, 2021
An Upstate teenager died this week from Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a condition associated with COVID-19, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).This is the first death in the state related to MIS-C reported to DHEC. The 17-year-old in the Upstate region died from MIS-C on Jan. 27, DHEC said. To protect the privacy of the child and the family, no other information will be disclosed.“It’s heartbreaking to have to report the death of such a young person. Our condolences go out to the family and to the many families that have suffered loss related to COVID-19,” said Dr. Linda Bell, State Epidemiologist.At least 42 cases of MIS-C have been reported among children in South Carolina. MIS-C is a rare health condition that occurs in some children and teenagers who have contracted COVID-19 or been in contact with someone infected with the virus. “With the number of cases of COVID-19 we’re seeing in our state, we must be prepared for the unfortunate possibility of more children being affected by MIS-C,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC Interim Public Health Director. “We continue to remind South Carolinians that COVID-19 is spreading in our communities at a high rate and it is vital that we all take the steps we know to protect us all from this deadly disease: wear a mask, stay 6 feet away from others, wash your hands frequently, and avoid crowds. And when your time comes, get vaccinated.”“These simple actions are how we protect ourselves and others, including our children,” Traxler said.On July 12, 2020, South Carolina announced its first confirmed cases of MIS-C associated with COVID-19. MIS-C is a reportable condition to DHEC. Symptoms of MIS-C include fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes and feeling tired. The vast majority of children with MIS-C recover, DHEC said. Important Information for Parents and CaregiversDHEC recommends parents and caregivers learn and watch for the signs for MIS-C in their children. Emergency warning signs of MIS-C include trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure that does not go away, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish lips or face and severe stomach pain. For more information about MIS-C, click here.
GREENVILLE, S.C. —
An Upstate teenager died this week from Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a condition associated with COVID-19, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
This is the first death in the state related to MIS-C reported to DHEC.
The 17-year-old in the Upstate region died from MIS-C on Jan. 27, DHEC said.
To protect the privacy of the child and the family, no other information will be disclosed.
“It’s heartbreaking to have to report the death of such a young person. Our condolences go out to the family and to the many families that have suffered loss related to COVID-19,” said Dr. Linda Bell, State Epidemiologist.
At least 42 cases of MIS-C have been reported among children in South Carolina. MIS-C is a rare health condition that occurs in some children and teenagers who have contracted COVID-19 or been in contact with someone infected with the virus.
“With the number of cases of COVID-19 we’re seeing in our state, we must be prepared for the unfortunate possibility of more children being affected by MIS-C,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC Interim Public Health Director. “We continue to remind South Carolinians that COVID-19 is spreading in our communities at a high rate and it is vital that we all take the steps we know to protect us all from this deadly disease: wear a mask, stay 6 feet away from others, wash your hands frequently, and avoid crowds. And when your time comes, get vaccinated.”
“These simple actions are how we protect ourselves and others, including our children,” Traxler said.
On July 12, 2020, South Carolina announced its first confirmed cases of MIS-C associated with COVID-19.
MIS-C is a reportable condition to DHEC. Symptoms of MIS-C include fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes and feeling tired. The vast majority of children with MIS-C recover, DHEC said.
Important Information for Parents and Caregivers DHEC recommends parents and caregivers learn and watch for the signs for MIS-C in their children. Emergency warning signs of MIS-C include trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure that does not go away, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish lips or face and severe stomach pain. For more information about MIS-C, click here.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Here are the latest updates about COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in North Carolina.
Have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine? Send them to us here
FRIDAY MORNING STORYLINES
State Republican lawmakers are working on legislation that would require some sort of in-person instruction from each school district. The news comes as reports of schools aren’t seeing high COVID-19 transmission rates.
Parents would still have the option for virtual learning under the legislation. Gov. Roy Cooper has said he wants students back in the classroom as soon as it’s safe, but the decision is ultimately up to each district. The Wake County School board will decide whether all remote learning will continue in a Feb. 9 meeting.
The legislation proposal is expected to be unveiled in the coming days.
New data from the CDC shows that 26 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered. Around 21 million have received at least one dose. In North Carolina, approximately 850,000 doses have been given out.
Cumberland County is hosting another COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Crown Expo. This clinic is for the first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine and the second dose of the Moderna vaccine.
THURSDAY
10 p.m. Cumberland County officials have put out an urgent call for more volunteers to help keep their weekly vaccine distribution centers operational.
The county made the official announcement through several social media posts, asking any community members to sign up. Gene Booth, the Cumberland County Emergency Management Director, tells Eyewitness News that this long-term operation requires more help. “The thing is this is going to be long-reaching, potentially a long term process and a long term event.”
Right now, the county is receiving help from the community emergency response team, Team Rubicon, and Civil Air Patrol. In all, that’s around 30 volunteers available on a daily basis, with the addition of 16 National Guard members to assist with vaccinations or other duties.
Wendy Zaborowski, an Army veteran and Sandhills resident, is a long-time volunteer at Team Rubicon. The disaster response group sends veterans and other professionals to provide relief and assistance.
“I’m 50 years old, and I am service-oriented. I was a police officer for a number of years; I retired from the military, so service is almost in my blood,” Zaborowski said. Zaborowski has been helping Cumberland County operate its vaccination site at the Crown Complex for the last three weeks saying, “our main purpose is to try and make sure that they can continue on through the process so it doesn’t waste their time and it spares a spot for somebody else that needs to get vaccinated.”
The county’s emergency management is also utilizing volunteer nurses from nearby schools, according to Booth. He says they’ve recruited them from “Fayetteville Technical Community College, Fayetteville State, Methodist University, and recently, we also have Campbell University students.”
Since the county posted the need on social media, Booth says they’ve received 80 applications. If you would like to sign up, you can click this link for the application process.
7:31 p.m. The Durham County Department of Public Health will temporarily close its vaccine appointment scheduling line and will not add new vaccination dates to its online booking site effective immediately.
This is because of limited COVID-19 vaccine supply expected to arrive from the NC Department of Health and Human Services to the Durham health department. This will affect scheduling for DCoDPH and Southern High School vaccination sites.
No currently scheduled vaccine appointments will be canceled or postponed, though some appointments beginning February 1 will be moved from the Health Department location to the Southern High School location.
People whose appointments must be moved will be contacted by phone or email.
“We are very thankful that we do not have to cancel any currently standing appointments, but as Secretary Cohen explained to the public in her news conference earlier this week, the unfortunate reality is that demand is far outpacing supply,” said Health Director Rod Jenkins. “Durham County has a baseline allocation of 600 first doses for the next three weeks, and we are uncertain when our allocation will increase. It is best to halt scheduling until we are confident we will be able to fulfill additional appointments.
“We hope that by the end of February we will be able to reopen our scheduling process and see increased supply, but that is uncertain at this time. We will continue to provide more information as it is received,” Jenkins added.
People in vaccination phases 1 and 2 may still sign up for the COVID-19 Vaccine Waitlist. The list is also available in Spanish. Those who fill out the form will receive a call if vaccine doses become available because of appointment cancellations or no-shows.
4:41 p.m. The Moore County Health Department has been notified of the deaths of 24 residents whose deaths were determined to be related to COVID-19 infection. The deaths date to December 11.
All 24 residents were 65 or older. All but six were 75 or older.
A total of 133 deaths have now been attributed to COVID-19 in Moore County since March. Moore County’s total for COVID-19 deaths linked to outbreaks in long-term care facilities stands at 70. Moore County’s 63 other COVID-19 deaths have been linked to community spread.
There have been 6,924 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Moore County.
3:56 p.m. Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead has asked all employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I have informed all employees representing the Sheriff’s Office to receive the COVID-19 vaccine,” Birkhead said. “This includes employees working in the Durham County Detention Center. My office is working with the Durham County Department of Public Health and our medical provider to make the vaccine available to our detainees housed there as soon as possible.”
In a release, Birkhead said the sheriff’s office has been affected by COVID-19 but it continues to serve the community.
“The very nature of our work requires continual human contact and interaction – be it inside the Detention Facility, at the Durham County Justice Center, or when our deputies travel throughout the County responding to calls for service,” Birkhead said. “Throughout the duration of the pandemic that started 325 days ago, I have received input from my command staff while consulting with medical and health professionals across our region, state and nation. As the leader of the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, I am responsible to follow the science and the resulting data.
“Since the time of the internal announcement, numbers thus far show that more than half of the agency has received the first dose and are scheduled to receive the second dose throughout the month of February.,” Birkhead added. “We do not have the final numbers or exact percentages right now. We are still coordinating with DCoDPH to ensure all employees be vaccinated. We want all DCSO employees to complete this process as soon as possible, but it is dependent upon the availability of the vaccine and scheduling appointments.”
3:12 p.m. The Halifax County Health Department reports 45 new cases for a total of 4,157 positive COVID 19 cases. The death toll remains at 80.
2:50 p.m. Gov. Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen visited the Piedmont Health SeniorCare center in Pittsboro on Thursday to see patients in the Chatham County community receive the vaccine.
“From the beginning, we have focused on distributing vaccines quickly and equitably,” Cooper said. “The vaccine is still in short supply, but we are working to ensure that all North Carolinians have a spot to get their shot.”
The state is encouraging hospitals and health departments to partner with trusted community organizations who can host vaccination events at churches, community centers and other places that will be accessible to all North Carolinians.
“Community health centers are the lifeline to health care for thousands of rural and underserved communities. They’ve been frontline partners in providing testing throughout the pandemic and are an important part of the state’s strategy to ensure marginalized residents have access to COVID-19 vaccines,” Cohen said.
2:04 p.m.
State Treasurer Dale Folwell and the State Health Plan are calling for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to provide vaccines and allow primary care physicians, pediatricians and all pharmacies to administer the shots. North Carolina has come under fire for its slow pace in administering the allotted vaccines to residents and Folwell hopes to change that.
“For almost a year we’ve known that there are regional and cultural differences in attitude towards vaccines, especially new ones,” Folwell said. “We’ve always known that ground zero is elderly facilities and prisons. The administration of the rollout has not reflected the standards that North Carolinians should expect.”
The NCDHHS plan is to vaccinate health care workers in hospitals first, those 75 and older next and expanded that to include those 65 and older. Folwell contended that expansion happened even though the 75-year-old population has not been completely vaccinated. He said this has caused unnecessary anxiety among the most vulnerable. NCDHHS has been slow to actually administer the shots because of its decision to allow only hospitals and health departments to get and administer the vaccines, Folwell observed.
“We need to move the vaccines out of the expensive hospital environment. In 62 years, I’ve never gone to a hospital to get a vaccine,” Folwell said. “For more than 100 years, citizens have entrusted primary care physicians, pediatricians and pharmacies to administer vaccines. People are dying; poverty and illiteracy are worsening. The State Health Plan and the Clear Pricing Project Network stand ready to help get the vaccines out to the public.
“We have tens of thousands of independent physicians and other medical providers who are ready to give these vaccines today,” Folwell added. “We need to be getting the doses to the people who want the vaccines using primary care doctors, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists – anybody with medical expertise. If all fails, solicit the advice of the teenagers who run Chick-Fil-A. They know how to distribute product!”
1 p.m. North Carolina has surpassed 9,000 COVID-19 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
131 more deaths were reported on Thursday.
The latest numbers from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services showed 6,490 new cases in the state.
After days of lower testing numbers, more than 60,000 were completed in the last 24 hours.
3,238 people are currently hospitalized in the state with COVID-19. Dr. Mandy Cohen on Wednesday noted that the hospitalizations have been declining, but they are still higher than they should be.
With the higher number of tests recorded on Thursday, the percent positive in the state dropped to 7.9 percent.
12:19 p.m. Sampson County reports 27 new cases for a total of 6,201 positive test results. The county death count stands at 78.
11:45 a.m. South Carolina officials have detected two cases of COVID-19 that first emerged recently in South Africa and are the first of its kind in the United States.
The state’s Public Health Laboratory tested samples on Jan. 25 and Jan. 27, each identifying a case of the variant. On Wednesday, CDC officials alerted the state to a South Carolina sample that was tested at LabCorp and determined to be the B.1.351 variant originally identified in South Africa.
There is no known travel history and no connection between the two cases. Both cases were found in adults in different parts of the state.
“The arrival of the SARS-CoV-2 variant in our state is an important reminder to all South Carolinians that the fight against this deadly virus is far from over,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC Interim Public Health Director. “While more COVID-19 vaccines are on the way, supplies are still limited. Every one of us must recommit to the fight by recognizing that we are all on the front lines now. We are all in this together.”
THURSDAY MORNING STORYLINES
A World Health Organization team has emerged from quarantine in the Chinese city of Wuhan to start field work in a fact-finding mission on the origins of the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic. They were required to complete a 14-day quarantine after arriving in China.
The mission has become politically charged, as China seeks to avoid blame for alleged missteps in its early response to the outbreak. A major question is where the Chinese side will allow the researchers to go and whom they will be able to talk to.
There have been more than 100,971,000 global cases of COVID-19 according to Johns Hopkins University. The U.S. has experienced the most deaths with 429,214 as of 7 a.m.
WEDNESDAY
5:14 p.m. The Town of Carrboro wants residents to provide comment on a draft plan for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and other disruptions. The comment period ends Friday, Jan. 29.
The draft Orange County Long-Term Recovery and Transformation Plan is available here.
The public comment form is available here.
5:01 p.m. In alignment with the state of North Carolina’s January 27 extension of the Modified Stay at Home Order, the Town of Morrisville is continuing additional safety precautions and changes to its daily operations, through at least February 28.
The following changes to Town of Morrisville operations will be in place through February 28: Town of Morrisville offices will be closed to the public; Town Council meetings (and the February 11 Planning & Zoning Board meeting) will be virtual.
The Morrisville Aquatics & Fitness Center and Cedar Fork Community Center will be closed until at least February 12. No outdoor classes will be conducted, but virtual programming will be available (parks, greenways, tennis courts and the Healthy Food Hub will remain open).
“While the Town of Morrisville continues to have relatively low COVID-19 infection rates, it’s not time to ease all restrictions and let our guard down just yet,” said Morrisville Mayor TJ Cawley. “The best way to protect yourself and others is to stay vigilant in adherence of the three Ws- wearing a face covering, waiting six feet apart (avoiding close contact) and washing your hands often.”
Town staff will continue to work mostly remotely, with a limited number of employees in Town buildings.
4:38 p.m. The Halifax County Health Department reports 34 new cases for a total of 4,112 total positive COVID 19 cases. Six additional deaths were reported, bringing the county’s total to 80 — 1.95% of cases.
Beginning Wednesday, a provider from the COVID-19 team will be reaching out to eligible candidates for the second dose and will set up an individual appointment.
Halifax County has used all available first-dose vaccines this week and will schedule vaccines for next week after they know what their allocation of vaccine will be.
Halifax Community College has requested that no pets be allowed on the campus while visiting for vaccination purposes.
Please wait two weeks from last vaccination of any kind before receiving the COVID 19 vaccine.
2:30 p.m. “We are encouraged to see that our COVID numbers have stabilized in recent days, which is good,” Gov. Roy Cooper said at a news conference on Wednesday. “But the reality is that they are still high, and that too many people are still falling seriously ill and dying. The virus is still raging through our communities.”
He also addressed the vaccine shortage in the country.
“I know this is a maddening and frustrating time for many of you,” he said. “Hundreds of thousands of you have had success in getting vaccinated, but many more of you haven’t been able to get appointments or have been put on waiting lists.”
Cooper said things will get better as providers in North Carolina receive more from the federal government.
In the meantime, he said, it’s important to keep practicing the 3 Ws.
As far as the COVID-19 metrics go in the state, Health Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said cases are still too high but have been decreasing since a peak on January 10.
The earliest detection mechanism of visits to the ER are decreasing but above levels early in pandemic, she said.
Hospitalizations have also decreased but are still well above where we need to be.
“The overall takeaway is that we are past the spike from the winter holidays but we are still experiencing worrisome levels of virus,” she said.
2:20 p.m. Gov. Roy Cooper is extending the current modified Stay-At-Home order until Feb. 28, he announced on Wednesday, and plans to keep the eviction moratorium and statewide order allowing to-go mixed drinks sales in place through March.
Read more about that here.
1:19 p.m. The Sampson County Health Department is reporting 42 new cases for a total of 6,174 positive COVID-19 cases.
The county death toll from COVID-19 remains at 78.
The health department has scheduled a drive-thru vaccination clinic for February 10. The morning portion of the clinic is specifically reserved for second doses for those persons who received vaccines at the January 13 drive thru event held for those 75 and older. The event will be at the Sampson County Expo Center at 414 Warsaw Road in Clinton.
Last names begin with A-H – arrive at 8 a.m.; last names begin with I-P – arrive at 9 a.m.; last names begin with Q-Z – arrive at 10 a.m.
Please bring the vaccination card you were provided when you received your first dose.
If vaccine supply allows, the afternoon (1 p.m. to 4 p.m.) will be open for eligible persons (healthcare workers and those 65 and older who have not had any vaccine with 14 days of the event.
If you want to come to the drive-thru event, but do not have transportation, please call Sampson Area Transportation at (910) 2990127. The ride is free but limited to the vaccine event location and return trip. 11:40 a.m. White House Coronavirus Coordinator Jeff Zients is saying in the Biden administration’s first formal briefing on the pandemic that officials will always hew to the science and level with the public.
Rochelle Walensky, the new head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says her agency’s latest forecast indicates the U.S. will record between 479,000 to 514,000 deaths by Feb. 20.
Zients says the federal Department of Health and Human Services is acting Wednesday to make more professionals available to administer vaccinations. The government will authorize nurses and doctors who have retired to administer vaccines, and professionals licensed in one state will be able to administer shots in other states. Such measures are fairly standard in health emergencies.
The U.S. leads the world with 25.4 million confirmed cases and more than 425,000 deaths.
11:30 a.m. North Carolina health officials are reporting 5,587 more COVID-19 cases, bringing the total since March to 733,010.
With 97 percent of North Carolina hospitals reporting, 3,305 people are being hospitalized with COVID-19. That is down 63 from Tuesday. There are 398 confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted in the past 24 hours.
NCDHHS said there are 398 empty ICU beds and 4,753 empty inpatient beds.
In North Carolina, 8,915 people have died from the virus as of Wednesday. That is 139 more since Tuesday.
The state’s percent positive rate of tests is 11.1%, which is down slightly from Tuesday’s 13.3%.
WEDNESDAY MORNING STORYLINES
North Carolina will receive its first federal shipment of COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday. The 120,000 doses of the vaccine the state receives each week will be less than what’s been made available so far from the state’s supply.
Gov. Roy Cooper will speak Wednesday afternoon along with the state’s COVID-19 task force. Cooper is expected to answer questions about the state’s vaccine supply. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen has said the state is finished giving out its backlog of shots.
Gov. Cooper is scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. The briefing will be carried live on ABC11 and abc11.com and on the free ABC11 North Carolina Streaming App.
A driver-thru vaccination clinic at Galot Motorsports Parks on NC 242 in Dunn will begin at 10 a.m. today and continue as long as supplies last. The clinic is for healthcare workers and adults 65 and older. You don’t have to register, but you will need to bring a form of ID.
A mutation of the novel coronavirus that was first identified in South Africa has officially reached the United States. South Carolina health officials on Thursday announced that two cases of the variant — known as B.1.351 — were identified in two residents with no recent travel history, suggesting they were locally acquired.
Officials with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) in a news release said they were contacted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after genome sequencing of a South Carolina sample was found to be the variant.
Both cases were identified in adults, “one from Lowcountry and one from the Pee Dee region,” officials said, noting that “there is no known travel history and no connection between these two cases.”
“The arrival of the SARS-CoV-2 variant in our state is an important reminder to all South Carolinians that the fight against this deadly virus is far from over,” said DHEC Interim Public Health Director, Dr. Brannon Traxler, in a statement.
PFIZER VACCINE BELIEVED TO BE EFFECTIVE ON CORONAVIRUS VARIANTS: WHAT TO KNOW
“We know that viruses mutate to live and live to mutate,” Traxler added. “That’s why it’s critical that we all continue to do our part by taking small actions that make a big difference. These include wearing our masks, staying at least six feet apart from others, avoiding large crowds, washing our hands, getting tested often, and when we can, getting vaccinated. These are the best tools for preventing the spread of the virus, no matter the strain.”
While experts have said that the South African variant is more transmissible than COVID-19, they do not think that it is more virulent, meaning it is not more likely to cause more severe illness.
The CDC reiterated this in a statement on Thursday, saying, in part, that the federal agency is “early in its efforts to understand this variant and will continue to provide updates as we learn more. At this time, we have no evidence that infections by this variant cause more severe disease.”
“CDC will continue communicating with international, state, and local partners to monitor the presence and impact of variants in the United States and around the world. Monitoring variants is why CDC has expanded National SARS-CoV-2 Strain Surveillance (NS3). We continue working with national reference laboratories, state health departments and researchers from around the country to gather sequence data and increase use of genomic sequencing data in response to this pandemic,” the CDC continued, adding that it recommends people “avoid travel at this time.”
Additionally, experts have stressed that existing coronavirus vaccines will likely remain effective against the variant, with Moderna — its COVID-19 jab was the second to see emergency approval in the U.S. — expressing confidence in its vaccine’s ability to remain effective against emerging strains of the virus, including the South African variant and a separate variant first identified in the United Kingdom, following results from a yet-to-be peer-reviewed study.
CORONAVIRUS IN THE US: STATE-BY-STATE BREAKDOWN
The company had been conducting in vitro neutralization studies of sera from individuals vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine that was then exposed to the newly detected variants.
The results from the trial show no significant impact on the vaccine’s effectiveness of neutralizing the virus, despite the introduction of new variants. However, the company will forge ahead with plans to test a booster shot “to further increase neutralizing titers against emerging strains,” it said, as well as advance another variant booster candidate specifically against the South African variant.
CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE
Separately, Pfizer and BioNTech — the companies’ COVID-19 jab was the first to see emergency approval in the U.S. — already voiced confidence in their COVID-19 vaccine’s ability to protect against new variants. Earlier in January, the companies posted a yet-to-be peer-reviewed study that showed the jab remained effective against both the U.K. and South African strains.
Prior to its discovery in the U.S., the B.1.351 variant had already been identified in more than 30 countries around the world.
Fox News’ Alexandria Hein contributed to this report.
More than 50% of the COVID-19 deaths reported in South Carolina on Wednesday were in the Upstate, according to data from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).DHEC announced Tuesday 2,621 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 88 additional confirmed deaths. Forty-nine of those deaths were in the Upstate. Please click here for the county of residence and date of death for each person whose death was reported.This brings the total number of people with confirmed cases since the outbreak began to 384,556 and confirmed deaths to 6,030. DHEC also announced 228 new probable cases of the virus and nine new probable deaths. That brings the total number of probable cases to 42,675 and the total number of probable deaths to 643 in the state since the outbreak began.To see virus spread by county, check out the link below of new confirmed and probable cases. Cases are counted by a patient’s ZIP code of residence. DHEC says the percent positive from the 10,470 tests most recently reported to them was 25.0% (not including antibody tests).
GREENVILLE, S.C. —
More than 50% of the COVID-19 deaths reported in South Carolina on Wednesday were in the Upstate, according to data from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).
DHEC announced Tuesday 2,621 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 88 additional confirmed deaths. Forty-nine of those deaths were in the Upstate.
Please click here for the county of residence and date of death for each person whose death was reported.
This brings the total number of people with confirmed cases since the outbreak began to 384,556 and confirmed deaths to 6,030.
DHEC also announced 228 new probable cases of the virus and nine new probable deaths. That brings the total number of probable cases to 42,675 and the total number of probable deaths to 643 in the state since the outbreak began.
To see virus spread by county, check out the link below of new confirmed and probable cases. Cases are counted by a patient’s ZIP code of residence.
DHEC says the percent positive from the 10,470 tests most recently reported to them was 25.0% (not including antibody tests).
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Here are the latest updates about COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, in North Carolina.
Have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine? Send them to us here
WEDNESDAY MORNING STORYLINES
North Carolina will receive its first federal shipment of COVID-19 vaccines on Wednesday. The 120,000 doses of the vaccine the state receives each week will be less than what’s been made available so far from the state’s supply.
Gov. Roy Cooper will speak Wednesday afternoon along with the state’s COVID-19 task force. Cooper is expected to answer questions about the state’s vaccine supply. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen has said the state is finished giving out its backlog of shots.
Gov. Cooper is scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. The briefing will be carried live on ABC11 and abc11.com and on the free ABC11 North Carolina Streaming App.
A driver-thru vaccination clinic at Galot Motorsports Parks on NC 242 in Dunn will begin at 10 a.m. today and continue as long as supplies last. The clinic is for healthcare workers and adults 65 and older. You don’t have to register, but you will need to bring a form of ID.
TUESDAY
11 p.m. What happens to unused COVID-19 vaccines at the end of the day? ABC11’s Josh Chapin spoke to a UNC doctor who said once vials are opened, they have a shortened shelf live. When there’s 30 minutes left in the day, UNC pulls from a priority list containing local workers in the area to get the shots.
4 p.m. The number of hospitalizations in North Carolina increased slightly on Tuesday after a couple days of decreases.
3,368 people are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, NCDHHS reported. That’s 72 more people than Monday.
303 confirmed COVID-19 patients were admitted in the last 24 hours.
3,987 new cases were reported on Tuesday. That number was the lowest we’ve seen this month, however, test reporting was also low.
21,846 tests were completed. Normally that number is above 50,000.
The percent positive in the state is at 13.3 percent.
3:45 p.m. The Biden administration is giving states an approximately 17% boost in vaccine next week following complaints around the U.S. of shortages so severe that some vaccination sites had to cancel tens of thousands of appointments with people waiting for their first shot.
ANNOUNCEMENT FROM BIDEN:
Detailed figures posted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website Tuesday showed that the government plans to make about 10.1 million first and second doses available next week, up from this week’s allotment of 8.6 million. The figures represent doses of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
The increase comes as vaccination sites around the U.S. are canceling large numbers of appointments because of vaccine shortages. Governors and top health officials have complained about inadequate supplies and the need for earlier and more reliable estimates of how much is on the way so that they can plan accordingly.
1:15 p.m. North Carolina healthcare providers have administered 95% of all available first doses of COVID-19 vaccine, with North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen saying she’s confident the remaining 5% will be given out just in time for the next shipment from the federal government Wednesday.
Cohen said 630,000 people have received first doses (another 180,000 have received both first and second doses). In the past week, health officials have used 260,000 doses — a major increase when compared to the first weeks of vaccine doses arriving in the state.
Cohen said now that the state has largely exhausted its backlog of first doses, NCDHHS is outlining a process for allocations that will provide more transparency and certainty to providers.
Cohen said that when the state first started receiving vaccine, it allocated doses to counties based on population, but to clear the state’s backlog and demonstrate to the federal government that North Carolina is capable of taking on more vaccine, NCDHHS moved to a “posture of speed,” asking certain providers to ramp up vaccinations at the expense of predictable allocations.
Cohen said this, along with the state committing to multiple large scale vaccination events, left some providers without any doses to administer.
“This week is going to feel particularly tight with many providers getting small, or no allocations,” Cohen said.
But moving forward, Cohen said providers will get a baseline amount of doses they can expect for the next three weeks.
Each week, North Carolina gets 120,000 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the federal government.
Cohen said the state’s plan includes distributing 84,000 of those doses to counties based on population, which will then be divided among local providers based on their capacity to push them out quickly.
The remaining 36,000 doses will be used to balance vaccine distribution to counties and areas that need it most.
“We’re also asking providers to prioritize equity,” Cohen said. “The percentage of vaccines administered to historically marginalized communities should meet or exceed the population estimates of their communities in their county and region.”
Cohen said the state is helping counties achieve equitability by supporting providers with data entry, event planning, coordination amongst community players and registration assistance.
“Demand for vaccines far exceeds our supply,” Cohen reminded.
She said the state will continue to work to distribute vaccine as quickly as possible and to be transparent about where the vaccines are going and how they’re being used.
1 p.m. The state has launched a new website to help everybody learn when they will be eligible to get a vaccine. Click here for that website.
NCDHHS also released the day’s COVID-19 metrics. The data showed another decrease in hospitalizations but an increase in the daily percent positive. To take a look at the numbers for yourself, click here.
10:30 a.m. Durham County has confirmed its leaders are working on a mass vaccination site with plans to open in early February.
“We are still working out the details such as hours of operation, appointment scheduling, and other logistical considerations, but it is our goal to open to the public in the early weeks of February,” said Durham County Health Director Rodney Jenkins.
Officials now believe the site could vaccinate approximately 17,000 individuals per week in an update from an earlier projection. Vaccinations are currently ongoing at Southern Durham High School. You can call 919-560-HELP to schedule a vaccination.
Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy Cohen and Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry will speak to the media Tuesday afternoon at 1.
9:40 a.m. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is holding a virtual job fair on Tuesday to help those struggling with unemployment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The fair will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Job seekers will be able to speak with recruiters and hold one-on-one virtual interviews.
More information here.
9:30 a.m. A new Brazilian variant of the coronavirus has made its first known appearance in the United States, in a person who had recently returned to Minnesota after traveling to that country, state health officials announced Monday.
The virus known as the Brazil P.1 variant was found in a specimen from a patient who lives in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and became ill the first week of January, the Minnesota Department of Health said in a statement. Epidemiologists were re-interviewing the person to obtain more details about the person’s illness, travel and contacts.
There was no immediate indication that the variant was spreading in the state.
Viruses are constantly mutating, and new versions – called variants – often emerge. Health officials are also worried about variants that were first reported in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Researchers believe they may spread more easily than the virus that’s already caused nearly 420,000 deaths in the United States.
9 a.m. Duke University’s COVID-19 testing continued last week, netting 82 positive results after testing 27,865 students and 2.716 faculty and staff.
There were 62 positive results among students, who recently started classes for the spring semester. Students are required to be tested before starting classes and on-campus activities. The total positivity rate is 0.27 percent.
More data about Duke’s testing can be found here.
8:45 a.m. The Moderna company is reporting its supplied 30.4 million doses of its brand of the COVID-19 vaccine to the U.S. government so far
In a release, Moderna said its trajectory of 100 million doses by the end of March is on target as well as its track to deliver 200 million doses to the government by the end of June. Around 10.1 million doses have been administered so far, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
TUESDAY MORNING STORYLINES
A newly-conceived mass vaccination site in Durham will be able to vaccinate as many as 45,000 people per week.
“We are delighted to report the state of North Carolina and Fidelity have reached an agreement as far as hosting a mass vaccination site,” Durham County Health Director Rodney Jenkins said at a county commissioners’ meeting on Monday night. Dr. Mandy Cohen requested the site be placed in Durham.
Jenkins told the county that he’ll work with the state and Durham Public Schools to scout out possible locations for the site. More details on the site are forthcoming.
The North Carolina Healthcare Association is calling on Gov. Roy Cooper to do more when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine in the state. The group wants more regular vaccine allocations to deal with the surge in demand. They feel the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services gave providers little to no advance notice when they decided to move forward with vaccinating adults 65 and older.
“At the end of the day, we’re taking directives, which in many cases is last minute, and we’re doing the best we can with it,” said Steve Lawler with the NCHA.
NCDHHS is giving an update on its effort Tuesday and asking providers to “aggressively provide opportunities” for vaccinations. NCDHHS said as of Sunday night, providers have administered 88% of all available doses. Meanwhile, suppliers are struggling with getting enough doses from the state.
The Governor said the state’s top priority is getting vaccines out quickly and equitably. Federal officials are being urged to make more vaccines available. There’s a drive-thru clinic at the Crown Expo Center today in Fayetteville, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A food drive is happening Tuesday in Raleigh at PNC Arena to help families put food on the table. The North Carolina Community Action Association is holding the event, which starts at 10 a.m. A box with food, drinks and home goods will be given away while supplies last.
Cape Fear Valley Health clinics will no longer be able to accommodate walk-in vaccines for first-dose vaccinations at any of its four clinics. Appointments can still be made online.
Vice President Kamala Harris will receive her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine Tuesday. Harris will get the shot at the National Institutes of Health.
MONDAY
11 p.m. Duke University has identified a cluster of COVID-19 cases at Berkshire Ninth Street apartment complex.
A “cluster” is defined by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as five or more related cases that are deemed to be in close proximity of time and location, such as a residential hall or apartment complex.
Duke said the five students in this cluster have been identified and are now isolating in a separate location.
6:19 p.m.
As of Monday, Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point (NHCCP) began vaccinating authorized TRICARE beneficiaries aged 75 years and older.
Beneficiaries aged 75 years and older should call the NHCCP Appointment Line at (252) 466-0921 (Option 3). The clinic will coordinate appointment times with command officials of active duty and frontline personnel who are eligible according the phase definition.
The Naval Clinic is NOT accepting patients for walk-in vaccinations at this time.
4:49 p.m. For the third week in a row, the Orange County Health Department has not received any first dose allotment of COVID-19 vaccines from the NCDHHS. The lack of first dose allotment will not affect or delay the second vaccines for community members who have already received their first shot, the health department said. Anyone who has received their first vaccine from the Orange County Health Department will be contacted to make an appointment for their second dose by phone or email.
“As of January 24, 2021, all first doses of vaccine have been exhausted and it is not clear when we will be receiving more vaccine from the state.” said Orange County Health Director, Quintana Stewart. “Until the vaccine supply is significantly increased it will be weeks or perhaps months until we can complete vaccinations for Phases One and Two. We understand this must be frustrating for our community members to hear and we want let you know that we share in your frustration.”
The Health Department is scheduling health care workers, long-term care residents and staff and older adults ages 65 and older for appointments (Phase One and Two). There are 1.6 million people older than 65 in North Carolina. In Orange County there are approximately 22,000 people who are 65 years of age or older.
4:45 p.m. In response to a letter the North Carolina Healthcare Association sent to Gov. Roy Cooper with several specific requests to improve the COVID-19 vaccination efforts in the state, the governor’s office responded, saying there’s simply not enough vaccine in the state to meet demands.
“The Governor’s top priority is getting vaccines out quickly and equitably,” the statement said. “The state has directed vaccines to all 100 counties and deployed high-throughput sites. Unused vaccine here could lead federal authorities to cut future allotments, so NCDHHS has pushed providers to exhaust North Carolina’s supply of first doses. However, the reality is that there is not enough vaccine here for those eligible and we need more. North Carolina providers have shown they can distribute more than double the state’s current weekly allotment and the Governor will continue to urge federal officials to make more vaccine available.”
READ THE FULL LETTER BELOW:
NCHA President Steve Lawler said the letter was a result of various conversations he’s had with Cooper and Cohen but didn’t want the concerns of hospitals and health systems he’s representing to get buried.
Among those issues expressed in the letter, Lawler called for more transparency and better communication.
“What we’ve asked, specifically is, one, involve us. Let us help you make good decisions because no one knows our patients and our communities as well as we do,” he said. “I think there’s a difference between providing directives and asking the people that are doing the work to participate in the design and development so that it’s done well. Because at the end of the day we’re taking directives- hospitals, health systems, community providers, health departments are taking this directive, which in many cases is last minute and we’re doing the best we can with it.”
4:45 p.m. The Cumberland County Department of Public Health will be giving second doses only of the COVID-19 vaccine during a drive-thru clinic scheduled for Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will be available and appointments are not needed for second doses. First and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine and second doses of the Moderna vaccine will be available at clinics scheduled on Wednesday, and Friday at the Crown from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., while supplies last. People seeking second doses will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis or by appointment this week.
The Health Department will receive 975 first doses of Pfizer this week. Because of the limited supply of first doses and already scheduled first-dose appointments for the week, there will be reduced first-come, first-served opportunities on Wednesday and Friday.
Visit the County’s vaccine website for information on how to request an appointment block.
4:45 p.m. A drive-thru COVID-19 testing event has been scheduled for next week in Moore County on January 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Morganton Road Sports Complex at 190 Fire Lane in Southern Pines.
The testing event is open to all residents of Moore County with no physician referral required. Testing is sponsored by the Moore County Health Department and Goshen Medical Center.
Everyone who wishes to participate in testing should register by calling (910) 267-2044.
There will be no out of pocket cost for testing.
All testing participants are instructed to remain in their vehicle throughout the testing.
4:20 p.m. Lee County health officials announced six more COVID-19 deaths, bringing the county death total to 56 since March. The county said 253 more COVID-19 cases have been reported since last Monday, bringing the total to 4,682.
3:25 p.m.
NCDHHS launched a new online tool for North Carolinians to know when they are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine.
Find My Vaccine asks a few questions to help determine what group you are in.
“Given the very limited supplies we currently have, there may be wait times, but every North Carolinian has a spot. A spot for accurate information. A spot in line. A spot to take their shot,” said NCDHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy K. Cohen.
As of Sunday evening, 88 percent of all first doses have been reported as being administered, according to NCDHHS.
Providers reported administering more than 260,000 doses this past week. As of Monday, the CDC ranked North Carolina 10th in total vaccines administered and 29th in vaccines administered per 100,000 people. Beginning on Jan. 27, North Carolina will have only 120,000 doses to allocate across the entire state. A large portion of those doses are committed to the large-scale events planned several weeks ago to address the backlog in vaccine. As a result, many providers are getting small or no allocations for the coming week. Through no fault of their own, they will be postponing appointments.
Answering your questions about when & where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine in NC
2:43 p.m. Wake County is inviting health-care workers and anyone age 65 or older to join its COVID-19 vaccine waiting list. The county also is holding free, drive-thru COVID-19 testing events at Lake Benson Park through January 31.
1:47 p.m. Because of a change in the number of COVID-19 vaccines that Cape Fear Valley Health has been allotted by the State of North Carolina, the health system has had to reconfigure the way in which it runs its COVID-19 vaccination clinics.
Effective Tuesday, the health system will no longer be able to accommodate walk-ins for first-dose vaccinations at any of the four vaccine clinics in operation at Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center, Health Pavilion North, Hoke Hospital and Bladen County Hospital.
Appointments can be scheduled online to receive a first-dose vaccination. Appointments will be opened for a given week the Saturday before.
At this time, no appointment is required for the second dose, but this may change as supply levels fluctuate. Cape Fear asks that people return to the same location where they received their first dose to receive the second dose.
1:40 p.m. The North Carolina Healthcare Association sent a letter to Gov. Roy Cooper with several specific requests to improve the COVID-19 vaccination efforts in the state.
The letter includes seven different bullet points that the group believes would help improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the vaccine rollout.
READ THE FULL LETTER BELOW:
1:10 p.m. Sampson County reports 16 new cases for a total of 6,076 positive cases.
There have been three additional deaths since Friday for a countywide total of 78.
12:53 p.m. The Halifax County Health Department said that because of the limited allowance of vaccination from the state, it will vaccinate on Wednesday only this week. COVID 19 vaccinations will be offered at Halifax Community College Building 700 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. for group 1 and group 2 only.
If you are unable to walk, a health department worker will come and vaccinate you while you remain in your car.
Halifax County also reports 87 new cases and four additional deaths.
The county now has 4,058 total positive COVID 19 cases and 74 deaths.
Daily Lab Confirmed Cases 12:05 p.m. Wake County Health Department reports it received less than 1,000 new doses of the COVID-19 vaccine this week.
The department said it requested 3,000 doses, but instead only received one case of the Pfizer vaccine (975 doses).
Earlier today, UNC Health reported receiving just 10,000 doses of the vaccine, despite preparing for as many as 30,000.
ABC11 is working to see if other local agencies also received fewer vaccines than requested, and to get a comment from NCDHHS about the allocation decisions for this week.
12 p.m. COVID-19 hospitalizations dropped yet again in Monday’s report–marking the lowest count of 2021.
The number of people hospitalized with the virus is listed at 3,287. That’s the lowest since Dec. 27.
The daily percent positive also decreased, falling to 10.2%. That number remains well above the state’s 5% goal, which we were achieving at times during the summer.
Since the start of the pandemic, 8,720 people have died from the virus in North Carolina. For a full look at the state’s latest numbers, click here.
10:50 a.m. The Carolina Hurricanes have rescheduled another game due to COVID-19.
The Hurricanes’ home game against the Tampa Bay Lightning originally scheduled for Tuesday will now be played Feb. 22. Last week, Carolina postponed games against Nashville and Florida due to COVID-19 safety measures.
10:30 a.m. UNC Health will get 10,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the state this week, with that number being less than half of what was expected.
The UNC Health system said it would not cancel or postpone any appointments based on the news. The lower allocation meant fewer appointments were scheduled.
“We understand the frustration and disappointment of not being able to get an appointment for a vaccination more quickly,” said Dr. Ian Buchanan, UNC Health President of Ambulatory and Post-Acute Care. “This is truly an issue of supply and demand. We are very aware of the angst this is causing everyone who is eligible now to receive a vaccine and cannot get an appointment or who spends hours online trying to get one.”
UNC Health asks that patients call the state’s COVID-19 at 1-877-490-6642 or look online to find a vaccination location. UNC has given out more than 75,000 shots since the vaccination program started in December.
10:20 a.m. Wake County has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at an assisted living home in Cary, the second one at the facility since September.
Brookdale MacArthur Park, on MacArthur Drive, has had its second outbreak of the pandemic. An outbreak is defined as a situation where two or more people – residents or employees – tested positive. No other information about the residents or employees was disclosed.
10:15 a.m. The state has rolled out a COVID-19 Community Readiness toolkit to help those with disabilities and mental health issues. The toolkit contains resources for parents helping their children through remote learning as well as family-based needs.
The toolkit can be found here.
“These are unprecedented, stressful times, and we know families and individuals are being faced with existing and new mental health challenges,” said Victor Armstrong, Director of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, Substance Abuse Services. “We want to provide North Carolinians with this toolkit to give them all the support they need to navigate these difficult times to stay healthy physically and mentally.”
MONDAY MORNING STORYLINES
Three new COVID-19 testing sties will open in Wake County on Monday.
Jaycee Park and Sertoma Arts Center in Raleigh along with Lake Benson Park in Garner will be open for testing. All sites are reachable by public transportation and begin at 11 a.m. You don’t need an appointment, insurance or ID to get tested.
For the full, up-to-date list of Wake County testing sites (including hours of operation), click here.
Sunday marked the fourth straight day of more than 100 COVID-19-related deaths in North Carolina. Over the weekend, the U.S. passed 25 million cases, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
In Chatham County, more than 400 people (healthcare workers and those over 65) are expected to get vaccinated at the Chatham County Agricultural and Conference Center on Monday.
President Joe Biden is expected to reinstate the COVID-19 travel restrictions on non-US citizens who have been in Brazil, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and much of Europe
Chicas took shelter in June 2017 inside the School for Conversion, a small house on the grounds of a Baptist church in Durham, North Carolina. At the time, he faced a deportation order after years of checking in with ICE.
Chicas says he never expected to spend so long in sanctuary.
“I had no idea what I was getting into,” he told CNN this week in a phone interview as he packed and prepared to leave. “I thought it would be three or four months.”
But months turned into years.
His family lives nearby in Raleigh and visited whenever they could. And from his confines on the grounds of St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church, Chicas — a pastor himself — continued ministering to his flock via live Facebook videos and occasional in-person meetings.
In his sermons, he often preached about the power of redemption. Using drugs and alcohol put him on a dangerous path, he says — one that led to a conviction for DUI and domestic abuse and eventually a deportation order. Since 2002, Chicas says he’s been a changed man.
And he said this week that he’s grateful the Biden administration’s policies are giving him another chance. He’s looking forward to spending more time with his family — visiting parks and beaches and going out for ice cream.
“It’s going to be a beautiful change,” he said.
A new Biden administration policy took effect on Friday, blocking most deportations for 100 days while officials review policies and ensure “a fair and effective immigration enforcement system focused on protecting national security, border security, and public safety,” according to a Department of Homeland Security news release.
It’s not clear what will happen after that 100-day window ends, but Chicas says he’s confident the new President “has a different heart from the government that just left” and will come up with a solution to help him and millions of other undocumented immigrants.
It’s not clear whether other immigrants who’ve taken sanctuary in churches are leaving. A growing number of undocumented immigrants sought protection in churches during the Trump as the government intensified its crackdowns on illegal immigration. An ICE policy limits the agency from arresting anyone in “sensitive locations” — schools, hospitals or houses of worship — except in extenuating circumstances.
In 2018, around 50 people were living in sanctuary inside churches nationwide, according to Church World Service. Officials from the organization didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry from CNN for updated data.
Chicas said he spent many days in sanctuary feeling forgotten, isolated and full of anguish about the future.
But there were brighter moments, too.
“I met so many people. … I’ve come to realize that there are hundreds and hundreds of Americans that have a good heart and love immigrants,” he said. “I’ve seen it with my own eyes.”
CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez contributed to this report.
