It’s official: Netflix has landed Tim Burton’s live-action Addams Family series with an eight-episode order for a spinoff focused on the iconic character of Wednesday Addams.
Titled Wednesday, the coming-of-age comedy, written by Smallville creators Al Gough and Miles Millar and to be directed by Burton, is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy. That’s where she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships.
The YA series, Wednesday Addams’ first solo vehicle, marks Burton’s first live-action show and his TV directing debut. He and Gough and Millar, who will serve as showrunners on the series, executive produce. Wednesday is produced by MGM/UA Television, which controls the underlying rights to the IP.
As Deadline first reported in October, MGM/UA TV took the project out last fall with Gough & Millar attached and Burton in negotiations, getting multiple bids with Netflix considered the likely winner. Wednesday marks a familiar territory for Millar and Gough, who successfully explored the coming-of-age story of another iconic character, Superman, with the hit series Smallville.
“When we first heard Al Gough and Miles Millar’s pitch for Wednesday we were struck, like an arrow from a crossbow, right in our hearts. They nailed the tone, the spirit and the characters, but gave us a fresh way into this story,” said Teddy Biaselli, Netflix’s Director Original Series, calling Wednesday “the ultimate lone wolf” character. “We then got the call that visionary director and lifelong Addams Family fan Tim Burton wanted to make his television directorial debut with this series. Tim has had a history of telling empowering stories about social outsiders like Edward Scissorhands, Lydia Deitz and Batman. And now he brings his unique vision to Wednesday and her spooky classmates at Nevermore Academy.”
Also executive producing the series are TV writer-producer Kayla Alpert (Code Black, Up All Night) as well as several producers associated with the Addams Family IP: Andrew Mittman for 1.21 (The Addams Family, Alphas), Kevin Miserocchi (Tee and Charles Addams Foundation), Jonathan Glickman for Glickmania (Respect, Addams Family 2) and Gail Berman (The Addams Family, Alphas).
The tale of The Addams Family, a fictional household created by American cartoonist Charles Addams in 1938, has had a number of screen iterations over the years including two live-action TV series; a live-action film franchise, and most recently an animated movie from MGM with the sequel dropping in 2021.
Christina Ricci, the actress most closely associated the character, played Wednesday in both feature films, The Addams Family in 1991 and sequel Addams Family Values in 1993.
Wednesday Addams was played by Lisa Loring in the original series. In the first animated series she was voiced by Cindy Henderson, and by Debi Derryberry in the second animated series, both from Hanna-Barbera. Wednesday is portrayed by Nicole Fugere in the straight-to-video movie Addams Family Reunion and then-Fox Family Channel’s television series The New Addams Family, which were both produced in 1998.
The Addams Family: A New Musical debuted on Broadway in April 2010 with Krysta Rodriguez as Wednesday. Most recently, Chloë Grace Moretz voiced Wednesday in MGM’s 2019 animated movie The Addams Family.
Burton previously developed and executive produced the animated series Beetlejuice, loosely based on his 1988 movie, which ran for four seasons from 1989-91.
OF A GREATER MAGNITUDE. ROB: BUT THE DEMAND DOES N STOP AT THE NEBRASKA BORDER. THE SOUTHWEST POWER POOL COVERS A 14-STATE REGION, THE IMPACT CAN AND DOES CROSS STATE LINES. JULIE: SO WHY DOESN’T OPPD G OFF THE LARGER GRID AND OPERATE ON ITS OWN KETV NEWSWATCH 7’S ALEXANDRA STONE TOOK THAT QUESTION TO THE COMPANY’S CE ALEXANDRA: OPPD PRESIDENT TIM BURKE SAYS FEDERAL REGULATIONS DATING BACK TO THE 1990S LED TO THIS SYSTEM WE HAVE TODA BURKE NOTING MOST OF THE UNITED STATES HAS THESE REGIONAL TRANSMISSION ORGANIZATIONS, HE SAYS BEING PART OF ONE HAS BENEFITTED US MANY TIMES THE OMAHA PUBLIC POWER DISTRICT NAVIGATES A SECOND DAY OF PLANNED OUTAGES IN THE RECORD-BREAKING COLD. BURKE: WE ARE JUST FINDING THIS PERFECT STORM. ALEXANDRA: THE ORDERS COME FROM THE SOUTHWEST POWER POOL, WHIC MANAGES THE GRID FOR OPPD, NPPD, LES IN LINCOLN, AND UTILITIES IN 14 STATE OPPD JOINED IN 2009. BURKE SAYS THE WINTER WEATHER CAUSED POWER SUPPLY ISSUES I PARTS OF THE SPP SYSTEM IN OKLAHOMA AND THE TEXAS PANHANDLE, LEADING TO THE CA FOR NEBRASKA AND OTHERS TO HELP OU BURKE: THAT’S WHAT THE POWER POOL DOES, WE SHARE GENERATIONS ACROSS THE SYSTEM. ALEXANDRA: BURKE SAYS UTILITY PARTNERS STEPPED UP TO HELP US IN THE PAST, LIKE THE FLOOD OF 2011, WHEN THE FORT CALHOUN NUCLEAR STATION WASN’T GENERATING POWER. AND IN THE MOST RECENT FLOOD TWO YEARS AGO. BURKE: THE OTHER PARTS OF SPP HELPED OPPD DURING THAT TIME. AND WE DO THAT LIKEWISE OR OTHER THINGS THAT MAY GO ON IN THE REGION. ALEXANDRA: OFFICIALS WITH SOUTHWEST POWER POOL ADDRESSED THE PLANNED OUTAGES TUESDAY WHICH IMPACTED COMMUNITIES FROM TEXAS TO THE DAKOTAS BURKE: WE HAVE BEEN COORDINATI POWER, SINCE 1941. ALEXANDRA: SPP SAYS WHEN IT MAKES A REQUEST FOR A PLANNED OUTAGE, EACH UTILITY’S CUTBACK IS PROPORTIONATE TO IT’S AREA’S CONSUMPTION. LOCAL UTILITIES DECIDE WHERE THE OUTAGES HAPPEN. OFFICIALS NOTE GRIDS OUTSIDE SPP ARE FEELING THE STRAIN BURKE: THE OTHER GRID OPERATOR IN THE U.S. ARE FACING SIMILAR OR WORSE CHALLENGES. ALEXANDRA: INCLUDING PARTS O TEXAS THAT FALL OUTSIDE THE SOUTHWEST POWER POOL. HERE’S THAT MAP AGAIN, SPP COVERS NORTHERN PARTS OF T STATE. BUT MUCH OF TEXAS HAS IT’S OWN POWER GRID. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN THE ERCOT COVERAGE AREA LOST POWER SOME FOR OVER 36 HOUR >> THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE’ TRYING TO PREVENT IS LONG DURATION OUTAGES THAT WILL HAVE CATASTROPHIC IMPACTS TO PEOPLE ALEXANDR THEY SAID IT IS REQUIRED TO TAKE THESE MEASURES. THEY ALSO POINTED TO UNCONTROLLED OUTAGES THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTR
Nebraska Public Power District: Prepare for rotating outages Wednesday morning
Updated: 9:40 AM CST Feb 17, 2021
On Wednesday morning, Nebraska Public Power District told customers that they should prepare for potential rotating outages.”We have been notified that SPP will be moving to an Emergency Alert Level 3 at 9 a.m.,” they wrote on Twitter. “This may affect service to our customers. We will have very little, if any, notice of where these interruptions may take place. Please prepare for outages lasting 45 minutes or longer.”Omaha Public Power District said there are no requests for outages for their service area at this time, but that could change.”This is a very fluid situation and we could be directed by the SPP to implement controlled outages with very little advance notice,” officials said. The rotating outages were reported throughout Monday and Tuesday. Omaha Public Power District President Tim Burke said the rotating outages, which occurred throughout Monday and in the morning Tuesday, would continue if Southwest Power Pool deemed it necessary and asked. The outages were said to last 30 minutes to an hour, though some customers reported outages that went on longer.Officials said this event was the first time since 1941 that SPP has been on an Alert Level 2 or 3. SPP”We’ll start to see more and more consumption as the evening grows. And it’s it’s possible that we could be back in this situation again later tonight. If we survive tonight without having to direct further curtailments and interruptions of of service, we could be back in this tomorrow. There’s a lot of factors at play,” Lanny Nickell, chief operating officer for SPP, said.SPP senior vice president of government affairs and public relations Mike Ross said while the rotating outages are not ideal, it’s important to prevent worse.”A coordinated temporary interruption of service is something that we never want. But, when we’re required to do it, it ensures that no one is without power for very long and prevents potential damage to the system which can can lead to longer outages,” he said. “We’re doing it so that it does not lead to longer prolonged outages.”Officials said voluntary conservation did make an impact.”I can tell you on Monday, our load projection was actually about 1500 megawatts higher than what we actually saw during the peak, and we believe that’s because at least to some extent because of the voluntary actions that were being taken in concert with the public appeals issued by our member utilities,” Nickell said.
OMAHA, Neb. —
On Wednesday morning, Nebraska Public Power District told customers that they should prepare for potential rotating outages.
“We have been notified that SPP will be moving to an Emergency Alert Level 3 at 9 a.m.,” they wrote on Twitter. “This may affect service to our customers. We will have very little, if any, notice of where these interruptions may take place. Please prepare for outages lasting 45 minutes or longer.”
Omaha Public Power District said there are no requests for outages for their service area at this time, but that could change.
“This is a very fluid situation and we could be directed by the SPP to implement controlled outages with very little advance notice,” officials said.
The rotating outages were reported throughout Monday and Tuesday.
Omaha Public Power District President Tim Burke said the rotating outages, which occurred throughout Monday and in the morning Tuesday, would continue if Southwest Power Pool deemed it necessary and asked. The outages were said to last 30 minutes to an hour, though some customers reported outages that went on longer.
Officials said this event was the first time since 1941 that SPP has been on an Alert Level 2 or 3. SPP
“We’ll start to see more and more consumption as the evening grows. And it’s it’s possible that we could be back in this situation again later tonight. If we survive tonight without having to direct further curtailments and interruptions of of service, we could be back in this tomorrow. There’s a lot of factors at play,” Lanny Nickell, chief operating officer for SPP, said.
SPP senior vice president of government affairs and public relations Mike Ross said while the rotating outages are not ideal, it’s important to prevent worse.
“A coordinated temporary interruption of service is something that we never want. But, when we’re required to do it, it ensures that no one is without power for very long and prevents potential damage to the system which can can lead to longer outages,” he said. “We’re doing it so that it does not lead to longer prolonged outages.”
Officials said voluntary conservation did make an impact.
“I can tell you on Monday, our load projection was actually about 1500 megawatts higher than what we actually saw during the peak, and we believe that’s because at least to some extent because of the voluntary actions that were being taken in concert with the public appeals issued by our member utilities,” Nickell said.
Japan’s minister in charge of Covid-19 vaccinations, Taro Kano, speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on February 16, 2021. Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP via Getty Images
Japan will begin vaccinating its healthcare workers Wednesday with 40,000 doctors and nurses from 100 hospitals across the country receiving the Pfizer-BioNTechcoronavirus vaccine, according to the head of Japan’s vaccine rollout Taro Kano.
Of those 40,000, we have asked 20,000 doctors and nurses to keep a diary of their health conditions, temperature, headaches and whatever happens to them,” Kano said. “We will monitor them for 21 days then they will get a second shot starting from March 10.”
After the first round of doctors and nurses, the rollout will continue for 3.7 million doctors, pharmacists, nurses, ambulance drivers and other frontline workers, Kano added.
Inoculations for senior citizens will begin in April and the country aims to complete vaccination of the public within the year.
Olympics at stake: The rollout comes as Japan is scheduled to host the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo in July, despite increasing public opposition and rising costs.
A poll last month by national broadcaster NHK found that 77% of people in Japan think the Games should be canceled or further postponed, largely due to the logistical hurdles that stand in the way of hosting such a massive event in the middle of a public health crisis.
The country’s medical system has been overwhelmed, even though it has the most hospital beds per capita in the developed world. Cases have more than doubled in the past two months to more than 406,000, stretching Japan’s medical system to the brink.
Japan was among the last major economies to approve the use of a coronavirus vaccine and begin the rollout, raising further questions about the country’s ambitious plan to reach necessary immunity levels in time for the competition.
Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said last month his government is “determined” to “realize a safe and secure Olympics.”
Kano, the head of the vaccination efforts, said in Tuesday’s news conference that “the Olympic Games is not on my schedule… we need to think about the concrete number of supply and then we’ll come up with a possible target,” when asked about when Japan is expected to reach the herd immunity benchmark.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases increased by 1,299 on Wednesday, with 17 more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
The health department estimates there are 29,337 active cases of the disease as of Wednesday — the first day that estimate has dipped below 30,000 since October 28.
Utah Department of Health Executive Director Rich Saunders told the Utah Senate Health and Human Services Committee Wednesday afternoon that Utah will have enough doses to vaccinate every Utahn before June, according to the Deseret News.
“We will reach all of the adult population, if 100% of them wanted it, by the end of May,” Saunders said.
The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 1,053, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period reported via the “people over people” method is now 15.3%. The positive test rate per day for that time period reported via the “test over test” method is now 7%.
This week, the health department began reporting two different methods for calculating the seven-day rolling average positive test rate per day. The “people over people” method is calculated by dividing the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 by the total number of people tested. The health department has been using that method to calculate the rolling average since the start of the pandemic.
The agency is now also reporting the “test over test” method, which is calculated by dividing the total number of positive tests by the total number of tests administered. The “test over test” method accounts for duplicate positive and negative COVID-19 tests, where the “people over people” method does not.
The “people over people” method biases the average higher, while the “test over test” method is biased lower, and the true average is thought to be somewhere in the middle, according to health department state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn. The health department will continue to provide both reporting methods daily, which will help better compare Utah’s pandemic to that of other states, Dunn said.
There are 323 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, including 131 in intensive care, state data shows. About 80% of all intensive care unit beds in Utah are occupied as of Wednesday, including about 84% of ICU beds in the state’s 16 referral hospitals, according to state data. About 53% of non-ICU hospital beds in Utah are filled Wednesday.
A total of 442,476 vaccines have been administered in the state, up from 425,698 Tuesday. Of those, 117,305 are second doses of the vaccine.
The new numbers indicate a 0.4% increase in positive cases since Tuesday. Of the 2,094,809 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah so far, 17.1% have tested positive for COVID-19.
The total number of COVID-19 conducted in Utah since the beginning of the pandemic, including duplicate positive and negative tests, is now 3,522,246. That is an increase of 23,334 tests conducted since Tuesday, and 8,988 of those were tests of people who had not previously been tested for COVID-19.
The 17 deaths reported Wednesday were:
A Box Elder County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
A Box Elder County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Carbon County woman who was over the age of 85 and was hospitalized when she died
A Cache County man who was over the age of 85 and was hospitalized when he died
A Salt Lake County man who was over the age of 85 and was hospitalized when he died
A Salt Lake County man who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Salt Lake County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was not hospitalized when he died
A Salt Lake County woman who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Tooele County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
A Utah County woman who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Utah County man who was over the age of 85 and was hospitalized when he died
A Utah County man who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Wasatch County woman who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Weber County man who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when he died
A Weber County woman who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Weber County man who was over the age of 85 and was hospitalized when he died
A Weber County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
Wednesday’s totals give Utah 357,339 total confirmed cases, with 14,007 total hospitalizations and 1,765 total deaths from the disease. An estimated 326,237 Utah COVID-19 cases are now considered recovered, the health department reported.
There is not a COVID-19 news conference scheduled for Wednesday. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is scheduled to provide a pandemic update at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Methodology:
Test results now include data from PCR tests and antigen tests. Positive COVID-19 test results are reported to the health department immediately after they are confirmed, but negative test results may not be reported for 24 to 72 hours.
The total number of cases reported by the Utah Department of Health each day includes all cases of COVID-19 since Utah’s outbreak began, including those who are currently infected, those who have recovered from the disease, and those who have died.
Recovered cases are defined as anyone who was diagnosed with COVID-19 three or more weeks ago and has not died.
Referral hospitals are the 16 Utah hospitals with the capability to provide the best COVID-19 health care.
Deaths reported by the state typically occurred two to seven days prior to when they are reported, according to the health department. Some deaths may be from even further back, especially if the person is from Utah but has died in another state.
The health department reports both confirmed and probable COVID-19 case deaths per the case definition outlined by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. The death counts are subject to change as case investigations are completed.
For deaths that are reported as COVID-19 deaths, the person would not have died if they did not have COVID-19, according to the health department.
Data included in this story primarily reflects the state of Utah as a whole. For more localized data, visit your local health district’s website.
More information about Utah’s health guidance levels is available at coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-health-guidance-levels.
Information is from the Utah Department of Health and coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts. For more information on how the Utah Department of Health compiles and reports COVID-19 data, visit coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts and scroll down to the “Data Notes” section at the bottom of the page.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases increased by 1,299 on Wednesday, with 17 more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
The health department estimates there are 29,337 active cases of the disease as of Wednesday — the first day that estimate has dipped below 30,000 since October 28.
Utah Department of Health Executive Director Rich Saunders told the Utah Senate Health and Human Services Committee Wednesday afternoon that Utah will have enough doses to vaccinate every Utahn before June, according to the Deseret News.
“We will reach all of the adult population, if 100% of them wanted it, by the end of May,” Saunders said.
The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 1,053, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period reported via the “people over people” method is now 15.3%. The positive test rate per day for that time period reported via the “test over test” method is now 7%.
This week, the health department began reporting two different methods for calculating the seven-day rolling average positive test rate per day. The “people over people” method is calculated by dividing the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 by the total number of people tested. The health department has been using that method to calculate the rolling average since the start of the pandemic.
The agency is now also reporting the “test over test” method, which is calculated by dividing the total number of positive tests by the total number of tests administered. The “test over test” method accounts for duplicate positive and negative COVID-19 tests, where the “people over people” method does not.
The “people over people” method biases the average higher, while the “test over test” method is biased lower, and the true average is thought to be somewhere in the middle, according to health department state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn. The health department will continue to provide both reporting methods daily, which will help better compare Utah’s pandemic to that of other states, Dunn said.
There are 323 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, including 131 in intensive care, state data shows. About 80% of all intensive care unit beds in Utah are occupied as of Wednesday, including about 84% of ICU beds in the state’s 16 referral hospitals, according to state data. About 53% of non-ICU hospital beds in Utah are filled Wednesday.
A total of 442,476 vaccines have been administered in the state, up from 425,698 Tuesday. Of those, 117,305 are second doses of the vaccine.
The new numbers indicate a 0.4% increase in positive cases since Tuesday. Of the 2,094,809 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah so far, 17.1% have tested positive for COVID-19.
The total number of COVID-19 conducted in Utah since the beginning of the pandemic, including duplicate positive and negative tests, is now 3,522,246. That is an increase of 23,334 tests conducted since Tuesday, and 8,988 of those were tests of people who had not previously been tested for COVID-19.
The 17 deaths reported Wednesday were:
A Box Elder County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
A Box Elder County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Carbon County woman who was over the age of 85 and was hospitalized when she died
A Cache County man who was over the age of 85 and was hospitalized when he died
A Salt Lake County man who was over the age of 85 and was hospitalized when he died
A Salt Lake County man who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Salt Lake County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was not hospitalized when he died
A Salt Lake County woman who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Tooele County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
A Utah County woman who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Utah County man who was over the age of 85 and was hospitalized when he died
A Utah County man who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Wasatch County woman who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Weber County man who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when he died
A Weber County woman who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Weber County man who was over the age of 85 and was hospitalized when he died
A Weber County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
Wednesday’s totals give Utah 357,339 total confirmed cases, with 14,007 total hospitalizations and 1,765 total deaths from the disease. An estimated 326,237 Utah COVID-19 cases are now considered recovered, the health department reported.
There is not a COVID-19 news conference scheduled for Wednesday. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is scheduled to provide a pandemic update at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Methodology:
Test results now include data from PCR tests and antigen tests. Positive COVID-19 test results are reported to the health department immediately after they are confirmed, but negative test results may not be reported for 24 to 72 hours.
The total number of cases reported by the Utah Department of Health each day includes all cases of COVID-19 since Utah’s outbreak began, including those who are currently infected, those who have recovered from the disease, and those who have died.
Recovered cases are defined as anyone who was diagnosed with COVID-19 three or more weeks ago and has not died.
Referral hospitals are the 16 Utah hospitals with the capability to provide the best COVID-19 health care.
Deaths reported by the state typically occurred two to seven days prior to when they are reported, according to the health department. Some deaths may be from even further back, especially if the person is from Utah but has died in another state.
The health department reports both confirmed and probable COVID-19 case deaths per the case definition outlined by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. The death counts are subject to change as case investigations are completed.
For deaths that are reported as COVID-19 deaths, the person would not have died if they did not have COVID-19, according to the health department.
Data included in this story primarily reflects the state of Utah as a whole. For more localized data, visit your local health district’s website.
More information about Utah’s health guidance levels is available at coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-health-guidance-levels.
Information is from the Utah Department of Health and coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts. For more information on how the Utah Department of Health compiles and reports COVID-19 data, visit coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts and scroll down to the “Data Notes” section at the bottom of the page.
The biggest winter snow storm in years battered Cincinnati Tuesday, dropping 5 to 10 inches of snow for many areas.And the snow is not over yet, with a second round expected to bring additional accumulations Wednesday. LIVE RADAR // LATEST WEATHER ALERTS // CLOSURES & DELAYSA Winter Weather Advisory goes into effect at 10 a.m. for a few Ohio counties and many counties south of the Ohio River.Snow showers move in Wednesday morning, bringing a system that should stick around for the next couple of days.Temperatures will be cold enough for all varieties of wintry weather, but mostly snow and some sleet. A little freezing rain could mix in for areas south of the Ohio River. The second round of snow will bring lighter accumulations, ranging from 1 to 3 inches for most areas.A very light glaze of ice will also be possible in southern communities. Highs will be around 25 degrees Wednesday and 28 degrees Thursday. Lows both nights will be down into the upper teens. Cincinnati will get a break from the busy weather Friday into Saturday, before another potent storm arrives Saturday night and into Valentine’s Day.This could also be accompanied by the brutal cold we have been watching with highs in the teens Sunday and below zero for lows by Sunday night. Details of this system are still being worked out, but it could bring with it more accumulating snow. Stay tuned.
CINCINNATI —
The biggest winter snow storm in years battered Cincinnati Tuesday, dropping 5 to 10 inches of snow for many areas.
And the snow is not over yet, with a second round expected to bring additional accumulations Wednesday.
LIVE RADAR // LATEST WEATHER ALERTS // CLOSURES & DELAYS
A Winter Weather Advisory goes into effect at 10 a.m. for a few Ohio counties and many counties south of the Ohio River.
Snow showers move in Wednesday morning, bringing a system that should stick around for the next couple of days.
Temperatures will be cold enough for all varieties of wintry weather, but mostly snow and some sleet. A little freezing rain could mix in for areas south of the Ohio River.
The second round of snow will bring lighter accumulations, ranging from 1 to 3 inches for most areas.
A very light glaze of ice will also be possible in southern communities. Highs will be around 25 degrees Wednesday and 28 degrees Thursday. Lows both nights will be down into the upper teens.
Cincinnati will get a break from the busy weather Friday into Saturday, before another potent storm arrives Saturday night and into Valentine’s Day.
This could also be accompanied by the brutal cold we have been watching with highs in the teens Sunday and below zero for lows by Sunday night.
Details of this system are still being worked out, but it could bring with it more accumulating snow. Stay tuned.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s number of COVID-19 cases has increased by 1,591 on Wednesday, with 12 more deaths reported, according to the Utah Department of Health.
Three of those deaths occurred before January 14 but were still being investigated by the Utah state medical examiner’s office, according to the health department.
There are now an estimated 35,431 active COVID-19 cases in Utah, according to the health department. The rolling seven-day average number of positive cases per day is now at 1,334, according to the health department. The positive test rate per day for that time period is now 16.6%.
There are now 352 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized in Utah, including 119 in intensive care, state data shows. About 75% of intensive care unit beds in Utah are filled as of Wednesday, including about 79% of ICU beds in the state’s 16 referral hospitals. About 54% of non-ICU hospital beds are filled, according to the health department.
A total of 345,179 vaccines have been administered in the state, up from 325,457 Tuesday. Of those, 77,824 are second doses of the vaccine, according to state data.
The new numbers indicate a 0.5% increase in positive cases since Tuesday. Of the 2,044,811 people tested for COVID-19 in Utah so far, 17.1% have tested positive for COVID-19. The total number of tests conducted increased by 16,507 as of Wednesday, and 9,149 of those were tests of people who had not previously been tested for COVID-19.
The 12 deaths reported Wednesday were:
Two Salt Lake County men who were between the ages of 65 and 84 and were hospitalized when they died
Two Salt Lake County men who were between the ages of 45 and 64 and were hospitalized when they died
A Utah County man who was between the ages of 45 and 64 and was hospitalized when he died
A Utah County man who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when he died
A Weber County man who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Box Elder County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was hospitalized when she died
A Davis County woman who was over the age of 85 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Davis County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Salt Lake County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
A Washington County woman who was between the ages of 65 and 84 and was a resident of a long-term care facility
Wednesday’s totals give Utah 350,000 total confirmed cases, with 13,648 total hospitalizations and 1,697 total deaths from the disease. A total of 312,872 Utah COVID-19 cases are now considered recovered, according to the health department.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is scheduled to provide a pandemic update at 11 a.m. Thursday, according to the governor’s office.
Methodology:
Test results now include data from PCR tests and antigen tests. Positive COVID-19 test results are reported to the health department immediately after they are confirmed, but negative test results may not be reported for 24 to 72 hours.
The total number of cases reported by the Utah Department of Health each day includes all cases of COVID-19 since Utah’s outbreak began, including those who are currently infected, those who have recovered from the disease, and those who have died.
Recovered cases are defined as anyone who was diagnosed with COVID-19 three or more weeks ago and has not died.
Referral hospitals are the 16 Utah hospitals with the capability to provide the best COVID-19 health care.
Deaths reported by the state typically occurred two to seven days prior to when they are reported, according to the health department. Some deaths may be from even further back, especially if the person is from Utah but has died in another state.
The health department reports both confirmed and probable COVID-19 case deaths per the case definition outlined by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. The death counts are subject to change as case investigations are completed.
For deaths that are reported as COVID-19 deaths, the person would not have died if they did not have COVID-19, according to the health department.
Data included in this story primarily reflects the state of Utah as a whole. For more localized data, visit your local health district’s website.
More information about Utah’s health guidance levels is available at coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-health-guidance-levels.
Information is from the Utah Department of Health and coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts. For more information on how the Utah Department of Health compiles and reports COVID-19 data, visit coronavirus.utah.gov/case-counts and scroll down to the “Data Notes” section at the bottom of the page.
House Republicans will gather Wednesday afternoon for a conference meeting that comes as two of its members are in hot water for very different reasons, and they could face threats to their futures in the party.
Debate is expected at the meeting about the standing in the conference of Reps. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. Cheney angered many of her fellow Republicans with a vote to impeach former President Trump, triggering a push by some of the Trump loyalists in the conference to remove her as the conference chair.
And intense focus is on Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., over Greene. The GOP leader Tuesday had his long-awaited, in-person talk with Greene — who’s shown little if any remorse for previously espousing conspiracy theories.
Democrats are moving to potentially strip Greene of her committee assignments if McCarthy doesn’t. That will be a topic of discussion in a separate Rules Committee meeting Wednesday. But some Republicans have alleged a double standard given past anti-Semitic affiliations of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and inciteful words from Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif. A group of Republicans moved to strip Omar of her committee assignments Tuesday.
Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., is under fire for her impeachment vote, and a number of House Republicans are supporting an effort to oust her as the GOP conference chair. (William B. Plowman/NBC/NBC NewsWire via Getty Images)
GRAHAM BACKS CHENEY AMID ATTACKS OVER HER TRUMP IMPEACHMENT VOTE
Politico reported Wednesday that McCarthy is likely McCarthy will try to work out a deal with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., to get Democrats to back off a vote to remove Greene from committees, which would place House GOP members in a painful political position. If that doesn’t work, McCarthy is leaning toward removing Greene from at least the House Education and Labor Committee on his own, Politico reported — she is also on the Budget Committee.
Responding to that news, Greene said in a tweet: “No matter what @GOPLeader does it would never be enough for the hate America Democrats.”
The movement to remove Cheney as the GOP conference chair is spearheaded by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who traveled to Wyoming last week to hold a political rally against Cheney.
“We are in a battle for the soul of the Republican party and I intend to win it,” Gaetz said. He was joined by phone by Donald Trump Jr., who said “it’s time to have a change at the top.”
Cheney is backed by a number of other members of the conference, however, including Reps. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas; Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y.; Chip Roy, R-Colo.; Tom Cole, R-Okla., and others. She also received tepid support from McCarthy.
But more recently some powerful Senate voices have backed Cheney, led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who usually does not insert himself into House affairs.
“Liz Cheney is a leader with deep convictions and the courage to act on them. She is an important leader in our party and in our nation. I am grateful for her service and look forward to continuing to work with her on the crucial issues facing our nation,” McConnell said in a statement Monday.
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., grabs the hand of a supporter following a rally against U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, outside the Wyoming State Capitol in Cheyenne. Gaetz spoke to hundreds, bashing Cheney after she voted to impeach former President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, and he called for a group effort in finding the right nominee to replace her when she is up for reelection in 2022. (Michael Cummo/The Wyoming Tribune Eagle via AP)
GOP LAWMAKERS SEEK TO REMOVE OMAR FROM COMMITTEES AS DEMS PRESS TO DROP GREENE FROM PANEL
McConnell has made clear his disdain for Trump after the former president’s post-election behavior. But one of the senators who’s been most involved in Trump’s impeachment defense also backed Cheney.
“I believe @RepLizCheney is one of the strongest and most reliable conservative voices in the Republican Party,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said. “She is a fiscal and social conservative, and no one works harder to ensure that our military is well prepared.”
He added: “Liz knows that a strong America is a safe America. She believes we must confront radical Islam and take the fight to them to ensure there are no more 9/11’s. In the eyes of many – Liz Cheney’s experience, leadership, and strength are invaluable to the Republican Party.”
The Republicans who are upset at Cheney over her impeachment vote said that her stance against Trump — who she said “summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack” — means she’s out of touch with the majority of the House GOP conference, which is still loyal to the twice-impeached former president.
“When Representative Cheney came out for impeachment today, she failed to consult with the Conference, failed to abide by the spirit of the rules of the Republican Conference, and ignored the preferences of Republican voters,” Rep. Matt Rosendale, R-Mont., who was among the first to call for her ouster as conference chair, said. “She is weakening our conference at a key moment for personal political gain and is unfit to lead.”
There’s expected to be major disagreements over what to do about Cheney at the Wednesday conference, who has been working the phones to whip support, multiple sources tell Fox News.
LIVE UPDATES: GRAHAM FOLLOWS MCCONNELL IN DEFENDING CHENEY AFTER HER TRUMP IMPEACHMENT VOTE
They add that Cheney will likely make her case at the meeting but is not expected to apologize for her impeachment vote. Instead, she’s expected to talk about the future of the Republican Party.
Meanwhile, it’s likely there will also be discussion about Greene’s future in the House GOP.
House Republicans have been largely silent on Greene, including and especially the leadership. Asked if any decisions were made at a House GOP Steering Committee meeting Tuesday night, Minority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., said “No, we’re still going to be working through some things.”
But some Senate Republicans this week, as they threw their support behind Cheney, also condemned Greene, citing past conspiratorial comments.
“Somebody who’s suggested that perhaps no airplane hit the Pentagon on 9/11, that horrifying school shootings were pre-staged, and that the Clintons crashed JFK Jr.’s airplane is not living in reality,” McConnell said Monday. “This has nothing to do with the challenges facing American families or the robust debates on substance that can strengthen our party.”
Former President Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., meet at Mar-a-lago Thursday. (Save America PAC)
AS MCCARTHY SEEKS UNITY WITH TRUMP, GAETZ SLAMS CHENEY IN WYOMING AMID SPECULATION OVER PRIMARY CHALLENGES
Senate Republican Conference Chair John Barrasso of Wyoming, who has defended Cheney, on Tuesday compared Greene to former Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, who the House GOP stripped of committee assignments over racist statements.
“I think our party has to make it very clear that she does not represent us in any way. Our big tent is not large enough to both accommodate conservatives and kooks,” Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, also said.
What likely won’t happen Wednesday is a vote to remove Cheney as the conference chair, which would require a petition that she step down with 20% of the conference — or 43 members — signed on to be submitted at the meeting. Then, it would require a two-thirds vote to suspend the rules — or McCarthy’s support — to get to an up-or-down vote on a resolution that Cheney step down.
Instead, it will probably be a longer process with a petition calling for a special conference meeting to consider such a resolution, with the same requirements, submitted after Wednesday. House conservatives say that they have well over 100 members willing to remove Cheney as conference chair.
If those circulating the petition against Cheney do get the requisite number of signatures, then the petition must be granted within 10 legislative days. At that meeting, the resolution could be either voted on immediately with two-thirds support or with McCarthy’s support, or it would be sent to a committee. That committee would later report the resolution with a favorable or unfavorable recommendation, which could then be passed by a simple majority vote.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) heads to the Senate floor before being called into session on Jan. 26, 2021, in Washington, D.C. McConnell made two unusual forays into House affairs this week with statements supporting Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and condemning Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., as a person “not living in reality.” (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
TRUMP PUSHES POLL SHOWING CHENEY WOUNDED IN WYOMING BY IMPEACHMENT VOTE
The resolution would be that Cheney should step down as the leader of the conference, not to actually remove her, so it would not actually have force. But it is not expected that Cheney would attempt to remain conference chair if the resolution passes.
Trump Jr. indicated at the Thursday rally that those interested in ousting Cheney may take their time in this process, warning that if too many Trump-supporting congressmen run for Cheney’s spot, she could keep her seat with the support of less than half of the conference.
“Let’s find exactly the opposite of her, and let’s back that person fully,” Trump Jr. said at the Gaetz rally. “But let’s not make that decision today. We have some time. Let’s find the right one, let’s not split this vote up and blow our opportunity to get rid of a RINO.”
What Republicans do about Cheney and Greene may also indicate the path it will take in the post-Trump era.
Donald Trump Jr. waits for President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump to arrive and board Air Force One for a final time at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. Trump Jr. last week joined a rally against Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., by phone. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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Some members still want to hold tightly to the former president, who has indicated that he will fuel primary challenges to any members he sees as insufficiently loyal to him. That fear of a primary challenge, plus Trump’s loyal base, may guide many members’ actions, just as it did during Trump’s presidency.
But others worry that if the GOP accepts Greene while rebuking Cheney, it may keep the Trump base happy at the expense of its morality and any hope of winning moderates in future elections.
“I think we should have nothing to do with Marjorie Taylor Greene, and think we should repudiate the things she said and move away from her,” Romney said.
Fox News’ Kelly Phares, Chad Pergram, Jason Donner, Mike Emanuel and Paul Steinhauser 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
