Coronavirus updates for Jan. 26: Here’s what to know in North Carolina this week

We’re tracking information about the coronavirus and vaccines in North Carolina. Check back every Thursday for updates.

12,000 new COVID cases reported

At least 12,862 new coronavirus cases were reported in North Carolina last week, down from 15,219 the week before, according to preliminary data from state health officials.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services also reported 1,114 new weekly COVID-19 hospital patient admissions, a drop from 1,363 the previous week, according to figures through Jan. 21, the most recent metrics available. The daily average of adult coronavirus patients in intensive care was 168, compared to 190 the week before.

The figures — which were released Wednesday, Jan. 25 — show roughly 78% of adults in North Carolina have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, and about 74% have finished an initial round of vaccine doses. Of the state’s total population, about 63% finished their initial round and about 67% have received at least one dose. State officials round vaccination metrics to the nearest whole number.

“Out of all people who have finished their initial vaccines in North Carolina, 59% have been vaccinated with at least one booster, and 21% with an updated omicron booster,” the health department wrote on its website.

Health officials have urged those who are eligible to get boosted, as data shows it offers increased protection against the omicron coronavirus variant. Across the state, virtually all new COVID-19 cases were attributed to the omicron variant’s “lineages” in the two weeks leading up to Jan. 14, the latest time period for which data is available.

Long COVID program offered in Charlotte

For those experiencing symptoms weeks or months after a COVID-19 infection, a treatment option is available in Charlotte.

Atrium Health has a Post COVID Recovery Care program to help those in the area who have long COVID, The Charlotte Observer reported on Jan. 23.

The resource is available for when “you’ve had COVID, you’ve recovered from your acute symptoms, and still four weeks or six weeks or 12 weeks after that initial positive test, you’re just not back to your usual self,” Britney Broyhill of Atrium Health previously told the Observer.

While long COVID symptoms can vary, common signs include fatigue, coughing and breathing problems. A recent study found symptoms typically start to wane after a year.

Inhaled COVID vaccine shows promise, researchers say

A “no-needle” COVID-19 vaccine may do better at protecting patients when compared to traditional injections, new research finds.

An inhaled version of the vaccine was found to be “’far more effective’ at kickstarting the body’s ‘protective’ immune response than shots,” McClatchy News reported on Jan. 20.

The vaccine, which was created in Canada, works by transforming a liquid into a breathable mist. Researchers said the vaccine targets parts of the virus that don’t mutate, allowing it to protect against possible variants.

“The current vaccination strategy for COVID-19 has us constantly chasing the virus, and it’s clear that we simply can’t keep up,” Dr. Matthew Miller, a study leader, wrote in a statement.

More information about the pre-clinical trial results is available here.

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