asymptomatic transmission

Health care workers at a COVID-19 drive-thru site in Fayetteville prepare to administer rapid antigen tests. Photo credit: Greg Barnes

Did rapid antigen tests help fuel after-Christmas surge of COVID-19?

January 12, 2021 by Greg Barnes

Did rapid antigen tests help fuel after-Christmas surge of COVID-19? - North Carolina Health News

Despite their good intentions, some people who tested negative for the coronavirus using a rapid antigen test before visiting friends and family over Christmas may have developed a false sense of security. A new report shows that the rapid test missed the virus in nearly 60 percent of people who were infected but not yet showing symptoms.

By Greg Barnes Ten days after Christmas, a line of vehicles spilled out of a COVID-19 drive-thru testing site in Fayetteville, snarling traffic on a busy street. That Monday was among the site’s busiest. Its director, Dr. Robert Clinton, said about 900 people were tested that day, so many that he decided to switch from […]

shows the back of a wheelchair, with an old and wizened hand on the arm of the chair

COVID-free nursing homes fought hard to keep virus out

November 19, 2020 by Thomas Goldsmith

COVID-free nursing homes fought hard to keep virus out - North Carolina Health News

More than 200 North Carolina nursing homes have succeeded in totally excluding COVID-19 infections. What did they do right? This is the first of two stories exploring what skilled nursing facilities can do and have done to prevent COVID infections for the people in their care.

This story has been supported by the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous and compelling reporting about responses to social problems, http://solutionsjournalism.org. By Thomas Goldsmith Even as more than 1,800 of North Carolina’s nursing home residents have died from COVID since March, thousands more of these most vulnerable have escaped the horrific grip […]

three girls are dressed as a banana split - complete with a large yellow banana made out of carboard that goes around all three of them and tall white hats that look like whipped cream

Should kids trick-or-treat in 2020? How to celebrate the Day of the Dead.

October 22, 2020 by Anne Blythe

Should kids trick-or-treat in 2020? How to celebrate the Day of the Dead. - North Carolina Health News

Duke physicians weigh in on celebrating Halloween and Dia de los Muertos as COVID-19 surges.

By Anne Blythe Halloween is on the horizon and many families are wrestling with the idea of letting their kids deck themselves out in costumes and go trick-or-treating. Pandemic fatigue has set in at many households, making many nostalgic for the days when the little kids could parade around as little Elsas, fearless Spidermen, witches, […]

shows a sign reading, "Did you remember your MASK?" in the foreground, in the background is the iconic Old Well on the UNC Chapel Hill campus, two young men in masks walk by.

Colleges’ opening fueled 3,000 COVID cases a day, researchers say

September 26, 2020 by Kaiser Health News

Colleges’ opening fueled 3,000 COVID cases a day, researchers say - North Carolina Health News

Colleges created reopening plans that did not conform to a single standard, setting up for chaos once students returned to campuses.

By Michael McAuliff Kaiser Health News Reopening colleges drove a coronavirus surge of about 3,000 new cases a day in the United States, according to a draft study released Tuesday. The study, done jointly by researchers at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, Indiana University, the University of Washington and Davidson College, tracked cellphone data and […]

shows Trump walking across the tarmac, people crowd behind barriers on the other side of the concrete runway, he's not wearing a mask against COVID-19, most spectators aren't either

Coronavirus Today – Sep. 15 – Political rallies, masks and respect; Tillis, Cunningham and vaccine; Get your flu shot

September 15, 2020 by Anne Blythe

Coronavirus Today – Sep. 15 – Political rallies, masks and respect; Tillis, Cunningham and vaccine; Get your flu shot - North Carolina Health News

North Carolina has seen its COVID-19 positivity rates go down in recent days. Is it a lasting trend, or will events such as political rallies and holidays bump cases back up?

By Anne Blythe Mandy Cohen, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, may not have said the president’s name out loud Tuesday when she put her hand on the microphone in front of her as she spoke into the camera. Nonetheless, her message during a briefing with reporters was clear. President […]

Test for coronavirus (COVID-19) in padded box. Aside from handwashing and social distancing, there aren't many specific measures for coronavirus.

Coronavirus Today – July 2 – NC needs testing reagents; it’s data day; face masks and impact on trends, metrics

July 2, 2020 by Anne Blythe

Coronavirus Today – July 2 – NC needs testing reagents; it’s data day; face masks and impact on trends, metrics - North Carolina Health News

As the Fourth of July holiday weekend nears, public health leaders worry about crowds and further coronavirus spread

By Anne Blythe Deja vu all over again on testing supply shortages? Mandy Cohen, secretary of the state Department of Health and Human Services, has twice this week sounded an alarm on supply shortages that are causing longer waits for COVID-19 test results. During this phase of the pandemic, North Carolina has increased statewide testing […]

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