Chapel Hill

We see Ester Amy Fischer hugging her mother while they take a selfie. Her mother Barbara, who wears a purple shirt with spotted patterns, is smiling with laughter.

For some long-term care residents, vaccine comes too late

January 20, 2021 by Hannah Critchfield 2 Comments

For some long-term care residents, vaccine comes too late - North Carolina Health News

What happens when an outbreak strikes a facility while residents inside wait for a vaccine?

By Hannah Critchfield Even as North Carolina enters the second phase of its vaccine plan, some long-term care residents are still waiting for the COVID-19 vaccine. For Barbara Fischer, an 83-year-old dementia patient at Brookdale Meadowmont, it could be coming too late. When the state announced that people in long-term care facilities would be among […]

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.

UNC’s one-week experiment with COVID-19 and on-campus life

August 18, 2020 by Anne Blythe

UNC’s one-week experiment with COVID-19 and on-campus life - North Carolina Health News

Parties, clusters and too much quick virus spread force UNC-Chapel Hill to reverse course.

By Anne Blythe The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has long touted itself as a place where groundbreaking research occurs. Six months into this coronavirus pandemic, the university conducted a live research project: Can an academic institution integrate more than 22,000 students in their late teens and early 20s back into a small […]

shows low level satellite photo of a dam feeding into a river, surrounded by trees, GenX

Attorney general investigating industries that pollute NC’s waterways with PFAS

August 12, 2020 by Greg Barnes

Attorney general investigating industries that pollute NC’s waterways with PFAS - North Carolina Health News

The so-called “forever chemicals” are ubiquitous in North Carolina, especially in the Cape Fear River basin. AG Josh Stein says the state must hold polluters accountable.

By Greg Barnes North Carolina’s attorney general says he has started an investigation into manufacturers that contaminate the state’s waterways with per-or polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS or “forever chemicals.” “North Carolinians expect and deserve clean water to drink,” Attorney General Josh Stein said in a news release on Monday announcing his investigation. “The […]

Coronavirus Today – July 14: “Plan B” for K-12 schools; district choices; simmering COVID-19 trends and metrics

July 14, 2020 by Anne Blythe

Coronavirus Today – July 14: “Plan B” for K-12 schools; district choices; simmering COVID-19 trends and metrics - North Carolina Health News

NC governor recommends in-person combined with remote teaching for the coming K-12 school year. Each district would have discretion over the exact mix.

By Anne Blythe Once school resumes next month, North Carolina’s 1.5 million public school children will have the opportunity for some in-class instruction across the state while some kids might continue with remote learning only. Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Tuesday that he had selected his “Plan B,” a hybrid model for instructing children in […]

Shows a large indoor arena fulled with people. If the RNC comes to Charlotte, this venue could be filled with about 19,000 Republicans, possibly putting them at risk for COVID.

Coronavirus Today – June 2 – GOP convention and NC demands; Cooper shares Bible story for Trump; COVID graph day

June 2, 2020 by Editor

Coronavirus Today – June 2 – GOP convention and NC demands; Cooper shares Bible story for Trump; COVID graph day - North Carolina Health News

Gov. Roy Cooper and President Donald Trump have different ideas for staging a GOP National Convention in Charlotte.

By North Carolina Health News staff Cooper, Trump and the RNC Convention Gov. Roy Cooper was on the phone with President Donald Trump on Friday evening, having a back and forth about the president’s demands for a no-holds-barred Republican National Convention in Charlotte this summer, despite COVID-19. North Carolina public health officials report they’ve been […]

A coronavirus sign at the entrance to a closed salon says the establishment will be closed until farther notice.

Spas, salons seek a way back from COVID closures

April 21, 2020 by Melba Newsome

Spas, salons seek a way back from COVID closures - North Carolina Health News

After more than a month without customers or income because of social distancing restrictions, personal services businesses are looking for ways to get back to work. But it may not be that simple.

By Melba Newsome Spa and salons are just some of the many North Carolina businesses that have been put on ice to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Roy Cooper’s March 23 announcement that salons, barbershops, nail parlors and gyms would have to close their doors to slow the spread of the virus did not come […]

little girl carrying a pink pail leans over to pluck a pink easter egg from the grass. Because of Coronavirus, egg hunts have gone virtual this year.

Coronavirus Today – April 10 – ‘Moving protests’, mental health care for frontline workers, virtual egg hunts

April 10, 2020 by Editor

Coronavirus Today – April 10 – ‘Moving protests’, mental health care for frontline workers, virtual egg hunts - North Carolina Health News

As North Carolina heads into Easter weekend in isolation, some organizations have put up virtual egg hunts. Meanwhile, The State Employees Credit Union has contributed $10 million for coronavirus relief.

By North Carolina Health News staff Worker at Fayetteville Hardee’s tests positive for COVID-19 A Harnett County resident who worked for a Hardee’s in Fayetteville has tested positive for COVID-19. The Cumberland County Department of Public Health said in a statement that it is urging people who were at the Hardee’s at 2309 Gillespie St. […]

Shows hands pouring a chemical into a testing container that labeled "Microfiber filter" These processes - along with mass spectrometry - helped identify GenX in the Cape Fear River. NC State will have a research center dedicated to PFAS.

N.C. State receives $7.4 million grant to establish PFAS research center

March 18, 2020 by Greg Barnes

N.C. State receives $7.4 million grant to establish PFAS research center - North Carolina Health News

The center will expand on existing studies, including human exposure to PFAS in Wilmington and the Fayetteville area, and take a deeper look into getting rid of the chemicals.

By Greg Barnes During the past few years, researchers at N.C. State University have taken blood and tap water samples from people in the Wilmington and Fayetteville areas to assess their exposure to GenX and other PFAS chemicals. Now, with a $7.4 million federal grant announced this month, they plan to dive even deeper into […]

A support group participant for people caring for loved ones with memory loss and dementia

With dementia at flood tide in NC, person-to-person support groups address problems

February 26, 2020 by Thomas Goldsmith

With dementia at flood tide in NC, person-to-person support groups address problems - North Carolina Health News

North Carolina faces a flood of people with dementia that will reach 300,000 by 2030. Responses as simple as person-to-person support groups address gaps that big medicine has yet to fill.

By Thomas Goldsmith Stan Eskridge learned about sundown syndrome not long ago when his wife of 54 years showed shocking anger toward him near the end of the day. Eskridge recalled his experiences last week as part of his check-in among a room of people in a Chapel Hill support group for dementia caregivers. Group […]

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