As of 12:05 p.m. today:

    Newly Reported Cases: 6,079

    Daily Percent Positive: 12.5%

    NC Currently Hospitalized: 2,872

    NC Total Deaths: 21,968

    Percent of Adult Population at Least Partially Vaccinated: 75%

    Percent of Adult Population Fully Vaccinated: 71%

    More data are available online at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard.

    Daily Update:

• The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services will host a live fireside chat and tele-town hall today, Feb. 16, from 6–7 p.m. to discuss COVID-19 vaccines, boosters and more. In recognition of Black History Month, the event will hone in on health disparities and initiatives to advance health equity.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
• NCDHHS encourages North Carolinians to seek mental health support through the Hope4NC helpline (1-855-587-3463) available 24/7 via call, text or chat. Read more.
• NCDHHS announced updates have been made to the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit focusing on strategies that are most effective at this stage of the pandemic.

    COVID-19 Vaccinations:

• A free COVID-19 vaccine is available to all who want it. Vaccination is now open to everyone 5 and older. Visit MySpot.nc.gov to find a location.
• To strengthen and extend protections against COVID-19, boosters are now available to all North Carolinians 16 and older. If you are eligible, you should get a booster now.
• If you received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you can get your booster six months after your second shot. If you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you can get your booster two months after your shot. Anyone over 50 or at high risk should get a booster dose now.
• You can choose any brand of COVID-19 vaccine for your booster shot. Limited preliminary evidence suggests that booster doses of one of the two mRNA vaccines – Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech- more effectively raise antibody levels than a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
• To learn more about boosters and to find a spot to take your shot, go here.
• For more information on the COVID-19 vaccines, visit YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov or call the COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center for free at 1-888-675-4567.

    COVID-19 Testing & Treatment:

• If you develop symptoms, get tested immediately and isolate until you receive your test results. If you test positive, follow isolation recommendations. If you do not develop symptoms, get tested at least five days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
• To find a testing site near you, visit ncdhhs.gov/GetTested. For an up-to-date list of no-cost community testing events, visit the No-Cost Testing Events webpage. Additionally, all North Carolinians can request a free at-home COVID-19 testing kit.
• While vaccines provide the best protection from COVID-19, treatment options such as monoclonal antibodies are available if you have had symptoms of COVID-19 for 10 days or less or have been exposed to COVID-19. If taken early, they can reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Ask your doctor about monoclonal antibodies, call the Combat COVID Monoclonal Antibodies Call Center at 1-877-332-6585 (English) or 1-877-366-0310 (Spanish), or find treatment near you.

    ICYMI:

• The North Carolina National Guard deployed guard members to Alamance Regional Medical Center, part of the Cone Health System, in Burlington, N.C. to support staff and hospital operations.
• Wastewater monitoring data from North Carolina are now part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention national COVID Data Tracker website.
• Governor Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Kinsley visited and toured King’s Pharmacy & Compounding Lab in New Hanover County, a local pharmacy distributing COVID-19 vaccines.

    For a full list of the department’s videos on COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines, visit the NCDHHS YouTube Channel. Videos can also be downloaded for use on the NCDHHS Vimeo Channel.

    For more information and updates on COVID-19, visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov and nc.gov/covid19. Those with COVID-19 vaccine questions can call the COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center at 1-888-675-4567, or visit YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov.

    Contact:

    North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

    Email: news@dhhs.nc.gov  •  Phone: (919) 855-4840