10:30 p.m.
A Durham restaurant will mandate the COVID vaccine for any potential diners.
Starting Aug. 10, Rue Cler will require proof of a COVID vaccine.
Durham restaurant mandates COVID vaccine for diners
6 p.m.
We ask Duke's Dr. Lisa Pickett: What do we know about transmission of the Delta variant outside?
Q&A: What do we know about transmission of the Delta variant outside?
5 p.m.
Durham's mask mandate takes effect. What you need to know:
Mask mandate now in effect in Durham
5 p.m.
Raleigh City Council member Jonathan Melton said he has tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated.
Raleigh City Council member has breakthrough COVID case
He said he has some sinus congestion, but that's really been his only symptom.
Melton told ABC11 that he was notified last week that he had an exposure so he went and got tested and it came back positive.
He said he's been isolating at home.
Melton said he got the Pfizer vaccine back in March.
"My symptoms have been very mild and I'm very, very fortunate and glad I got the vaccine," he said.
3:45 p.m.
As COVID-19 infections surge again in the U.S., health officials are warning of a concerning uptick in pediatric cases and hospitalizations across the country, just as many children head back to the classroom.
After declining in the early summer, child COVID-19 cases have steadily increased again in recent weeks. In a newly released weekly report, which compiles state-by-state data on COVID-19 cases among children, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Children's Hospital Association (CHA) found that nearly 94,000 new child COVID-19 cases were reported last week, a continued "substantial" increase.
Since the onset of the pandemic, just under 4.3 million children have tested positive for COVID-19, with children representing 15.0% of all reported COVID-19 cases, in the last week.
In a similar trend, pediatric COVID-19 related hospital admissions in the U.S. have seen their steepest and most significant increase, since the onset of the pandemic.
1:05 p.m.
The Pentagon will require members of the U.S. military to get the COVID-19 vaccine by Sept. 15, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press. That deadline could be pushed up if the vaccine receives final FDA approval or infection rates continue to rise.
"I will seek the president's approval to make the vaccines mandatory no later than mid-September, or immediately upon" licensure by the Food and Drug Administration "whichever comes first," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says in the memo to troops, warning them to prepare for the requirement. "I will not hesitate to act sooner or recommend a different course to the President if l feel the need to do so."
Click here for more on this story.
12:45 p.m.
Durham County Health said it is out of Summer Cash Cards at its vaccination clinic.
Health officials said there will be more Tuesday, but anyone 18 and up who receives their first dose Monday or drives someone to receive their first dose will have the option to have their summer cash emailed to them this weekend.
12:15 p.m.
North Carolina saw a large spike in COVID-19 cases over the weekend.
The latest COVID-19 metrics in North Carolina
5,046 new cases were reported on Saturday. That number surged to 6,892 on Sunday.
3,863 cases were reported on Monday.
1,946 people are currently hospitalized in North Carolina with COVID-19.
264 confirmed COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals in the last 24 hours.
The percent of positive tests in the state is at 11.1%. This is the first time the state has exceed 11% since Feb.1.
The state surpassed 5 million first doses with 5,001,487 partially vaccinated.
11:20 a.m.
Durham Mayor Steve Schewel was joined by Durham County Board of Commissioners Chair Brenda Howerton to announce the pending restart of an indoor mask mandate throughout the city and county.
The two leaders stood side-by-side to show unity behind the mask requirements, which go into effect at 5 p.m. Monday.
"Facemasks are a common sense, non-economically damaging way of limiting transmission (of COVID-19)," Schewel said. "If we want to keep our economy open, if we want to keep gathering together--as we are able to do now in public settings--we have got to wear facemasks to limit the spread of the virus in Durham County."
Schewel said the mandate does include fully vaccinated individuals. He said that is because health experts have evidence that the delta variant can still be spread by fully vaccinated people who do not look or feel sick.
Duke Health System had just five COVID cases a month ago. One week ago, the system had 56 cases. Schewel said this is just one practical example that proves the virus is spreading in and around Durham.
"The pandemic that we are experiencing now is a pandemic of the unvaccinated--it's a pandemic of the unvaccinated," Schewel said. "More than 90 percent of the cases are among the unvaccinated. This virus, this delta virus knows no political boundaries. If you are unvaccinated--I just want to make this clear--if you are unvaccinated, the chances are good that the virus will find you."
Schewel said he and city manager Wanda Page are considering installing a vaccine mandate or weekly testing requirement for city employees.
He said many private companies in Durham and across the country have already started requiring vaccines for employees. He said he expects and encourages more companies to do the same.
Durham mayor explains restart of indoor mask mandate
10:30 a.m.
Cape Fear Valley Health announced that, due to the high spread of cases in the community, it has made modifications to the current visitation policy.
Most Cape Fear Valley Medical Center inpatients, Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center patients, Bladen County Hospital and Hoke Hospital patients may have no more than two visitors from noon and 8 p.m. Visitors must be at least 12 years old, and no more than two visitors at a time are allowed in a patient's room.
9:25 a.m.
Canada on Monday is lifting its prohibition on Americans crossing the border to shop, vacation or visit, but the United States is keeping similar restrictions in place for Canadians, part of a bumpy return to normalcy from COVID-19 travel bans.
U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents must be both fully vaccinated and test negative for COVID-19 within three days to get across one of the world's longest and busiest land borders. Travelers also must fill out a detailed on application on the arriveCAN app before crossing.
Even though travelers have to register, the Canada Border Services Agency won't say how many people they are expecting to enter Canada for the reopening. But travelers should plan for the possibility of additional processing time at the border.
Click here to read more on this story.
MONDAY MORNING HEADLINES
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Masks will once again be required in all Durham buildings starting at 5 p.m. Monday.
A new state of emergency in the city and county will go into effect in response to Durham's COVID-19 positivity rate doubling over the past month.
Leaders said they're concerned about the rise in COVID cases and spread of the delta variant.
Durham Mayor Steve Schewel will talk about the mandate starting at 11 a.m. on ABC11.
"There's no need to pass my germs onto someone I'm only going to see in passing, and I might do something that affects their life irrevocably," D'Nae Henderson said. "That's how I think about it. It's not a big deal. I have a beautiful mask."
Carrboro is also upping its mask regulations. All employees and visitors inside town facilities will have to wear a mask. Town employees are also required to be vaccinated by Sept. 1.
People who still need to get vaccinated will be happy to learn the state's $100 cash cards are back in stock. The cards, which were being given at certain sites to people getting their first COVID-19 vaccine dose, ran out last week.
NCDHHS said the the cards are back in stock Monday. Click here for more on how to get yours.
Meanwhile, Dr. Anthony Fauci is hopeful that FDA will fully approve Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine by the end of August.
When that happens, Fauci said it will likely start a new wave of vaccine requirements--with schools, businesses and other organizations requiring people to be vaccinated.
Right now, Pfizer is among three vaccines given emergency use authorization by the FDA.
FRIDAY
3:40 p.m.
Mike Nagowski, Chief Executive Officer for Cape Fear Valley Health System, on Friday described the Delta variant as "like the original COVID on steroids."
Cumberland County health officials said the COVID-19 positive infection rate is currently above 15% there and hospitalizations are increasing.
"In the last six weeks, as the Delta variant has taken hold...we now have 89 people who are COVID positive in our hospital. Almost every single person in the hospital is unvaccinated," said Nagowski.
The medical center is seeing younger patients, health officials said. "The people dying today are far different than those who were dying in the beginning of the pandemic," Nagowski said.
Clinics will be held at Cumberland County Public Library locations on Saturdays in August from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Appointments are not needed.
August 7 - Headquarters Library
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August 7 - Spring Lake Regional Library
1:25 p.m.
A new CDC study finds that being vaccinated after COVID-19 infection offers far better protection than prior infection alone.
The study looked Kentucky residents who previously had COVID-19. Some decided to get vaccinated, others did not. The people who were unvaccinated were more than twice as likely to be re-infected compared to the people who were vaccinated.
"If you have had COVID-19 before, please still get vaccinated," said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. "This study shows you are twice as likely to get infected again if you are unvaccinated. Getting the vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others around you, especially as the more contagious Delta variant spreads around the country."
1:20 p.m.
Wake County Public Health reported an outbreak of COVID-19 at Hillcrest Raleigh at Crabtree Valley, a skilled nursing facility located at 3830 Blue Ridge Road in Raleigh.
The facility had previous outbreaks in November and January. No additional information about residents or employees within the facility were disclosed.
12:30 p.m.
New daily COVID-19 cases in North Carolina continue to rise.
4,506 new cases were reported in the state on Friday.
The percent of positive tests in the state is at 10.6%.
1,715 are currently hospitalized in the state with COVID-19. That number has continued to climb since just after July 4th weekend.
241 confirmed COVID-19 patients were admitted in the last 24 hours.
There are currently 421 adult COVID-19 patients in ICUs statewide.
12% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients statewide are on a ventilator.
62% percent of the adult population in North Carolina is vaccinated with at least one dose.
12:15 p.m.
According to the White House, more than 821,000 doses were reported administered Thursday, including 565,000 newly vaccinated. That means the 7-day average of newly vaccinated is up 11% from last week and 44% over past 2 weeks. 50% of Americans are now fully vaccinated.
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10:50 a.m.
All members of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will either be vaccinated or be tested weekly when they return to campus.
Faculty and staff who do not attest to being vaccinated will be required to participate in the Carolina Together Testing Program's weekly asymptomatic testing.
In order to be exempt from weekly testing, faculty and staff are required to complete a COVID-19 Vaccination Certification Form. The new requirement for unvaccinated faculty and staff aligns with the requirement for unvaccinated students.
Students are also now required to fill out the COVID-19 Vaccination Certification form.
Masks continue to be required for everyone while indoors on campus. Additionally, students who attend any indoor, off-campus events or activities of registered student organizations must now wear masks at all times.
7:50 a.m.
United Airlines announced Friday that all U.S.-based employees will be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and upload their vaccination card to a company site by this fall.
It is the first major U.S. carrier to mandate vaccines for all employees. Delta Air Lines announced earlier this year that it is requiring all new employees to be inoculated.
United joins a growing list of companies that have mandated vaccines for employees in some capacity: Uber, DoorDash, Facebook, Google, Twitter, Walmart and many more.
FRIDAY MORNING HEADLINES
The state health department ran out of $100 gift cards to give to people getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
That was a new incentive tested this week, and it appears to have been popular.
NCDHHS said the vaccine sites will not have the gift cards this weekend. However, they plan to restock by next week.
The cards are being offered through August 31 at these locations.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration is expected to recommend COVID-19 booster shots for certain Americans in the coming weeks.
According to ABC News, the FDA will make the announcement is expected between now and early September. The recommendation will be that Americans will compromised immune systems get the third shot.
Scientists said they've seen reduced immune responses to the vaccine for people who have had transplants or cancer or who are taking immune suppressing medication.
For now, the CDC and FDA agree that a booster shot is not needed for the general population at this time.