Outer Banks Hospital hopes to begin vaccinating health care workers Thursday

Outer Banks Hospital anticipates beginning to vaccinate health care team members against COVID-19 on Thursday, Dec. 17.

The hospital’s partner, Vidant Health, was set to receive an initial shipment of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine this week, hospital spokeswoman Wendy Kelly said.

“While this is exciting news, we do not anticipate the vaccine will be available to the broader community for some time,” she said.

Gov. Roy Cooper said North Carolina was expecting shipment of over 85,000 initial doses of the vaccine this week.

“It’s a limited supply for now, but this is a remarkable achievement for science and health,” Cooper said. “We all need to keep wearing a mask and acting responsibly while we get as many people vaccinated as fast as we can.”

In the meantime, COVID-19 restrictions remain in place and health professionals urge everyone to remain vigilant and continue to practice safety measures such as wearing a mask, avoiding close contact and washing your hands.

“Help protect our frontline works by protecting yourself and the community,” Kelly said.

Dare County Health and Human Services on Wednesday reported 20 new COVID-19 cases, for a total of 1,306 since testing began in March. Of those, 95 cases are active and eight county residents are hospitalized.

Monday’s cases include:

1) non-resident, 18-24, male, transferred isolation
2) non-resident, 50-64, female, transferred isolation
3) resident, 17 under, male, home isolation
4) resident, 65 over, male, home isolation
5) resident, 25-49, male, home isolation
6) resident, 25-49, male, home isolation
7) resident, 65 over, male, home isolation
8) resident, 25-49, female, home isolation
9) non-resident, 25-49, female, transferred isolation
10) resident, 65 over, female, hospitalized
11) resident, 25-49, male, home isolation
12) resident, 25-49, female, home isolation
13) non-resident, 50-64, female, transferred isolation
14) non-resident, 50-64, female, transferred isolation
15) resident, 25-49, female, home isolation
16) resident, 17 under, male, home isolation
17) resident, 65 over, male, home isolation
18) resident, 65 over, male, home isolation
19) non-resident, 50-64, female, transferred isolation
20) resident, 50-64, male, home isolation