Health

While masks may not be mandated in many areas, you may still want to be cautious when out. COVID cases are rising in Mecklenburg County and North Carolina after two months of stable and decreasing numbers. Mecklenburg County had 1,608 new cases in the last week of April, according to the NC Department of Health and Human […]

Carowinds has been in the news recently about a couple of malfunctioning rides, but another guest experience is causing concern. A parent reported their child having an allergic reaction after receiving face paint while at Carowinds. Karmen DiProjetto said her 6-year-old daughter Kalianne got her face painted at the park earlier that day before ending […]

Two of Charlotte’s largest hospitals report seeing a spike in staff assaults. Hospital staff says they are concerned about the increase of violence in their workplace, according to WBTV. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department records show 45 assaults on staff reported by Atrium’s Carolinas Medical Center and Novant’s Presbyterian Hospital within six months. Most assaults were reported […]

There are evident racial disparities between the pregnancy outcomes of white women and the pregnancy outcomes of Black women. Black infants in Mecklenburg County are five times more likely to die in their first year than a white infant. A nonprofit organization is looking to change that. Nurse-Family Partnership is a national program that primarily serves lower-income […]

While masks are being removed, cases are slowly going up. The BA.2 subvariant of omicron makes up about 78% of positive cases in North Carolina. StarMed shared a tweet stating that its positivity rate is over 10% again in Charlotte. Experts are not expecting another big surge like earlier in the year, but they advise […]

Mecklenburg County’s air quality continues to suffer as Charlotte remains the second-most polluted city in the Southeast for ozone pollution. The ranking is from the American Lung Association 2022 Air Quality Report. This makes the second year in a row that Mecklenburg County has a received an F for ozone pollution. Charlotte is the main […]

Two children’s hand sanitizers have been recalled due to benzene and methanol. Benzene is a potentially cancer-causing chemical and methanol poisoning can lead to various health problems including death. The recalled lots are marketed with Mickey Mouse and Star Wars “Mandalorian” and come in blue and green. The Star Wars “Mandalorian” 2.11-ounce bottles have lot number 20D21, […]

The FDA has approved a second booster shot for eligible patients. Patients 50 years or older and those 12 years or older who are immunocompromised are eligible to receive a fourth COVID-19 shot. StarMed workers began giving out the first shot Thursday, March 31, 2022. Those looking to get the second booster must wait at least […]

DeAndra Alex was only 41 when she visited Atrium Health Women’s Care Charlotte OB/GYN on 1025 Morehead Medical Dr. to have a growing breast lump checked. After expressing her concerns on April 1, 2020, the doctor who examined her dismissed cancer as her diagnosis. The doctor agreed to schedule her for a mammogram, but Alex […]

As things begin to heat up, we aren’t the only ones who want to be out and about. Over the next several months, you may encounter a snake. They generally aren’t a cause for concern but encounters with them can be scary. To protect yourself, family, and pets, be sure to know how to identify […]

After a long winter season with increasing Covid-19 cases, the Charlotte area is finally beginning to feel some relief. The area has reached its lowest Covid-19 positivity rate in almost a year. In January 2022, the average positivity rate in Mecklenburg County hit 33%. The current rate is now at 3.4%, as of March 13. The […]

Starting today, March 7, masks are optional on CMS buses and other school transportation. The decision follows the vote by the CMS Board of Education on Feb. 22 to make masks optional in CMS facilities. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services StrongSchools Toolkit reflects the CDC guidance that masks no longer be required on […]