covid-19 - Randolph Record

05 May

Sen. Rand Paul wants to investigate origins of COVID-19

Associated PressNation, Politicscovid-19, Sen. Rand Paul

SMITHFIELD, Ky. — U.S. Sen. Rand Paul promised Saturday to wage a vigorous review into the origins of the coronavirus if Republicans retake the Senate and he lands a committee chairmanship. Speaking to supporters at a campaign rally, the libertarian-leaning Kentucky Republican denounced what he sees as government overreach in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He applauded a recent judge’s order that voided the federal mask mandate on planes and trains and in travel hubs. “Last week I was on an airplane for the first time in two years and didn’t have to wear a mask,” he said, drawing cheers…

22 Apr

BARONE: The verdict on lockdowns: High cost, minimal benefits

Michael BaroneOpinionscovid-19, economy

What were the benefits and costs of the COVID-19 restrictions implemented over the last two years? It’s a good time to ask that question, especially now that the masks are coming off and the lockdowns are canceled. One useful scorecard comes from the prestigious National Bureau of Economic Research, in the form of a paper by three market-friendly economists, Casey Mulligan (University of Chicago), Stephen Moore (Heritage Foundation) and Phil Kerpen (Committee to Unleash Prosperity). They evidently disagree with the nation’s most prominent advocate of massive restrictions, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who recently argued, “I don’t think we’re ever going to…

02 Feb

Citizens make voices heard against vaccine mandates

Randolph RecordGovernment, NewsCOVID, covid-19, Joe Biden, SCOTUS, vaccine

PINEHURST — Citizen groups across the globe are protesting vaccine mandates as vaccine effectiveness against new variants of the COVID-19 virus has waned and Americans who are vaccinated are not showing high demand for boosters. On January 23, tens of thousands of people rallied on the National Mall to oppose government vaccine requirements. Mitch Lancaster, a Moore County resident and former Southern Pines councilman, was one of the attendees from across the country to attend the event. “I was thoroughly impressed with the doctors, their speeches and their commitment to the patient/doctor relationship. These men and women have taken a…

19 Jan

White House soft-launches COVID-19 test request website

Associated PressGovernment, NationBiden Administration, covid-19, White House

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Biden administration on Tuesday quietly launched its website for Americans to request free at-home COVID-19 tests, a day before the site was scheduled to officially go online. The website, COVIDTests.gov, now includes a link for Americans to access an order form run by the U.S. Postal Service. People can order four at-home tests per residential address, to be delivered by the Postal Service. It marks the latest step by President Joe Biden to address criticism of low inventory and long lines for testing during a nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant. White…

17 Nov

Randolph County Schools keep masks optional

Randolph RecordNewscovid-19, masks, randolph county

ASHEBORO — The Randolph County School Board voted again Monday night to keep masks optional in the county’s largest school system. The vote came two weeks after a special called meeting where the system voted to end mask requirements and to stop contact tracing. Gathered in their regular meeting room, the elected officials were not wearing masks. Superintendent Stephen Gainey, who has worn a mask during recent public meetings when seated with the board, was also not wearing a mask. Following a lengthy closed session where the board consulted with its attorneys, the board retuned to its action item agenda.…

06 Oct

COVID cases decline in Randolph, nationwide

Randolph RecordBusiness, NewsCOVID, covid-19

ASHEBORO — New daily cases of COVID dropped about 35% since September 1 nationwide along with a 25% drop in the number of people hospitalized. In Randolph County, there was an 18% drop in new cases for the week preceding Oct. 3 along with a 79% drop in hospitalizations. Over 75% of Randolph County seniors have received at least one shot of a vaccine and 50% of the population over 12 years old has received one shot. All 100 counties in N.C. are still classified as areas of high transmission.

24 Aug

School’s start with some students and staff under quarantine

Randolph RecordNewsAsheboro, covid-19, Education, schools, Stephen Gainey

ASHEBORO — Schools across Randolph County are back in session this week. Randolph County Schools started Monday and Asheboro City Schools started Tuesday. As of 5 pm Tuesday, Randolph County Schools had 277 students and staff members under COVID-19 quarantine protocols, according to information provided to the North State Journal by the school system. "Our school system uses a Saturday-Friday week for contact tracing with regard to COVID-19 issues. As a result, from Saturday (8/21/21) to this point in the day on Tuesday (8/24/21), a total of 44 positive COVID-19 cases have been associated with the Randolph County School System,"…

06 Jul

Over 30% of Randolph County is vaccinated

Randolph RecordNewsAsheboro, coronavirus, covid-19, Dream, Rihanna, Success

ASHEBORO — The Centers for Disease Control reported that 43,649 Randolph County residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Over 64% of the county’s citizens over 65 years of age are vaccinated. The CDC estimates that 47% of the total U.S. population is now vaccinated. In the past week, just 927 people were tested for COVID-19 in Randolph County, which includes those needing testing for travel. There were 20 positive cases and no hospitalizations reported in the last week in Randolph County.