U.S. health officials Wednesday announced plans to dispense COVID-19 booster shots to all Americans to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and signs that the vaccines' effectiveness is falling.

The plan, as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health agencies, calls for an extra dose eight months after people get their second shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. The doses could begin the week of Sept. 20.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/us-health-officials-call-for-booster-shots-against-covid-19/507-dc702492-a5c5-494e-9cf8-1f804468cb26

President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced that his administration will require that nursing home staff be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition for those facilities to continue receiving federal Medicare and Medicaid funding.

Biden unveiled the new policy Wednesday afternoon in a White House address as the administration continues to look for ways to use mandates to encourage vaccine holdouts to get shots.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/vaccine/biden-to-require-vaccines-for-nursing-home-staff/507-6e23bfbf-6c65-4ac8-bb98-b4468cb0f7e4

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT! 

Mecklenburg County leaders are expected to approve a new mask mandate Wednesday. Kendall Morris has details on what the mandate would mean and if it could lead to stricter measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the Charlotte area. 

A new study from Canada found that teenagers are the most likely group to bring COVID-19 home but young kids like babies and toddlers are much more likely to spread the virus to family members. Ben Thompson explains why researchers say the youngest children are responsible for the spread. 

Plus, as the debate over vaccine mandates continues, many businesses are taking matters into their own hands by denying service to people who aren't vaccinated. We explain why vaccine mandates could become more common across the U.S. once the FDA gives full approval to the vaccine. 

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

Charlotte and Mecklenburg County leaders recommended a new, indoor county-wide mask mandate Monday at a meeting of the county's COVID-19 policy group. The meeting came as counties and cities across the U.S. reimplement face masks due to the surge in COVID-19 cases nationwide.

U.S. experts are expected to recommend COVID-19 vaccine boosters for all Americans, regardless of age, eight months after they received their second dose of the shot, to ensure lasting protection against the coronavirus as the delta variant spreads across the country.

Federal health officials have been actively looking at whether extra shots for the vaccinated would be needed as early as this fall, reviewing case numbers in the U.S. as well as the situation in other countries such as Israel, where preliminary studies suggest the vaccine’s protection against serious illness dropped among those vaccinated in January.

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #wakeupclt! 

Students across South Carolina are waking up for their first day of school -- but things are once again going to be a little different than "normal" thanks to COVID-19. WCNC Charlotte's Richard DeVayne and Kendall Morris join today's podcast to discuss how districts in Rock Hill and Fort Mill plan to keep students safe and what they may do in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak. 

Ruby Durham discusses what schools across the Charlotte area will do to inform parents of positive cases and how they can get in touch with state health officials about COVID-19. 

Then, Ben Thompson connects the dots on COVID-19 boosters. Last week, the FDA gave the OK for people with weakened immune systems to get a third dose, so you might be wondering how that affects our national supply of vaccines. As it turns out, not that much due to planning by the government at the start of the pandemic. 

Watch WCNC Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. for Wake Up Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

State health leaders confirm a total of 59 positive COVID-19 cases are tied to a cluster at  Atrium Health Pineville.

According to NCDHHS, the bulk of the positive tests were in health care workers at the hospital. 50 workers tested positive, while the remaining nine cases were tied to patients. Of the 50 workers tested, 35 were already vaccinated against the virus. Kendall Morris joins the show with the latest on the outbreak and why health officials say the vaccine is doing its job. 

Next, multiple artists have announced they will require vaccinations or a negative COVID-19 test for fans to see their concerts. This includes Maroon 5, who will have that policy in place for its fall tour. Ruby Durham breaks down other artists with the requirement, as well as a few who are canceling shows altogether due to the delta variant. 

Next, it's Friday the 13th. That means you shouldn't break any mirrors, walk under any ladders or spill any salt. Sarah French explains why this spot on the calendar got the distinction of being so "unlucky." 

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

A charter school just outside Mecklenburg County is reporting cases of COVID-19. 

Cabarrus Charter Academy made the announcement this week in emails sent out to parents, which were obtained by WCNC Charlotte. 

The first email, sent out at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 10, was sent from the school nurse and said an "individual at Cabarrus Charter Academy tested positive for COVID-19." 

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/education/cabarrus-charter-covid-cases-nc/275-30464540-2548-447a-bb11-dcef1d22487c

South Carolina has passed 10,000 total COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began, state health officials have announced.

The state's health agency, DHEC, released a statement Wednesday on the state crossing the milestone, as it also announced 15 new deaths. As it stands now, there are 10,007 deaths.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/south-carolina-passes-10000-covid-19-deaths-statewide/101-5c6be24b-d8da-4d3f-9ce2-6470d17f13e0

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT! 

 As COVID-19 cases rise in Mecklenburg County, first responders are feeling the strain. As more virus spreads and hospital beds fill, paramedics are in danger of being exposed to the virus.

Mecklenburg County EMS is requiring its staff to be vaccinated, it’s a way to be protected as the risk on the job goes up again. The number of COVID-19 positive patients that they've transported has gone up 300% in recent weeks.

First responders have no choice but to go when they're called, despite the potential to be exposed to COVID-19.

With a robust vote after weeks of fits and starts, the Senate approved a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan on Tuesday, a rare coalition of Democrats and Republicans joining to overcome skeptics and deliver a cornerstone of President Joe Biden’s agenda.

The 69-30 tally provides momentum for this first phase of Biden’s “Build Back Better” priorities, now headed to the House. A sizable number of lawmakers showed they were willing to set aside partisan pressures, eager to send billions to their states for rebuilding roads, broadband internet, water pipes and the public works systems that underpin much of American life.

Multiple school districts in the Charlotte area are expected to discuss COVID-19 protocols this week after North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper strongly recommended masks for most students this upcoming school year. 

South Carolina public schools are bound by Proviso 1.108 which was passed by the General Assembly as part of the 2021-22 General Appropriations Bill. This Proviso prevents school districts from requiring face coverings in schools. The use of face coverings by students and staff within school facilities remains a recommendation of state and federal public health officials and Proviso 1.108 does not prevent districts from encouraging the wearing of face coverings in these settings.

FULL LIST: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/masks-in-schools-north-carolina-districts-discussing-mandate/275-c1933ffd-836e-4f52-86ca-69eae948f0c3

Charlotte city leaders voted on new protections for LGBTQ citizens Monday, unanimously passing a nondiscrimination ordinance. 

This new nondiscrimination ordinance is roughly five years in the making after Charlotte's first attempt was voided by the state's House Bill 2, which became known as the "bathroom bill." 

Charlotte's new bill will make it illegal for people to be discriminated against for things like their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, familial status, veteran status, pregnancy, or natural hairstyle. The new bill does not regulate bathrooms.

READ MORE: https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/local/charlotte-city-council-vote-non-discrimination-ordinance/275-31c87313-8bbb-4db3-8c1a-399547d1e922

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!

Close to 100 million Americans who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine still have not gotten a shot. And that could be an expensive decision. 

Let's connect the dots. 

The vaccine has been proven incredibly effective at preventing hospitalizations from COVID-19. Even if vaccinated people have a breakthrough case, they are much less likely to end up in the hospital because of it. 

On Monday morning, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster will speak on masks in South Carolina schools.

It comes as the state's capital, Columbia, voted to make them mandatory for elementary and middle school students.

The city of Columbia issued a state of emergency last week and ordered all children between the ages of 2 and 14 to wear masks at daycare and in school.

The United States is taking care of business in Tokyo as it won even more gold medals in Tokyo. This includes "A-Team" April Ross and Alix Klineman taking gold in women's beach volleyball. Meanwhile, the Americans are looking to sweep basketball with the men's and women's teams competing for gold this weekend. We've got the latest from Tokyo as the Olympics enter the final weekend of competition before we have closing ceremonies Sunday. 

After just 4 days of class, the Mooresville Graded School District announced masks will now be required for students and staff. In the first week of class, the district said more than 80 students have had to quarantine, including one entire classroom. Kendall Morris joins the show to discuss the new policy and what district leaders had to say to parents unhappy with their decision. 

City of Charlotte workers will soon have to share their vaccination status with the health department. The move comes less than a week after Mecklenburg County announced a similar move for employees. Richard DeVayne breaks down when the policy takes effect and what could happen if workers are opposed to sharing this information. 

And finally, South Carolina's annual tax-free weekend is back. This weekend is always one of the biggest opportunities for parents looking to save money on back-to-school shopping. Ben Thompson shares five things to know, including where you can score the best deals based on the percentage you'll save statewide. 

Watch Wake Up Charlotte each weekday morning from 4:30 to 7 a.m. on WCNC Charlotte, and as always, join the conversation on social media using #WakeUpCLT!