COVID-19 Vaccine - The Daily Tar Heel

Since March 2020, UNC students have experienced a mixture of virtual and in-person learning, as the University has adjusted to providing a college experience during the era of COVID-19. From the class of 2021 to 2025, The Daily Tar Heel spoke to UNC students who reflected on their experiences throughout the last two years of the pandemic in this eight-part look back series.

Dr. Natalie Doyle holds up a COVID-19 testing swab at her office in Wilson, N.C. on Nov. 15, 2020.

Orange County could face COVID-19 test shortage due to omicron surge

By Harrison Gummel | Jan. 20, 2022

With the recent surge of the omicron variant, Orange County may face a possible shortage of COVID-19 tests. Over the past seven days, Orange County has reported 2,627 cases, while North Carolina has reported 214,347. The state has the fourth-highest number of cases in the United States.

Students wear masks outside to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as they walk by Lenoir Dining Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022.

Updates to the University COVID-19 cluster notification system this spring

By Allie Kelly | Jan. 18, 2022

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University has changed how they communicate case tracking and data to the UNC community.

Empty syringes wait to be prepared with a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 in the Friday Center in Chapel Hill.

Officials encourage COVID-19 vaccination as Orange County faces omicron surge

By Christian Phillips | Jan. 18, 2022

With this rise of omicron cases and the return of UNC students to campus, Orange County officials are urging community members to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

CHCCS faces increasing COVID-19 case count

By Emmy Martin | Jan. 17, 2022

Last week, there were 324 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools students and staff according to CHCCS's COVID-19 data tracker, up 151 percent from the previous week's total.

Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger speaks Aug. 26, 2021, while masked during a press conference at Pizzeria Mercato in Carrboro.

'I’m still not back to being me': Q&A with Mayor Pam Hemminger

By Ethan E. Horton | Jan. 16, 2022

Mayor Pam Hemminger tested positive for COVID-19. Here's what she has to say about her experience and the town's handling of the pandemic.

Senior psychology major Juliet Alegria works on her senior thesis in Davis Library on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.

Q&A: Dr. Amir Barzin talks UNC's COVID-19 policies and the spread of omicron

By Allie Kelly | Jan. 13, 2022

As students and faculty return for the spring semester, University Co-editor Allie Kelly spoke with Director and Lead Physician of the Carolina Together Testing Program Amir Barzin about University COVID-19 policies, testing and isolation, and the spread of the omicron variant.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley speaks at a coronavirus briefing on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022.

Kody Kinsley assumes role as NCDHHS secretary, replacing Cohen

By Ian Walniuk | Jan. 12, 2022

Kody Kinsley's priorities include leading the state's pandemic response amid a surge of the omicron variant and responding to the state's ongoing opioid crisis.

A student enters Carrboro High School on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022.

COVID-19 numbers spike for CHCCS, 103 cases in the first week

By Samuel Long | Jan. 11, 2022

CHCCS students and parents alike had concerns about issues such as record high COVID-19 numbers, test shortages, students who are too young to be vaccinated and learning accommodations for students in quarantine.

Masks lie at the entrance to Wilson Library on Jan. 9, 2022.

UNC reports 838 positive cases this week as students return to campus

By Allie Kelly | Jan. 10, 2022

As students and faculty enter the spring semester, UNC reported 838 positive cases among students from the week ending on Jan. 9 on its COVID-19 dashboard. During the week the University shut down campus in August 2020, it reported 494 positive cases among students.

Students wait in line to be tested for COVID-19 at the Student Union on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022.

UNC updates its isolation and testing policies for spring 2022

By Madi Kirkman | Jan. 10, 2022

The undergraduate campus community is returning to in-person instruction this week, amid rising cases of the omicron variant. Here's the latest University guidance on testing, masks, isolation and absences.

Members of the Carolina COVID-19 Student Services Corps volunteer at the Frank Porter Graham Union testing site on Nov. 5.

UNC semester to start as planned, with option to temporarily modify instruction modes

By Allie Kelly | Dec. 31, 2021

UNC will resume classes as planned on Jan. 10 and will give discretion to deans to modify instruction modes for specific courses temporarily, the University announced in a campus-wide email Friday.

The Faculty Executive Committee held a special meeting on Dec. 23, 2021 to discuss return-to-campus concerns.

Faculty Executive Committee discusses spring return-to-campus concerns at UNC

By Brianna Atkinson | Dec. 23, 2021

The University has no plans to delay the spring semester as of now, Provost Bob Blouin said at a UNC Faculty Executive Committee special meeting Thursday. Any changes to spring semester operations will be announced by Jan. 3, he said. The FEC also discussed concerns about the return to campus amid the rapidly spreading omicron COVID-19 variant, masking protocols and the potential for a vaccine mandate.