Transylvania Public Health on Wednesday reported 56 additional cases of COVID-19 in the past week for a total of 8,232 cases and 83 deaths among county residents since the pandemic started.
As of Wednesday, 32 county residents were in isolation for COVID-19 (within five days of symptom onset or five days of a positive test).
Please note that this data does not include people who may test positive for COVID-19 using at-home tests.
NEW CASES
New cases in Transylvania County decreased 13% in the past seven days compared to the previous seven days. Based on increases over the past few weeks, Transylvania is now in the moderate (yellow) category for the CDC’s COVID-19 Community Levels as of Jan. 5, based on 322.82 new cases per 100,000 population, 5.4 new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population and 5.7% of staffed inpatient beds in the region in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19. Based on data from Jan. 4, community transmission is high in Transylvania County, along with all counties in North Carolina and 75% of counties nationwide.
Since Transylvania County is now in the moderate category for COVID-19 Community Levels, the CDC recommends that people at high risk of getting very sick should wear a high-quality mask or respirator (N-95) when indoors in public.
People who have household or social contacts with someone at high risk of getting very sick should consider self-testing before contact and wearing a high-quality mask when indoors with the high-risk person. Everyone should: Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines including the new bivalent boosters. Get tested if you have symptoms. Wear a mask if you have symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19. Wear a mask on public transportation. Choose to wear a mask at any time as an additional precaution to protect yourself and others.STATE DATA
As of Jan. 11, the NCDHHS COVID-19 Dashboard continues to show increasing virus activity.
The wastewater monitoring metric rose to 82.4 million virus particles per person in the past week. Emergency department visits for COVID-like symptoms decreased to 6.6% of all ED visits. New cases of COVID-19 decreased but new hospital admissions for COVID-19 increased.
Statewide, 78% of adults and 30% of children and teens have been vaccinated with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 20% of vaccinated people have received a dose of the new bivalent booster. The most common COVID-19 variants detected by laboratory sequencing for the two weeks ending December 31 were Omicron BQ.1.1 (43%), BA.5 (17%), and BQ.1 (16%). Based on the CDC’s Community Levels as of January 5, 68 counties in North Carolina are high (orange), 30 counties are medium (yellow) and 2 are low (green). More information is available at www.covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard.
TESTING
Testing for COVID-19 is recommended for anyone with symptoms including fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. Testing is also recommended before and after travel, and five days after exposure to someone with COVID-19.
GUIDANCE
After a positive test, early treatment is key to avoiding severe illness and hospitalizations, and treatment may even reduce complications from post-COVID conditions, also called long COVID. People with symptoms of COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider to see if they are eligible for oral COVID-19 medications that can lower the risk of severe illness but must be taken within 5 days of symptoms starting. Free telemedicine appointments to screen for COVID-19 treatment eligibility are available through an NCDHHS partnership with StarMed Healthcare. To set up an appointment, visit www.starmed.care/nc or call (704) 941-6000, seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
People who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home for at least five days and isolate from others in the home. This is when people are likely most infectious. If they must be around others at home or in public, they should wear a well-fitting high-quality mask at all times and should avoid being around people who are more likely to get serious illness from COVID-19.
After five days, people who have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medications and whose other symptoms are improving (or who never had symptoms) can end isolation but should wear a well-fitting high-quality mask through day 10, or until they have 2 negative antigen tests taken 48 hours apart.
They should continue to avoid being around people who are more likely to get serious illness from COVID-19 through day 10. If COVID-19 symptoms worsen after they have ended isolation, they should restart isolation at day 0 and talk to a healthcare provider.
People who had moderate illness (those who experienced shortness of breath or difficulty breathing) or severe illness (those who were hospitalized) due to COVID-19 as well as people who have a weakened immune system should continue to isolate through day 10. People with severe illness or have a weakened immune system should consult a healthcare provider before ending isolation.
People who have been exposed to COVID-19 do not need to quarantine but should wear a well-fitting high-quality mask for 10 full days and be tested for COVID-19 on day five even if they don’t develop symptoms. People who develop symptoms should isolate immediately and get tested for COVID-19.
MASKS
People in areas with moderate (yellow) community levels who are at high risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should consider wearing a high-quality mask or respirator when indoors in public for additional protection. People who have household or social contact with someone at higher risk for getting very sick should consider wearing a mask around them and self-testing before contact. Everyone may choose to wear a mask at any time as an added layer of protection, particularly in crowded indoor settings where COVID-19 spreads most easily. Masks are recommended in indoor public transportation settings and may be required by local or state authorities.
Some face coverings provide additional protection against the COVID-19 virus. This includes masks with tighter woven fabric and more layers, as well as N95 respirators, which offer the highest levels of protection if worn correctly and consistently. Free N95 respirators from the state stockpile are still available as supplies allow at Transylvania County Library and other community locations; call (828) 884-3135 for details.
VACCINES
COVID-19 vaccines are readily available and bivalent boosters are important for reducing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death.
Bivalent booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are recommended for everyone ages 6 months and up. Boosters can be given at least 2 months after their last dose of COVID-19 vaccine or 3 months after having COVID-19. The original vaccines continue to be recommended for primary series vaccines for everyone ages 6 months and older. People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should also receive an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as part of their primary series to increase immune response. Children under age 5 should get the same vaccine brand for all recommended doses.
The COVID-19 vaccine is safe to take at the same time as the annual flu shot or other vaccines. Parents should talk with a health care provider to make sure their child is up to date on all recommended vaccines, including COVID-19.
Transylvania Public Health is offering all COVID-19 vaccines by appointment.
Appointments can be made up to two weeks in advance online at www.transylvaniahealth.org/ or by calling (828) 884-4007. People who have received previous doses of any COVID-19 vaccines should bring their previous vaccination card(s) if available.
COVID-19 vaccines are also available in Transylvania County from Blue Ridge Health Center-Brevard Health Center, Gordon’s Family Pharmacy, Ingles Pharmacy, Walgreen’s, Wal-Mart Pharmacy, and some private providers.
For more information, visit https://transylvaniahealth.org/covid-19/ or call 828-884-3135.
