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Buncombe County COVID-19 Community Update: Many COVID-19 Indicators Continue to Improve

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ASHEVILLE, NC – On March 15, the Department of Health and Human Services and Public Health Director Stacie Saunders posted the weekly Buncombe County COVID-19 Community Update. She began the briefing by saying that “our local indicators continue to improve as Omicron surge continues to fade here.”

  • Over the past week there is a decrease in the new case rate by 51%, with fewer hospital beds occupied with COVID-19 patients, and a reduction in the death rate. The new case rate is 54 cases per 100,00 people per week. This is the lowest level since July 24, 2021. COVID-19 patients occupy only 2.5% of inpatient hospital beds and is in the favorable range. The percentage ICU beds with COVID patients has increased to 16.7% yet is still in the favorable range.
  • Percent positivity is less at 4.7% compared to 6.5% last week.
  • 66% of the total population have received their full primary vaccination series. This is unchanged from February 22 but below the goal of at least 70%.
  • 57% of fully vaccinated people have received boosters. This is unchanged from last week.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommend:

  • Get vaccinated and boosted when eligible. Stacie Saunders says, “COVID-19 is still circulating and will be for some time. Now is the time to get the vaccine dose you are missing.”
  • People with any COVID symptoms or exposure to someone with COVID should get tested
  • People who are positive for COVID-19 or do not feel well should stay home and away from other people to keep from spreading it to others

Vaccination sites and testing sites can be located through the North Carolina and Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services. COVID-19 vaccinations are available at the Health Department Immunization Clinic at 40 Coxe Ave. from Monday to Friday between 8 AM and 4:30 PM on a walk-in basis.

The CDC’s safety guidelines and prevention recommendations are now based on the level of COVID-19 risk for each county and its impact on hospital resources. The risk level for Buncombe County is low for the week ending on March 17. A person with medical conditions who are at high risk for severe illness should speak with their health care provider about preventative measures. Mask wearing is recommended for persons with a positive test, having symptoms, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 no matter what the county risk level is. Governor Cooper has issued an executive order requiring everyone to wear a mask in “high risk” settings like health care facilities, nursing homes, correctional facilities and homeless shelters.

Listen to the full report below:

Contact: Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]


More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

Soul of the Blues

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The blues brings eternal Spring to my soul! Spring into the blues this Thursday from noon till 2pm when you listen to Soul of the Blues on AshevilleFM! Listen live at 103.3fm or stream it live and for two weeks after it airs at ashevillefm.org. You’ll love these new releases with smooth, soul blues band, Reddog and Friends out of Pensacola, Fl., Grammy nominated Austin, TX star-Kathy Murray, the multi-talented Professor Louie and the Crowmatrix and the iconic John Mayall! You’ll also hear tasty classic treats from Elvin Bishop, Walter Trout and Johnny Winter! The Notcho’ Blues Artist this week is none other than iconic rock star-Jimi hendrix! Join the Blueshound this Thursday on Soul of the Blues for two hours of mind freezing, butt squeezing blues!


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Asheville FM 2022 Spring Membership and Fund Drive

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I have gotten feedback from you (the listener) from all walks of life, most of you I met for the first time, but it seem to feel as if you know me. I have also gotten compliments for how I am able to make a musical “collage” of sub-genres of soul and R&B, playing popular independent and local artists, time-tested soul aquarians, R&B musicians and some hip-hop stars to create a steady flow of tunes that are never jarring, but certainly movement inspiring, according to you. I want to continue doing this. For you, for me and for all.

So many times in the past, it was said that a show like “StankFreeRadio” had no place in Asheville, NC or anywhere. We proved them wrong Cuz’ and let’s keep proofing wrong. Help reach my personal goal of $1080.00 so your CousinTL can continue giving you that Neo-Soul, R&B , Abstract Mix!
This Saturday at 7pm, Tune to 103.3 FM or Stream Online
https://ashevillefm.org/show/stank-free-radio/
Call, Check in with your “Big Brown Yankee Cousin” Live in the Studio (828) 259-3936

Donate at https://www.flipcause.com/secure/fundraiser/MTQ2NzAz/69448

#realpeople #greatradio #ashevillefm #makedatmoney #neosoul #soulmusic #hiphopsoul, #alternativeRandB #neosoulplaylist #neosoulmix #contemporaryrnb #hiphop #soul #peopleofcolor #BLM #voices #media #WNC #AVL #AshevilleNC #AshevilleFM #communityradio #radio #localradio #internetradio #essential #CousinTL


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Radio Active Kids March 19! A random assortment of music!

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We’re starting doing interviews again next week on Radio Active Kids, but this week we’ve got a random assortment of music that I just haphazardly pulled from the stacks! New songs from Sonia De Los Santos, Formidable Vegetable, Jim “Mr. Stinky Feet” Cosgrove, DARIA MUSIC, Marko Polo Music, Big Idea Committee, & Dots and Lines! Plus a bunch of older stuff from Jessie Baylin, Sylvia Chave, nick cope, Dubba Chuck, The Harmonica Pocket, Human Person, Jazzy Ash & Mista Cookie Jar, the Magic Wizard Band (Rushad Eggleston), John McCutcheon, Mister Porter, Ms. Niki’s Music Class, Muckemacher, Newt Skabander, The Nields, Parasite Diet, The Relative Minors, Brian Ross, Musician, Aaron Nigel Smith, The Swedish Shortsnouts, & Trout Fishing in America! 8-10am ET Saturday at ashevillefm.org/show/radio-active-kids or tun.in/pjiei & podcasting at mixcloud.com/Radio_Active_Kids!


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What Happened to The Build Back Better Bill?

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WASHINGTON, DC – March 10, 2022 – The Democrat-sponsored Build Back Better Act includes many provisions that improve access to healthcare and reduce the cost of medical care for millions of people. The original bill included a larger array of benefits, but after having been introduced first in the House, many had been removed in order to reduce the cost to the federal government. The bill essentially passed along party-lines in the House on November 19, 2021, but has not shown the required unanimous Democratic party support in the Senate that would be required for passage as the Senate is split equally in party affiliation. At present, the bill has not been introduced to the Senate for consideration because it would likely fail passage due to the publicly-voiced opposition by every Republican senator and 2 Democratic senators. In an interview with NBC News on February 2, 2022, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin said, ”Take care of the debt. $30 trillion should scare the bejesus out of your generation.” His big objective to the bill is that it will add significantly to the largest national debt of all time. It is difficult to determine whether the opposition to the Bill is a statement against the healthcare provisions or its accompanying provisions of taxation, climate impact mitigation, or affordable housing.

The remaining health-related recommendations of the Build Back Better Bill are: expanded premium tax credits for the Affordable Care Act Marketplace plans which expire in December 2022 (effects 9 million people), for Medicaid expansion in non-expansion states (helps 4 million people), extending post-partum care in Medicaid to 12 months (currently 3 months), capping insulin prices at $35 (to provide financial assistance to people with chronic diabetes illness), expanding Medicare benefits to cover the cost of hearing aids for the at-risk senior population, and reducing the price of prescription medicine through drug price negotiation in behalf of Medicare beneficiaries (consistent to the drug negotiation policy in behalf of U.S. veterans covered by the Veterans Health Administration).

The COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian Ukrainian crisis are considered more important priorities in Congress so the Build Back Better Act has been stalled. A Morning Consult/Politico poll conducted in December, 2021, indicates that most registered voters feel that the cost of prescription medicine is too high, that working Americans should be able to obtain affordable health insurance, and that Medicaid eligibility should be expanded to more working people in all 50 states. While most Americans favor many of the individual healthcare provisions of the Bill, only 47% support the bill while 40% oppose it.

Listen to the full report below:

Contact: Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]


More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

The New ‘Test-to-Treat’ Program

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WASHINGTON DC – March 7, 2022 – The Biden administration announces a new program called the ‘Test-to-Treat’ plan so that Americans will be able to rapidly access COVID-19 treatments at the point-of-testing service. This one stop process will be run by the Department of Health and Human Services and administered by hundreds of pharmacy-based clinics, federally qualified community health centers, and long-term care facilities across the country. People who test positive for COVID-19 will be assessed by a qualified health care provider for immediate treatment with antiviral pills. Treatment with these new therapeutics can reduce the risk of developing severe illness, hospitalization, and death for persons with mild symptoms within days of onset.

 

The Department of Health & Human Services has purchased the new treatments in order to deliver early treatment free-of-charge to help at-risk people get the proper care when they get sick. “Our mission remains to protect the health and wellbeing of every American,” said Health & Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. This initiative will also educate the public and health care providers about these new treatments.

 

The goal is to remove barriers to care that have historically existed for at-risk people with poor health care access. This allows for testing, assessment, prescription, and treatment to take place at one convenient location. The plan began on March 7, 2022. The testing does not have to take place at the Test-to-Treat site. Positive at-home COVID tests qualify along with assessment to receive treatment.

Public Health Director Stacie Saunders reached out to the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services. She writes that the, “NC DHHS (North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services) noted that at current understanding is that the initial sites for the program will be with the Federal Retail Pharmacy partners, the LTCF (Long Term Care Facilities) and FQHCs (Federally Qualified Health Care Centers) coming on board at a later time.  More information may be available in the coming weeks.”

Listen to full report below:

Contact: Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]


More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour