Healthy Asheville Report: Mask Policy

Face Coverings in Buncombe County: From Requirement to “Strongly Recommends” & A Reminder to Get Boosted

ASHEVILLE, NC – At their February 15th meeting, the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners decided not to renew the face cover wearing policy in indoor public spaces. According to Stacie Saunders, the Department of Public Health “strongly recommends” that face masks be worn in indoor public spaces. Businesses, organizations and each local Board of Education can individually decide upon their face mask policy. The Buncombe County Courthouse and some Buncombe County Government facilities will continue to require that face masks be worn for now. Public transportation will require wearing face masks through March 18th. 

On February 16, Buncombe County Health and Human Services hosted a virtual media Question & Answer session. Public Health Director, Stacie Saunders, and Board of Commissioners Board Chair, Brownie Newman, answered questions related to the COVID-19 response in Buncombe County. Stacie Saunders said, “I will still wear my face covering in indoor public spaces” and she “strongly recommends” that everyone wear face masks in public schools.

With cases, transmission, and hospitalizations still running at significantly high levels, the Department of Public Health is planning a media campaign to get the word out that they “strongly recommend” that face masks be worn in indoor public spaces. The campaign will be on social media, at Question & Answer sessions with the media, on the Department website, with media partners, and at any other available opportunities  just like they do with promoting vaccinations, boosters, and testing.

Brownie Newman describes this latest policy as one of many “not easy decisions” and emanating from “a series of difficult decisions” since the beginning of the COVID crisis. He wants to take the opportunity to let everyone know that he is aware that more people are getting a booster and “encourages everyone to do that.” 

Listen to the full report below:

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

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

Buncombe County COVID-19 Community Update: The Rapid Decline of The Omicron Surge

ASHEVILLE, NC – On February 15, the Department of Health and Human Services and Public Health Director Stacie Saunders posted the weekly Buncombe County COVID-19 Community Update. Stacie Saunders said, “Public health leadership will continue to monitor cases and percent positivity and with emphasis on hospitalizations and deaths. We will continue to work with our area medical providers, community partners, and hospital system to adapt to changes in the pandemic at the local level.” The weekly COVID-19 metrics from the Buncombe County Department of Health & Human Services indicate that:

• There is a decrease in the COVID-19 case rate by 26%, fewer hospitalizations and ICU admissions, and an increase in the death rate. The case rate still remains high at a total of 386 cases per 100,000 people per week.
• Percent positivity is 15.5% compared to 19.6% last week. This is well above the 5% level, indicating that the transmission rate is still high.
• Almost 70% of the eligible population are fully vaccinated and 56% of the fully vaccinated have received boosters. Both values are unchanged from last week.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends:

• Vaccines because they reduce the risk of infection, severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths 
• Therapeutics because they reduce the likelihood of severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths in high-risk people.
• Public health measures of vaccinations with boosters, testing, and staying home when not feeling well

Vaccination sites and testing sites can be located through the North Carolina and Buncombe County Department of Health and Human Services. 

Listen to the full report below:

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

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour