ASHEVILLE, NC – Thanksgiving, November 23, 2023 – COVID-19 and other respiratory viral infections can spread through holiday gatherings and travel. Prior to the COVID pandemic, respiratory viral infections like the flu and RSV have been around. However, COVID has made us aware that we can take steps to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses when getting together for the holidays. Therefore, persons more susceptible to getting sick from respiratory viruses have become more cautious.

Here’s some general recommendations:

• Outdoor gatherings are safer than indoors; small gatherings are safer than large; and indoor gatherings are safer in larger spaces with the windows and doors open to allow fresh air to circulate
• People who are positive for COVID-19 or do not feel well should stay home

If people are at high risk to get sick:

• Consider getting the updated COVID shot, a flu shot and, if indicated, the new RSV vaccine 1-2 weeks before getting together
• Consider wearing a high-quality medical mask during indoor gatherings
• Wash hands frequently

Be extra protective if you are having guests from out of town. Here’s some advice:

• Visitors should test for COVID before attending gatherings outside the house with at-risk people
• Visitors should consider wearing a high-quality medical mask in indoor public spaces and when on public transportation
• Visitors can refrain from going to indoor gatherings about a week prior to arrival
• Have a plan in place for access to COVID-19 medicine

Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, tells USA Today.com that COVID-19 cases should increase over the winter as they have the past 3 years like other respiratory viral infections. The risk of transmission can also increase during the upcoming holiday season when many people get together indoors.

Listen to the full report below:

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

ASHEVILLE, NC –  November 15, 2023 – The COVID-19 metrics are on the CDC’s COVID Dashboard. For the week ending on November 11^th.

• Hospital admission levels are low in 94 of 100 counties in North Carolina, including Buncombe County, and about 86% of the counties in the U.S. However, they have increased in North Carolina and increased in Buncombe County from the previous week.
• 5% of the deaths in North Carolina were due to COVID, the third lowest level of 6 groups. This has increased since the previous week.
• Emergency room visits for COVID-19 are minimal in North Carolina. This represents less than 1.5% of all ER visits, the lowest of 5 levels and stable from the previous week.

Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID outbreaks. The Buncombe & Henderson counties wastewater data for the week ending on November 8^th is on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard.

• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is at a red level representing the highest level of 5 groups, currently between the 80^th and 100^th percentile relative to the past level measured at the same site.
• The 15-day rate of change of the number of viral gene copies in each water sample has increased from the previous week, at 1% to 9%, the lowest level of 3 groups for a positive rate of change.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services wants everyone to know that:

• COVID-19 can affect people differently. Some people have mild symptoms like a cold and others have more severe symptoms like a bad case of the flu. Some effects can be long-lasting.
• Older adults and immunocompromised people are at a higher risk of developing severe illness and being hospitalized.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends:

• Stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines. The new updated vaccine, which has been available since September this year, is effective against the latest COVID strains. The CDC recommends the updated vaccine for everyone ages 6 months and older. The vaccine can reduce the risk of severe illness, becoming hospitalized or dying. The new updated vaccine is available locally at pharmacies, health centers and at the Buncombe County Health and Human Services Building at 40 Coxe Avenue in Asheville during regular business hours.
• For extra protection, wear an efficient medical grade mask
• People who are positive for COVID-19 or do not feel well should stay home
• People with any COVID symptoms should get tested
• If you test positive, your doctor may recommend medical treatment

If you get COVID, here’s the latest CDC guidelines:

• Isolate for 5 days provided the fever has resolved for at least 24 hours without taking any fever-reducing medicine. Isolation means staying home and away from others.
• After the isolation period, wear a high-quality mask around others at home and in public for the next 5 days
• Masking can stop earlier with 2 negative antigen tests taken 48 hours apart

More and more Americans have developed some immunity to COVID-19 from immunizations and previous infection. New variants continue to infect people with the most at-risk groups more susceptible to severe illness.

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