ASHEVILLE, NC – March 29, 2022 – Buncombe County COVID-19 metrics are on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard at https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard . Data from March 29 indicate:
- There are 80 cases per 100,000 residents in the last 14 days. This is 20% less than last week.
- 66% of the total population have received their full primary vaccination series. This is unchanged from February 22.
- 58% of fully vaccinated people have received boosters. This is unchanged from last week.
- There are fewer COVID-19 hospitalizations and ICU patients over the past week.
- The risk level for Buncombe County is low for the week ending March 31 according to the
- Wastewater surveillance may provide an early warning before individual testing shows that COVID-19 is spreading. The 15-day rate of change of viral load for the Metropolitan Sewer District for Buncombe County is rising for the time period of March 9 to March 23th according to the state website. However, the CDC website reports that the 15-day rate of change of viral load has fallen for the time period of March 13 to March 27th. This may be predictive of a falling case rate one week later.
The Department of Health and Human Services recommends:
- Get vaccinated and boosted when eligible.
- 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
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.
Save your face masks:
- The risk level may rise with a new variant
- A person at high risk for severe illness should speak with their health care provider
- Mask wearing is recommended for persons with a positive test, having symptoms, or exposure to someone with COVID-19
- Governor Cooper’s executive order requires 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, healthyasheville@ashevillefm.org