ASHEVILLE, NC – November 1, 2023 – The COVID-19 metrics are on the CDC’s COVID Dashboard. For the week ending on October 21st.
- Hospital admission levels are low in 99 of 100 counties in North Carolina, including Buncombe County, and about 93% of the counties in the U.S. However, they have decreased in North Carolina and Buncombe County from the previous week.
- Between 4.0 to 5.9% of the deaths in North Carolina were due to COVID, the third highest level of 6 groups. This has increased since last 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 fewer than 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 October 18th 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 80th and 100th 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 100% or greater, the highest group for a positive rate of change.
Listen to the full report below:
Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, healthyasheville@ashevillefm.org