ASHEVILLE, NC – November 15, 2023 – The COVID-19 metrics are on the CDC’s COVID Dashboard. For the week ending on November 11th.
- 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 8th 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 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, healthyasheville@ashevillefm.org