ASHEVILLE, NC – September 25, 2024 – The CDC’s COVID Dashboard for the week ending on September 14th shows:
- Almost 5% of the deaths in North Carolina were due to COVID, the 3rd highest level of 6 groups and increased since last week.
- Emergency department visits for COVID-19 are low in North Carolina, between 2-3% of all visits and a moderate decrease since last week.
Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID outbreaks. The Buncombe & Henderson counties wastewater data on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard for the week ending on September 11th shows:
- The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is between 80-100%, the highest level of 5 groups.
- The 15-day rate of change of the number of viral gene copies in each water sample is between 1 to 9%, the lowest level of 3 groups with a positive rate of change.
Vaccine protection wanes over time and newer variants evolve to evade the body’s defenses. Persons in high-risk groups, ages 65 and older, with chronic health conditions and weakened immune systems, are more likely to develop severe illness. At-risk people can be protected, by staying home when not feeling well and keeping current with vaccination.
Americans will be able to order up to 4 COVID tests at COVIDtest.gov in a week.
A new COVID vaccine is available for currently circulating strains. It is recommended for everyone 6 months and older. The timing is optimal to protect against getting severely ill during the winter surge of respiratory infections. Check with local pharmacies for availability.
Listen to the full report below:
Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, healthyasheville@ashevillefm.org