SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Health officials are stressing the need for continued Covid-19 precautions as the holidays near. Transmission rates are also raising concerns, along with the first detection of the omicron variant in North Carolina this week.
Friday, Mecklenburg County Public Health reported a UNC Charlotte student was the first in the state to test positive for the mysterious variant. The student was isolated and has since recovered, according to the report, only believing to have exposed one other person.
Since last week, the list of states where omicron has been detected has grown from 16 to 24, including North Carolina’s latest discovery. Delta is still the predominant variant, more than twice as contagious as previous variants. Based on some research, it appears to cause severe illness in unvaccinated people.
At this point, early evidence suggests the omicron variant spreads more easily compared to the original virus, but the severity of its infections is still unknown. It’s also unclear what effects it has on vaccinated versus unvaccinated people.
In the meantime, as studies get underway, health officials are emphasizing the importance of continued mask wearing, heightened hygiene and social distancing to prevent Covid-19, especially as cases of the virus and the seasonal flu tick upward.
On Friday, 7.4% of Covid-19 tests statewide were returning positive results. The same day, around 3,600 cases were reported by NCDHHS, with 1,493 people in the hospital statewide.
However, as more age groups become eligible for vaccinations and boosters, the opportunities to slow the spread increase. Pfizer’s Covid-19 booster shot is now permitted for 16- and 17-year-olds.
“Getting your teen a COVID-19 booster shot will help strengthen and extend their protection against the COVID-19 virus and especially from new variants,” NCDHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen stated in a press release. “I encourage everyone ages 16 and older to get their booster as we head into the holiday season.”
Read below to find out current Covid-19 metrics in the tri-county area, in cases, clusters, outbreaks, and vaccinations, as assessed by the CDC and N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
If you value Port City Daily’s free Covid-19 coverage, please, consider a monthly subscription for access to all of PCD’s in-depth reporting, and sign up for the free morning newsletter.
New Hanover County
CASES
The latest update from the CDC, on Dec. 11, shows 249 Covid-19 cases were reported in New Hanover County over a seven-day span. On Thursday, the county reported the daily case average was 29.7, up from 14.5 less than a month ago.
The county’s positivity rate has reached 6%. That’s an increase from 2.7% on Nov. 12. The CDC now considers New Hanover County as a place of “high” transmission, an unfortunate promotion from the “substantial” status it held earlier in the week.
“We have seen a significant rise in two of the important transmission metrics we watch to determine where things stand in our community — new cases over the last two weeks and the percent of positive test results,” New Hanover County Health Director David Howard said in a Thursday press release.
There were 22 hospital admissions over the last seven days, according to the CDC, and on Nov. 29, the 298th person to die of Covid-19 in New Hanover County passed away.
VACCINATIONS
NCDHHS shows 64% of New Hanover County’s population has had one dose of the vaccine, while the fully vaccinated make up 60% of the population. The 65 and up age range is 93% fully inoculated, while 96% have received at least one one dose.
New Hanover County Public Health offers free Covid-19 vaccines and boosters at the health and human services building (1650 Greenfield St.) and Independence Mall (3500 Oleander Dr.). Walk-ins are accommodated. Appointments can be made at TakeMyShot.NC.gov.
Vaccine availability includes:
- Pfizer (two-dose vaccine, approved for anyone 5 & older; note: kids aged 5-11 receive a smaller dose than the adults)
- Moderna (two-dose vaccine, approved for anyone 18 & older)
- Johnson & Johnson (one-dose vaccine, approved for anyone 18 & older)
Parent or legal guardian consent will be required for ages 5-17.
Pfizer Covid-19 boosters are also now available for ages 16 and up at the county’s two clinics.
CLUSTERS AND OUTBREAKS
Autumn Care of Myrtle Grove, a local nursing home, is experiencing an outbreak with 12 total cases, affecting two residents and 10 staff members.
There are currently no clusters confirmed in any child care or school settings in the county.
Brunswick County
CASES
Over the last seven days, 311 Covid-19 cases were reported in Brunswick County, according to the CDC. As of Dec. 11, the county’s positive test rate is tracking at 10.53% and it’s transmissibility status is considered “high” by the CDC.
The CDC is reporting seven new admissions to Brunswick County hospitals for Covid-19 over the past seven days.
Brunswick County’s death toll is 247, with three deaths since Nov. 21, NCDHHS confirmed.
VACCINATIONS
NCDHHS shows, in Brunswick County, 60% of the population is fully vaccinated and 63% of people have at least received one dose. The 65 and up population is 91% fully vaccinated; 93% received the first dose.
Vaccinations for the population aged 12 and older are available at the county’s drive-thru clinic at Coastal Cinemas 10 in Shallotte (5200 Bridgers Rd.). Ages 5-11 can go to Brunswick County Health Services’ main clinic in Bolivia (25 Courthouse Dr.).
Brunswick County Health Services requires appointments for vaccinations, which can be made here or by calling 910-253-2339. The consent form to fill out for children 5 and up can be downloaded ahead of time here.
CLUSTERS AND OUTBREAKS
Carolina Dunes Behavioral Health, a mental health facility in Leland, is still considered the site of a Covid-19 outbreak, with 17 total cases affecting 14 staff and three residents.
No clusters are identified in child care or school settings at this time.
Pender County
CASES
According to the CDC, in the past seven days, 128 Covid-19 cases have been reported in Pender County. As of Dec. 11, the county’s positive test rate stands at 9.66%. The county’s transmission rate is considered high by the CDC’s standards.
In its Dec. 6 update, the county health department reported five hospitalizations and a total death count of 104. More than 9,000 people have tested positive in the county since the onset of the pandemic
VACCINATIONS
NCDHHS shows 52% of the population in Pender County has received at least one dose and 48% of the population is fully vaccinated. The 65 and up population is 80% fully vaccinated, and 83% of that age range has at least one dose.
Pender County has two vaccination locations: the health department (803 S. Walker St, Burgaw, NC, 28425) and Annex Building (15060 US-17, Hampstead, NC, 28443). Both locations are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., and are closed for lunch between noon and 1 p.m.
CLUSTERS AND OUTBREAKS
NCDHHS has confirmed an outbreak at the Pender County Jail, with 15 cases amongst inmates and two staff members out sick.
Penderlea Middle School is deemed the site of a cluster after one staff member and four children tested positive.
Also this week, Heide Trask High School paused the activities of its wrestling program as a precaution after exposure to Covid-19 during an away match. It plans to resume activities Monday, Dec. 13.
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
New Hanover Regional Medical Center serves a seven-county region so numbers from its Covid-19 dashboard aren’t necessarily reflective of only residents from New Hanover, Pender and Brunswick counties.
According to its dashboard, it has hospitalized 3,545 Covid-19 patients since the start of the pandemic. Of those, 2,974 have been discharged and 558 people passed away during their stay. The hospital system served an average of 16 patients daily this past week.
NHRMC has administered 116,815 vaccinations as of Dec. 10.
Tips or comments? Email info@portcitydaily.com.
Want to read more from PCD? Subscribe now and then sign up for our morning newsletter, Wilmington Wire, and get the headlines delivered to your inbox every morning.
