Andrew Jones, Asheville Citizen Times
·4 min read
ASHEVILLE - As Buncombe's COVID-19 case count is plateauing at an almost historical low, county health officials are decreasing public updates and vaccines are becoming more available to those who need them most, though immunization rates are stagnant.
The county's now-monthly Health and Human Services briefing on the pandemic found cases at the lowest since May 2021.
"Our case rate has remained low and stable for about three weeks," Public Health Director Stacie Saunders told Board of Commissioners April 5.
There were only 40 cases per 100,000 per week as of April 4. The last time positive case reports dropped that low was May and June 2021.
More: Buncombe health department to decrease public COVID-19 updates; positivity rate falls to 4.7%
In BCHHS' June 15, 2021, report, positive cases reported were at 15 per 100,000 per week.
The delta variant hit the U.S. in March 2021 and cases suddenly surged during the late summer, stressing local hospitals and causing unprecedented case spikes.
Today, much of the U.S. — including North Carolina and Buncombe — is leaning on a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention measure meant to show how much the virus will impact a local health care system in every U.S. county — the COVID-19 Community Levels system.
This system shows counties in "low," "middle" and "high" categories, with "high" representing areas at high risk for COVID-19 spread and stress to hospitals.
Buncombe and most of North Carolina are in the "low" category.
WNC's 17-hospital Mountain Area Healthcare Preparedness Coalition on April 5 was reporting only 13 people hospitalized with COVID-19 symptoms.
Residents are still dying of COVID-19, however.
The North Carolina Health and Human Services Department reported three COVID-related deaths between March 25 and April 1. As of April 5, 552 people in Buncombe had died from COVID-19 symptoms.
Across the state, 23,239 have died since death reporting started in early March 2020.
Buncombe's strategy for tackling COVID-19 as the virus fades is changing. COVID-19 updates will come out once a month, Saunders said April 5. She said updates will stop after that, likely before summer.
Moreover, Saunders noted the importance of keeping track of COVID-19 via testing. Though most testing sites have closed, at-home tests are still available, including those free to order from the federal government at covid.gov/tests.
BCHHS also wants to send a team into communities to offer pop-up vaccination sites. Saunders said the department is in the process of hiring a mobile clinic team for this purpose and that vaccines are meanwhile still available at the 40 Coxe Ave. clinic.
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2nd booster shots now available for some
The county's vaccination rate has also plateaued: 66% of Buncombe residents have received two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines or one of the Johnson & Johnson, and 69% have received at least one dose, numbers that have not budged much since late 2021.
But Saunders said residents are still getting vaccinated, if slowly.
A second booster shot is now available in Buncombe for those 50 and older as well as those who are immunocompromised. This comes after the CDC updated its vaccination guidance on March 30.
Among those giving shots and boosters in Buncombe is the Charles George VA Medical Center at 1100 Tunnel Road. Vaccines are offered in Building 70, Room 123, the hospital said in a news release.
Residents can go to vaccines.gov to find other nearby vaccination clinics and covid19.ncdhhs.gov for testing sites.
Saunders on April 5 emphasized progress in equitable distribution of vaccine as well.
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"Equity efforts and relationships with groups like the Mexican Consulate and Healthier Together have helped to close the disparity among the Hispanic population," the county said in a news release accompanying Saunders' presentation.
Now there is a greater proportion of the Buncombe County Hispanic population receiving at least one dose than non-Hispanic people, the release stated.
She urged residents to stay vigilant about the virus, though she did not mention the prevalent BA.2 variant, which is now a dominant form of omicron in the U.S., representing more than 70% of new cases.
“Be aware of symptoms or exposure to those with COVID-19 and get tested if you have been exposed or feel ill. If you are high risk for severe illness, talk to your provider about COVID treatment options.”
Andrew Jones is Buncombe County government and health care reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at @arjonesreports on Facebook and Twitter, 828-226-6203 or arjones@citizentimes.com. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Buncombe's COVID-19 levels reach 8-month low, vaccines available
