News Flash

For Immediate Release

04/29/2021    

COVID-19 Information

Phone: 980-432-1800
Website: www.rowancountync.gov/COVID-19
Email: covid-19@rowancountync.gov

Vaccine Information

Website: www.rowancountync.gov/COVIDvaccine
Onsite at vaccine clinics: Text rocopod to 888777 or tune into 88.7 FM for updates
Follow Us: www.facebook.com/rowancountyhealth 

Rowan County COVID-19 Case Information: https://bit.ly/rowan-covid19-hub

NC Lifts More COVID Restrictions as COVID Numbers Increase Among Rowan’s 25-49 Year Olds

Yesterday afternoon, Governor Cooper and Secretary Mandy K. Cohen updated the state’s current COVID-19 data, trends and vaccination progress. As the state’s metrics and key indicators remain stable, Governor Cooper has signed an Executive Order outlining safety measures for the month of May. Executive Order No. 209 (PDF) will take effect April 30 and is set to expire June 1. As more North Carolinians are getting vaccinated and adhere to safety protocols over the course of the next month, the state anticipates lifting more restrictions on June 1. 

Under the new Executive Order, masks will still be required indoors, but are no longer mandated outdoors. Masks are still strongly recommended outdoors by NC DHHS in crowded areas and higher risk settings where social distancing is difficult. 

Executive Order No. 209 will also increase mass gathering capacity limits. The number of people who may gather indoors will increase from 50 to 100 and the number of people who may gather outdoors will increase from 100 to 200. Occupancy limits currently in place will remain the same.

North Carolina continues to focus on distributing vaccines quickly and equitably. To date, the state has administered over 7 million doses; 48.7% percent of those 18 and up are at least partially vaccinated, and 39.2% percent of those 18 and up have been fully vaccinated. 

State health officials are continuing to monitor COVID-19 and its more contagious variants in North Carolina, which is why it is important to continue to follow the state’s mask mandate and continue to practice safety precautions, including the 3Ws—wear a mask, wait 6 feet apart, and wash hands often. 

As far as for Rowan County, the local situation concerning COVID-19 continues to fluctuate. As of yesterday, Rowan County has had a total of 16,494 cases of COVID-19, with 300 deaths resulting from this virus.  Currently, Rowan County has 449 active cases in the community, which has continued to increase, but has stabilized over the past week. Rowan is also still considered "yellow" in the County Alert System for significant community spread and is showing a 14-day average positive percent from testing of 7.2% with a "Slight Impact" to our hospital system.  

Unfortunately, the current local numbers tell a stark story for us as we continue to see a decline in the number of citizens that want a vaccine or have completed their required vaccine series.  From our hospital partners, we are now seeing a higher number of individuals 25-49 who are in the hospital with severe illness and complications due to COVID. On a more positive note, however, we are now seeing fewer individuals 65 and older testing positive for COVID-19 or needing hospitalization, as a result of the majority of this age group receiving at least one dose of their COVID vaccine.

As much as we would like to say COVID-19 is behind us, we know there is still an active spread within our community. To get Rowan County back to normal, we highly encourage our citizens to get vaccinated and to continue to work to fight against COVID-19 by using preventive measures such as the 3Ws when out in public and in highly congested areas. To find local agencies/businesses that are currently offering the COVID vaccine, please visit CDC’s vaccine finder.   Please do you part to help our community to get healthy again—make an appointment to get your COVID Vaccine as soon as possible!

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Contact:
Amy Smith
704-216-8859
amy.smith@rowancountync.gov

Download Media Release COVID-19 - April 29, 2021 (PDF)