News Flash

For Immediate Release

05/24/2021    

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
Follow Us: www.facebook.com/rowancountyhealth 

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

NCDHHS’ Current Recommendations for Protecting Each Other from COVID-19

As more people are getting vaccinated and as more restrictions are being lifted by CDC and Governor Cooper, it can be a little confusing about what an individual should be doing at this time as it relates to protecting him or herself from COVID-19. Below, you will find the most current recommendations, as of May 19, 2021, from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Hopefully with this information, it will help guide you in continuing to make healthier decisions as it relates to COVID-19; while at the same time, it will allow our community to continue to get healthier as summer soon approaches.  

Everyone is required to wear face coverings (regardless of vaccination status) in the following indoor settings: 

• Health care settings including hospitals, nursing homes and other non-hospital health care settings as defined by CDC. 
• Planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation. 
• Correctional facilities and homeless shelters. 
• Settings that primarily serve children (i.e., child care, schools, camps). 

Everyone should: 

• Get a vaccine to protect against COVID-19, if eligible and encourage others to do the same. Visit MySpot.nc.gov to find a vaccine location near you. 
• Wear a face covering and practice social distancing (even if fully vaccinated) in other high-density congregate living settings (e.g. migrant farm camps) and in large crowded indoor venues (e.g. arenas, stadiums). 
• Get tested if you have any symptoms of COVID-19.  

Pre-teens and teenagers are now eligible to receive the COVID vaccine, based on their age and the type of vaccine:

• Everyone 12 and older is currently eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. 

1. Pfizer-BioNTech (two doses, 3 weeks apart) is available for 12+
2. Moderna (two doses, 4 weeks apart) is available or 18+
3. Johnson and Johnson-Jannsen (one dose) is available for 18+

If you are fully vaccinated, you can: 

• Gather with others who are vaccinated or unvaccinated. 
• Be in most indoor and outdoor public spaces without wearing a face covering or staying 6 feet apart. 
• Not get tested and not quarantine after being exposed to COVID-19, if you do not have symptoms of COVID-19. 
• Travel in the United States without needing to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel. International travelers need to pay close attention to the situation at their international destinations before traveling due to the spread of new variants and because the burden of COVID-19 varies globally. 

If you are not fully vaccinated, you should: 

• Wear a face covering and maintain social distance in all indoor public settings and in outdoor public settings when it is difficult to maintain 6 feet of distance. 
• Avoid indoor settings where people are not wearing face coverings. 
• Participate in routine screening testing when offered. 
• Wear a face covering, maintain social distancing and be outside if possible when gathering with others. 
• Get tested and quarantine if you’ve been exposed to COVID-19, even if you don’t have symptoms. 

Protect your family and neighbors: 

• Delay travel until fully vaccinated. If you do travel, get tested 1-3 days before and 3-5 days after travel AND stay at home to self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel.  

Employers should: 

• Have employees who are not fully vaccinated maintain social distance and wear a face covering. Since it can be hard to know who is vaccinated and who is not, employers may ask that all employees to wear a face covering until more people in North Carolina are vaccinated. 
• Post signage reminding employees and visitors to social distance and wear a face covering if they are not fully vaccinated. Since it can be hard to know who is vaccinated and who is not, employers may decide to post signage asking all employees and customers to wear a face covering until more people in North Carolina are vaccinated. 
• Remind employees to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19. 
• Have a plan to immediately isolate and remove sick workers. 
• Clean high-touch surfaces once a day. 

In closing, if you have still not received your COVID Vaccine; but you  are interested in doing so, please visit the CDC’s vaccine finder. Here, you will find a number of local agencies/businesses that are offering COVID vaccines in Rowan County, such as:

1. Novant Health at the J. F. Hurley YMCA; Walk-ins are accepted M-F 8 am – 5 pm 
2. Larger chain pharmacies: CVS and Walgreens
3. Grocery Stores: Walmart, Food Lion (Salisbury and China Grove), Sam’s Club
4. Local pharmacies: Moose Pharmacy, The Medicine Shoppe, Country Pharmacy, Price Pharmacy, and Cannon Pharmacy
5. Provider offices: Rowan Diagnostic Clinic, Cleveland Wellness Clinic

To find out more information about which vaccines are being offered and when they are being offered, please contact the agency/business directly. Let’s make it a local goal to get as many people vaccinated in Rowan County as we can so we can enjoy summer and all the festivities that go along with it in a safe and healthy way.

###

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

Download Media Release COVID-19 - May 24, 2021 (PDF)