News Flash

For Immediate Release

08/03/2021    

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

We Need More Citizens Getting a COVID Vaccine More Than Ever

This past Thursday afternoon, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper issued new recommendations based on the CDC’s new guidelines. Both he and the CDC are strongly encouraging people to wear masks indoors where high-transmission areas are an issue, no matter what one’s vaccination status currently is.

As of late last week, North Carolina reported more than 3,000 new COVID-19 cases, which is the state’s highest single-day reporting of cases since this past February. Health officials also shared that 80 percent of North Carolina’s counties, including Rowan County, are at high risk for community transmission.

The governor shared that most of the new cases, plus the rapid spread of the Delta variant, are being transmitted by non-vaccinated people. “Unvaccinated people are driving this resurgence and getting themselves and other people sick,” Cooper said. With this in mind, Cooper also recommended that schools require students, kindergarten through 12th grade, to wear face mask when returning to school this month. “Our trends have turned sharply in the wrong direction,” Cooper said. “If you are not vaccinated, you are at great risk.”

Cooper, also on Thursday, issued an Executive Order that directs state government cabinet agencies to verify whether their employees are vaccinated. Unvaccinated employees will be tested at least once a week and required to wear a mask. “We are strongly urging other state government agencies and private businesses to, at a minimum, do the same,” Cooper said. “Many businesses are going a step further and requiring their employees to get vaccinated, and I applaud that.”

Earlier last week, the CDC was already recommending that even vaccinated people should be wearing masks indoors in places of high transmission of COVID-19. This new guidance on masks for indoor public places applies in parts of the U.S. with at least 50 new cases per 100,000 people in the last week. That includes 60% of all U.S. counties, officials said.

Most recently in Rowan County, we have seen a spike in individuals 75 years and older with new cases of COVID; and although 72.5% of individuals 65 and older in Rowan are partially vaccinated and 67% of this age group are fully vaccinated, we still need to keep in mind that individuals in this age bracket, especially with underlying conditions, are more susceptible in getting sick. Also, we are currently seeing an uptick in the number of our young people that are also getting COVID. 

As parents, it is also important to realize that just because your child is young does not mean that they cannot develop complications from COVID and the Delta variant.  With only 42.7% of our county population 12 and older having just one dose and only 36.6% of our total county population, 12 and older, being fully vaccinated, we still have a long way to go! With school beginning in-person next week, it is more important than ever that if your child is 12 years old or older that they get vaccinated. In addition to getting vaccinated, it is also important that as a family that you choose to have your child wear a face mask when returning to school this month. That way they are not only protecting themselves, but everyone they come in contact with, as well. Only by us all practicing the 3W’s and getting vaccinated, can we hopefully overcome this new surge in positive COVID cases.

If you and/or your child still needs to get a COVID vaccine, please feel free to 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: 

• Novant Health at the J. F. Hurley YMCA; Walk-ins are accepted Wednesdays and Fridays; 8 am – 5 pm 
• Larger chain pharmacies: CVS and Walgreens
• Grocery Stores: Walmart, Food Lion (Salisbury and China Grove), Sam’s Club
• Local pharmacies: Moose Pharmacy, The Medicine Shoppe, and Cannon Pharmacy
• Provider offices: Rowan County Public Health, Rowan Diagnostic Clinic, Pro Med, and Salisbury Pediatric (only for established patients)

To find out more information about which vaccines are being offered and when they are being offered, please contact the agency/business directly.  It is important to know that when seeking out a COVID vaccine for your child, any child younger than 12 is not yet currently eligible to receive a vaccine. However, if your child is 12 years old and older, they can receive the following vaccines based on their age:

• Pfizer Vaccine (age 12+)
• Moderna Vaccine (age 18+)
• Johnson and Johnson (age 18+)

In closing and with school beginning next week, please note that Rowan County Public is offering COVID vaccinations in-house on Monday afternoons and Thursday mornings. We are also offering appointments for other required immunizations and well-child check-ups on Tuesday afternoons and Friday mornings, as well.  If you and/or your child need of any of these services, please feel free to call 704-216-8837 to make an appointment.

###

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

Download Media Release COVID-19 - August 3, 2021 (PDF)