News Flash

For Immediate Release

08/31/2021    

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

Adult ICU Use Hits Record Highs and Unvaccinated People Are More Than 15 Times More Likely to Die From COVID-19

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released new data this past Thursday that showed that unvaccinated people were 15.4 times more likely to die from COVID-19 during the four-week period ending on Aug. 21, 2021. This comes as the state hits a pandemic high on Aug. 26^th with 912 adults in the ICU with COVID-19. The number of COVID-19 patients on ventilators also reached a record high at 574.

Also, during the week ending on Aug. 21, 2021, unvaccinated people were also 4.4 times more likely to catch COVID-19 than vaccinated people. The difference between vaccinated and unvaccinated teens was also even greater during this same timeframe, with unvaccinated people aged 12 to 17 being 6.3 times more likely to get COVID-19 than vaccinated people in this same age group.

Here closer to home, Rowan County had 2,378 active cases, as of yesterday, with a positivity rate of 21.7%. Even sadder, Rowan County has lost 341 individuals to COVID since the pandemic started; with 25 deaths occurring so far just this month. For hospitalizations, Novant Health Rowan had 62 individuals hospitalized and 9 patients on ventilators, as of yesterday. As far as children ages 0-18 being sick from COVID, Rowan County had 454 children sick for the week of August 22^nd.

More than ever, there is a great urgency to get vaccinated now. Here in Rowan County, we are experiencing one of the fastest accelerations in cases and hospitalizations in our region and in the state. It is important that we continue to share with you that the COVID-19 vaccines are remarkably effective in reducing the risk of severe disease, hospitalizations and death, even against the widely circulating Delta variant—vaccines are without a doubt the best way to protect yourself, the ones you love, and those that you may come in contact with throughout our community.

If you and/or a loved one still needs to get vaccinated, please use the CDC’s vaccine finder to help locate a number of local agencies/businesses that are also offering COVID vaccines within 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)

Also, if you start having symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19, you should get tested as soon as possible. Visit here for local testing options and here for more guidance on when you should get tested, no matter your vaccine status.  More importantly, if you or a loved one should have serious symptoms such as trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, or bluish lips or face, please seek medical attention immediately.

In closing and in addition to getting vaccinated, please wash your hands, wear a mask regardless of your vaccination status, and practice social distancing! Only through these preventive steps can we gain more control of this accelerated spread of COVID-19 and the highly contagious Delta variant. 

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

Download Media Release COVID-19 - August 31, 2021 (PDF)