News Flash

For Immediate Release

01/19/2022    

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

Rowan’s COVID-19 Cases Continue to Climb!!

As if last week’s numbers weren’t bad enough, our COVID-19 cases continue to climb! In the last 14 days, Rowan has seen 4,527 active cases, with an average of 359 new cases per day. As of mid-afternoon yesterday, our percent positivity rate had risen to 34.2%. As far as hospitalizations, we currently have more than sixty local individuals hospitalized; and of those, six are currently on ventilators. 

As of late last week, Rowan County is now seeing 87% of its sequenced tests returning as positive for the Omicron variant.  This variant is highly contagious and presents itself with a fever, sore throat, headache, and cough. In addition to this, we are seeing that unvaccinated individuals are making up 70% of all new cases of COVID-19, as well as accounting for the majority of all ICU cases and nearly all the deaths that are a result of COVID-19.

If you are not vaccinated or boosted yet, you should make an appointment as soon as possible to do so. By getting vaccinated, you can lower your risk of getting and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. More importantly, by getting vaccinated and boosted, you can also help prevent serious illness and death. The current recommendations for vaccines and booster shots are as follows:  

• Anyone 5 years and older can now receive a COVID-19 vaccine, with children 5-11 years of age now eligible to receive a lower dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
• A person who is 12 years of age and older and who has received both doses of the Pfizer vaccine can now receive their booster 5 months after receiving their second vaccine.
• A person who is 18 years of age and older and who has received both doses of Moderna can now receive their booster 6 months after receiving their second vaccine. 
• A person who is 18 years of age and older and who has received the single dose of J&J can now receive their booster 2 months after receiving their single vaccine.

If you or a loved one still needs to be vaccinated or boosted, please visit our website for more information.

As far as getting tested for COVID-19, especially if you have been exposed to a positive person and/or if you are having symptoms, please visit our website to see where testing is available. For those individuals needing to get tested later in the day, please note that Novant Health is now offering testing on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 PM – 9 PM. This testing site is located at 315 Mocksville Avenue. 

 Also, if you are found to be COVID positive or have come into contact with someone that is COVID positive, please follow the new CDC guidelines.  By following these guidelines, you can not only help stop the spread of this virus within your home, but you can also stop the spread of the virus within your worksite and within our community.

 In closing, Rowan County Public Health cannot stress to you enough about the importance of getting vaccinated and boosted. In addition to this, everyone needs to practice the 3Ws to help stop the spread of the virus. There is no way around it, we must all be responsible and do what needs to be done!!

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

Download Media Release COVID-19 - January 19, 2022 (PDF)