News Flash

For Immediate Release

08/08/2022    

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 County’s COVID-19 Cases Remain High

As more and more people are testing positive for COVID, the CDC recently reported that more than 80% of all new cases in the U.S. are now from the BA.5 variant. This variant is currently causing repeat infections, even in those individuals who have already been sick from other variants of COVID-19 and/or who have already been vaccinated. Symptoms of this variant may include sore throat, runny nose, cough, headache, fatigue, and/or back pain. More importantly as we are seeing more and more positive cases, it is important to realize that individuals that are not currently vaccinated are at a higher risk of becoming sicker and/or hospitalized. 

Here closer to home, North Carolina now has 67 counties that are considered high for transmission of COVID-19, including Rowan County. As of this past Wednesday, the CDC reported that there were 459 known cases of COVID-19 in our county and 20 new, confirmed COVID-19 hospital admissions. As far as test results, Rowan is reporting a 32% positivity rate in agency testing. 

Rowan County Public Health continues to encourage you to get vaccinated and boosted as soon as possible. By doing this, you are greatly reducing your risk of hospitalization, any long-term effects from COVID, and even death. The following are things you can do right now to reduce your chances of getting the BA.5 variant:

• Make sure you get vaccinated and/or boosted if you have not already, plus make sure you get your second booster if you’re eligible.
• Have a supply of at-home tests on hand to help stop the spread of COVID by testing more often, especially if you have been around a positive person or if you start feeling bad. If you should test positive and/or start feeling sick, please stay at home. To learn more on how to receive FREE test kits at home, please visit NCDHHS or the USPS.
• Wear a face mask whenever you go out in public. Also practice physical distancing and good hand hygiene. These things are especially important if you are at high risk for serious COVID-19 complications.
• Increase the ventilation of indoor spaces by opening windows and doors.

If you do test positive for COVID-19, antiviral pills like Paxlovid and Molnupiravir are available and should be taken within the first five days in which symptoms appear. Please note that these treatments must be prescribed by a medical professional. For more information on treatment, please visit the NCDHHS website.

In closing, if you or a loved one still needs to be vaccinated against COVID-19, please call Rowan County Public Health at 704-216-8777 and choose option 3 to make an appointment. Vaccines are available for all ages and include Moderna, Pfizer, J&J, and the new Novavax vaccine. Novavax, which is a protein subunit vaccine, is for individuals 18 and older and is administered in 2 doses, three to eight weeks apart. 

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

Download Media Release COVID-19 - August 8, 2022 (PDF)