NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC – COVID-19 case rates continue to be elevated in the area, but New Hanover County saw a slight improvement in a key metric used by the CDC to determine Community Level, leading to the county remaining in the Low level once again.
This system uses three local data points – new COVID-19 hospital admissions, local hospital capacity and new COVID-19 cases – to determine the impact the virus is having on the community and local health care. Last week, the county had a case rate per 100,000 population of 192.7. A case rate of 200 or more could have moved the county into the Medium level. As of Thursday afternoon, the number is down to 178.7. New Hanover County has remained at a Low level since the second week in March.
“We knew with the Memorial Day holiday, end of school year celebrations and early summer travel, that we might see a spike in our numbers and we did,” said Pandemic Operations Manager Jonathan Campbell. “Thankfully, our residents have done enough to get the metrics moving in the right direction again. That said, our numbers are still elevated and we encourage everyone to take precautions, be as safe as possible and get vaccinated, if you haven’t already, to reduce your risk of getting or spreading COVID-19 to minimize the impact on our local healthcare system.”
To help with those efforts, the Pandemic Operations Center (1507 Greenfield Street) is continuing to offer initial vaccines and boosters throughout the week. Appointments are recommended but not required and can be made by visiting TakeMyShot.NC.gov. Vaccines and boosters will be available during the following days and times:
- Mondays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Tuesdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Thursdays from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Fridays from 1-5 p.m.
The Pandemic Operations Center is also offering no cost rapid testing. An appointment is recommended and can be made by visiting this link, but again it is not required. Rapid tests will be available during the following days and times:
- Wednesdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Fridays from 9 a.m.-noon
For more information on the Pandemic Operations Center, vaccines, boosters or testing, visit Health.NHCGov.com/Coronavirus or call the Coronavirus Call Center at 910-798-6800.
Vaccines for children 6 months to five years expected to be approved soon
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is anticipating COVID-19 vaccine availability for children aged 6 months to 5 years old in the coming days. Authorization by the FDA is expected soon, which will then be followed by a review and recommendation by the CDC – both of which are needed for the vaccine to be available to this additional age group.
Learn more about the vaccine and the state’s plan for rollout at NCDHHS.gov. Once the vaccines are authorized and approved and the Pandemic Operations Center has the doses in hand, the community will be informed.
Low COVID-19 Community Level
Following its weekly review of county-specific data, the CDC has kept New Hanover County at a low COVID-19 community level. Recommended precautions for this level include being fully vaccinated and boosted, and testing for COVID if you develop symptoms. Mask usage at this community level is optional. The CDC plans to update community levels weekly, so residents can check the CDC website here to know the current community impact level.
COVID-19 Community Data, as of June 17:
- New Hanover County’s percent positivity over the past 14 days is 19 percent (this represents positive Molecular (PCR) tests as a percent of total PCR tests performed countywide).
- Over the past 14 days, 858 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the county which is an average of 61.3 cases per day.
- According to Novant Health NHRMC, as of June 13, the average daily number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized over the previous week was 25.
- Approximately 149,314 residents (about 64 percent) have been vaccinated with two doses or one dose of J&J, and 92,026 residents (about 39 percent) have been vaccinated with one booster or an additional dose.