Durham Joins Other NC Cities, Counties in Requiring Masks in All Indoor Settings

Durham, NC, to require everyone to wear masks indoors | Durham Herald Sun 8/9/21, 1126 AM

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DURHAM COUNTY Durham joins other NC cities, counties in requiring masks in all indoor settings

BY JULIAN SHEN-BERRO UPDATED AUGUST 09, 2021 08:55 AM ! " # $

The Delta variant, which is more contagious than other strains, makes up most of North Carolina’s COVID-19 cases. DHHS says vaccinations can protect you from hospitalization and death and help stop how quickly severe cases are rising in the state. BY NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

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Durham County and city officials announced a new state of emergency, to begin Monday, that requires everyone to wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status.

Though there are specific exemptions, the mandate applies to everyone age 5 and older.

The news comes as North Carolina sees a rising number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and tests returning positive, mostly due to the delta variant spreading among people who have not been vaccinated.

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Hispanic people more likely to die at home from COVID-19 in North Carolina

Several other cities and towns across North Carolina have declared states of emergency and imposed similar requirements.

In the town of Boone in Watauga County, a state of emergency that takes effect Tuesday evening requires everyone age 2 and older to wear masks, The Charlotte Observer reported.

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Winston-Salem is under a state of emergency that requires masks in all city government buildings.

Though they didn’t declare a state of emergency, masks are also required in all Wake County and Raleigh city-owned buildings, regardless of vaccination status, The News & Observer reported.

And on Sunday, Raleigh City Council Member Jonathan Melton said in a tweet that he has tested positive for the virus despite being vaccinated. He did not say if he has been wearing a mask.

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Jonathan Melton @melton4raleigh

Days ago, I tested positive for COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated. Iʼm isolating at home. My symptoms are mild and doctor said unlikely to worsen because of the vaccine. Iʼm glad I got my shot. Please get vaccinated and encourage others too. #ralpol

Get Your COVID-19 Shot! Wake County Public Health encourages everyone ages 12 and older to get a COVID-19 vaccine! wakegov.com

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In Orange County, masks are required of visitors and employees in public buildings. Chapel Hill never lifted its requirement that employees and the general public wear masks inside public buildings, The N&O reported.

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These measures follow warnings from health experts that the more contagious strain of the virus is spreading rapidly throughout the state.

The Delta variant now makes up more than 93% of all new COVID-19 cases as it continues to spread across the country. Here's how to slow the spread. BY DAVID CARACCIO # | CLEVELAND CLINIC

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The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have advised everyone who is unvaccinated to wear masks indoors. For those who are vaccinated, the CDC recommends masks in areas of substantial or high transmission.

As of Friday, that included nearly every county in the state, according to CDC data.

In Durham, there have been 671 new cases of the virus over the past 14 days. The county has seen a total of 241 deaths from the virus.

As of Wednesday, 5.1% of tests in Durham were returning positive. That’s slightly higher than the state’s 5% target, but still lower than North Carolina as a whole, which has saw a daily positive rate of 10.6% on Friday.

In the county, 61% of the population is at least partially vaccinated against the virus, while 57% are fully vaccinated.

In a statement accompanying the news Saturday, Durham Mayor Steve Schewel encouraged residents to get vaccinated.

“It is unfortunate we are in this situation, but the delta variant is extremely dangerous,” he said. “Our local cases have grown exponentially over the last weeks and instituting a mask mandate is once again necessary to contain the spread of COVID-19 and protect yourself and our vulnerable neighbors.”

The state of emergency takes effect at 5 p.m. Monday. Here’s where you need to wear a mask in Durham, and who is exempt from the mandate:

Face coverings must be worn in any indoor public place, business or establishment.

Exemptions are in place for those with medical and behavioral conditions or disabilities, including those that cause difficulties breathing or putting on a mask without assistance.

Children under 5 years old do not need to wear face coverings.

Children are also exempt if their parent or guardian has been unable to safely place a mask on their face.

People working at home or in their own vehicles do not need to wear masks.

Masks can be temporarily removed when actively eat or drinking, or for identification purposes in government or medical services.

Exemptions are also provided for those having conversations with people who are hearing-impaired and require that the mouth be visible.

Those giving speeches or performances who are at least 20 feet away from the audience (or 10 feet away, if vaccinated).

There are some workplace safety and vehicle or equipment operation exemptions as well.

For more information, see the full declaration here.

RELATED STORIES FROM DURHAM HERALD SUN https://www.heraldsun.com/news/local/counties/durham-county/article253348598.html Page 4 of 7 COVID vaccine doses to be thrown out if not used in Wake, NC | Raleigh News & Observer 8/9/21, 1122 AM

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CORONAVIRUS Triangle health departments hustle to use COVID vaccines before they expire

BY PRIYA DAMES UPDATED AUGUST 09, 2021 10:36 AM ! " # $

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When coronavirus vaccines arrived early this year, lots of North Carolinians did whatever it took to get the shots. They drove hundreds of miles, joined random lines in pharmacies and searched online late into the night for appointments slots.

By mid-April, however, things changed. Demand dropped dramatically. Now, county health departments in the Triangle are left with a potential surplus of vaccines, with

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article253293793.html Page 1 of 7 COVID vaccine doses to be thrown out if not used in Wake, NC | Raleigh News & Observer 8/9/21, 1122 AM

thousands set to expire by the end of this month.

“Gone are the days of people beating down the doors, all but demanding the vaccine,” said Rodney Jenkins, Durham County’s health director.

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Demand for vaccines is rising again, according to N.C. Department of Health and Human Services data. This may be due to fear of the rise of the more contagious delta variant, said Wake County Public Health communications manager Stacy Beard.

What’s not clear is whether this will help local health departments use all the vaccine doses they have on hand before some expire, a risk that is occurring nationally.

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VACCINES DON’T LAST FOREVER

Different types of vaccines remain viable for different periods of time.

The Food and Drug Administration recently extended the shelf life of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by six weeks, for example. That prolonged Wake County’s deadline to use 2,100 doses to Sept. 21.

But Wake County had 4,000 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine doses set to expire by Aug. 31, https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article253293793.html Page 2 of 7 COVID vaccine doses to be thrown out if not used in Wake, NC | Raleigh News & Observer 8/9/21, 1122 AM

as of Aug. 6, officials there said.

Durham County had 1,278 Pfizer vaccine doses that must be used by Aug. 31, as of Aug. 5, officials there said. The county health department also had 425 Johnson & Johnson doses set to expire on Sept. 21.

Orange County had 150 Pfizer vaccine doses scheduled to expire on Aug. 31 as of Aug. 6, staff there said. They also had 20 Johnson & Johnson doses expiring on Sept. 21.

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To better protect everyone from a more contagious coronavirus, health workers are hustling to get shots into people’s arms, which may prevent these doses from getting wasted.

In Wake County, canvassers have been going door-to-door to deliver vaccines on doorsteps, said Beard. They go where people are, including to lobbies of arenas where hockey games are played to vaccinate people when they come in, she said.

Durham County is also taking steps to bring vaccines to hesitant people. The county health department is partnering with state health officials to expand vaccinations among historically marginalized communities, including people of color.

In addition to going door-to-door, too, they are hosting phone banks and sending text alerts.

MANAGING SUPPLIES

The Durham health department has strategies to cut down waste, Jenkins said. Durham health department’s vaccination team holds weekly meetings to predict how many doses they should order based on recent demand, Jenkins said.

That “mindset” has reduced the risk of having vaccine doses already in house expire, he said. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article253293793.html Page 3 of 7 COVID vaccine doses to be thrown out if not used in Wake, NC | Raleigh News & Observer 8/9/21, 1122 AM

Research shows that people want to take the vaccine in places where they trust, Beard said. “A lot of times that is their friendly neighborhood pharmacist,” she added.

All three counties send vaccines to local pharmacies and doctor offices, part of the effort to increase where people can get the protective shots.

County health departments also send surplus vaccines to each other. Wake County Public Health, for example, has sent vaccines to Johnston and Granville counties.

The goal is clear cut: “to exhaust our supply in a manner that allows us not to worry about vaccine expiration,” Jenkins said.

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https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article253293793.html Page 4 of 7 As COVID-19 cases spike, Carteret County health director urges individuals to get vaccinated | News | carolinacoastonline.com 8/12/21, 148 PM

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EDITOR'S PICK TOP STORY As COVID-19 cases spike, Carteret County health director urges individuals to get vaccinated

CHERYL BURKE Aug 11, 2021

Carteret County health department oﬃcials are urging residents to receive COVID-19 vaccinations after seeing a large spike in conﬁrmed cases in the county. (Cheryl Burke photo)

MOREHEAD CITY — Carteret County Health Director Nina Oliver reported Monday there has been a 407% increase in conﬁrmed active COVID-19 cases in the county from July 19.

“State and county metrics are all rising — case counts, hospitalizations, ER visits and percent positives,” she said during the County Consolidated Human Services board meeting, held via Zoom.

Ms. Oliver said the majority of the cases are due to the delta variant of the novel coronavirus.

“The delta variant is signiﬁcantly more contagious than the original virus,” she said. “While the original virus spread from one person to an average of two or three people, the delta variant is spreading from one person to an average of six people.” https://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/article_feee0eae-f9fa-11eb-8338-bba78855a455.html Page 1 of 4 As COVID-19 cases spike, Carteret County health director urges individuals to get vaccinated | News | carolinacoastonline.com 8/12/21, 148 PM

Health oﬃcials reported 102 new cases of COVID-19 in the area over the weekend, the largest increase seen in several months. The spike is the largest seen since the coronavirus last peaked in Carteret County this winter.

Since Friday, North Carolina health oﬃcials have conﬁrmed nearly 16,000 new cases, with more than 6,800 reported Sunday alone, the most in a single day since early February.

“Increases are driven almost entirely by infections in unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated populations,” Ms. Oliver said. “Ninety-four percent of new cases from May 6 to July 11 have been in people who were not fully vaccinated.”

As of July 31, Ms. Oliver said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated nationally 83.4% of cases were from the delta variant, 2.9% were from alpha and the remaining were from other variants.

As of Monday, Ms. Oliver said there were 132 active cases in the county, with 15 COVID-related hospitalizations at Carteret Health Care in Morehead City.

“Statewide, COVID hospitalizations have increased from 494 on July 14 to 1,750 on Aug. 5, or a 254% increase,” she said.

Ms. Oliver added, “We are seeing an increase in the number of children being hospitalized across the state.”

Board member and physician Dr. Gregory Reichert conﬁrmed the delta variant is eﬃcient at spreading.

“It’s signiﬁcantly better at attaching to our cells,” he said during a presentation to the board.

He emphasized getting a vaccination was the best way to combat the virus.

“Vaccines are still eﬀective,” he said, adding that mask wearing and hand washing also help.

Dr. Reichert said he’s frustrated with the politicizing of the pandemic and misinformation regarding vaccinations and masks.

“I am taking care of many patients with left over side eﬀects of their COVID battle and have had patients die,” he said. “I’m not a political person per se, I’m just taking care of your neighbors and friends. The vaccines are the best option we currently have.”

As for percent positive cases, Ms. Oliver said the number has jumped from 1.4% positive cases the week of July 4-10 to 9.9% the week of July 25-31.

“The state daily percent positive is 11.1%,” she said. “The goal is 5% or below.”

As of Aug. 9, there have been 5,578 conﬁrmed cases reported in Carteret County since the start of the pandemic. Of those, 5,378 have been cleared. There have been 59 COVID-19 related deaths.

https://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/article_feee0eae-f9fa-11eb-8338-bba78855a455.html Page 2 of 4 As COVID-19 cases spike, Carteret County health director urges individuals to get vaccinated | News | carolinacoastonline.com 8/12/21, 148 PM

In a breakdown by age of the percentage of confirmed cases as of Aug. 6, the highest percentage was reported in the 25-year-old to 49-year-old age group, at 37% of confirmed cases. The next highest was 50- to 64-year-olds at 24%. Of total confirmed cases, 10% were reported in ages 0-17.

Ms. Oliver urged residents to get vaccinated, as well as wear masks, wash hands frequently and physically distance.

“If everyone would do these things we would not see the infection rates we’re seeing,” she said.

As of Aug. 6, 50% of the county’s population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, or 34,822 residents, according to Ms. Oliver. The percent of fully vaccinated county residents as of Aug. 6 was 47%, or 32,558 people.

“The health department has given a total of 10,257 COVID vaccines, with 303 of those vaccines given to teens from 12-17 years of age,” she said.

According to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, the statewide percentage of people who have received at least one dose of vaccine is 51%, with 47% fully vaccinated. The county with the highest percentage is Orange County, reporting 79% of residents receiving at least one dose of vaccine and 76% fully vaccinated. Among county’s reporting the lowest percentage of people vaccinated is Duplin County, with 34% receiving at least one dose of vaccine, and 31% fully vaccinated.

Ms. Oliver said the health department is seeing an increase in phone calls and testing related to COVID-19.

“The COVID response efforts are back in full swing in light of the rise in cases,” she said. “We continue to work with contact tracing staff to quickly reach out to new identified cases.”

Ms. Oliver said the health department continues to oﬀer COVID-19 vaccine clinics each Friday.

“We will be expanding those hours in the near future to oﬀer more vaccine availability throughout the week,” she said. “We also continue to provide vaccines at the (State Port in Morehead City) on Wednesday afternoons as long as capacity supports this.”

In addition, Ms. Oliver said the health department is reaching out to the Hispanic community in an eﬀort to provide education on COVID-19 and oﬀer vaccinations. On July 30, health department educators partnered with the local volunteer group, United Latinos of Eastern NC, to conduct COVID- 19 vaccination outreach to two local grocery stores.

“A total of 24 Hispanic individuals were signed up for the Aug. 6 ﬁrst dose vaccine clinic, and others took information and said they’ll be calling later for their appointment,” she said.

In addition, a mobile Mexican Consulate event was held July 6-9, with about 300 people attending from Carteret and surrounding counties.

“Attendees received education on the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine and clariﬁcation of community myths,” she said, adding that some were being scheduled for vaccinations, as well.

The health department encourages all individuals 12 years of age and older to receive the free COVID-19 vaccine. To make an appointment with the health department, call 252-728-8550, option 2, or look up other providers at myspot.nc.gov.

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“While we ask all residents to take this precaution, more importantly, if you know individuals who have been reluctant to get the vaccine, please take them to a vaccination site to get their shot and protect yourself and your family members, friends and neighbors,” she said.

Masks have been required for visitors and employees in public buildings across the county since last year, and many local businesses, including Weaver Street Market, started requiring customers to wear masks indoors last week.

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Some businesses also are requiring patrons to show proof of vaccination before being served indoors.

The Triangle area, including Orange County, was elevated last week to a “substantial transmission” of COVID-19 category under federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention metrics, with experts urging vaccinated and unvaccinated people to wear masks indoors.

Although 76% of Orange County’s population is fully vaccinated, new cases are surging, especially among those who are unvaccinated, the release noted.

On Monday, the county reported a COVID-19 rate of 230 confirmed cases for every 100,000 residents in the past 14 days, data showed. Over 155 of those were reported in the past week, and more than 60% were reported among those ages 18 to 49.

Orange County health officials, UNC and Chapel Hill officials will be watching those numbers closely as more UNC students return to campus for the fall semester. COVID outbreaks on campus last year forced the university to move classes online.

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HOSPITAL CASES RISING, MASKING REQUIRED

Orange County’s new mask rule follows the city of Durham and Durham County requiring masks inside public spaces and businesses effective Monday night. Their rule applies to anyone 5 years old and up.

While Orange County included younger children in its requirement, the mandate does allow exceptions if a parent cannot keep a mask safely on the face of children under age 5.

Masks also can be removed if someone has a diagnosed medical or behavioral condition or disability; or if they are eating or drinking, trying to communicate with someone who is hearing impaired, working alone in an office, or having difficulty operating equipment or a vehicle.

The town of Boone in Watauga County also is scheduled to implement a state of emergency Tuesday evening that requires everyone over the age of 2 to wear a mask, The Charlotte Observer reported.

In Wake County, masks are currently required for vaccinated and unvaccinated people in all county and Raleigh city buildings. Several Wake County mayors said they are reviewing COVID cases and that local public health officials haven’t called for a mask mandate yet.

“We don’t have any changes formally teed up right now to share with you, but I expect that this could change at any time,” Mayor Harold Weinbrecht said. “Things are certainly trending in the wrong direction.”

Health experts say the highly contagious delta variant is driving the surge, and most new cases are being reported among the unvaccinated. The CDC reports that while breakthrough infections have been reported among those who are fully vaccinated, the infection period appears to be shorter.

UNC Health reported Sunday that nearly 260 people had been hospitalized with COVID, including about 65 ICU patients, spokesman Alan Wolf said in an email.

That number is “up significantly” from the roughly 50 patients who were being treated in late June, Wolf said, but the UNC Health system still has beds available. Most of the patients are adults, he noted.

Medical staff continue to adjust operations to meet the need, he said.

“Our clinical teams are managing this challenging surge, partly because we have learned so much about treating these patients,” Wolf said. “However, we are concerned about the increase and continue to urge everyone to get vaccinated. Vaccines are the best tool for avoiding serious illness, hospitalization and death.”

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ORANGE COUNTY VACCINATION CLINICS

Orange County is offering two, free, walk-in vaccination clinics in Chapel Hill and Hillsborough, in addition to a number of pop-up clinics throughout August. No identification or insurance is required.

▪ Whitted Human Services Center: 300 W. Tryon St., Hillsborough. Offering vaccines from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Call 877-505-6723 to schedule an appointment.

▪ Southern Human Services Center: 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill. Offering vaccines from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 919-913-8088 to schedule an appointment.

The following pop-up events are scheduled over the next two weeks:

▪ Gateway Apartments: 400 Lakeside Drive, Hillsborough. Vaccinations from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10.

▪ Farmer’s Market Pavilion: 140 E. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough. Vaccinations from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday Aug. 11.

▪ Cedar Ridge High School: 1125 New Grady Brown School Road, Hillsborough. Vaccinations from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 12.

▪ Smith Middle School: 9201 Seawell School Road, Chapel Hill. Vaccinations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18.

More information about the vaccine and available clinics can be found below or online at orangecountync.gov/2617/Vaccine.

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Calling Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough readers! We've launched The Orange Report, a free weekly digest of some of the top stories for and about Orange County published in The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun. Get your newsletter delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday at 11 a.m. featuring links to stories by our local journalists. Sign up for our newsletter here. For even more Orange-focused news and conversation, join our Facebook group "Chapel Hill Carrboro Chat."

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You can also call your primary care physician to request a test.

Many sites listed or linked here require you register for an appointment before you go, but some of the county events are walk-up, with no appointment needed.

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Health insurance is not required, and the testing is free.

Please note that dates and locations of testing events listed here are subject to change over time. Always confirm with the organization that testing is still going on before heading out to a site.

FREE COVID TESTING AT WALGREENS AND CVS

You can still get a drive-through COVID test at Walgreens and CVS, and testing there is still free.

▪ Start at their website (walgreens.com or cvs.com), where you’ll fill out a short questionnaire. If it’s determined that you need a test (the threshold his pretty low), you’ll be given an option to request an appointment.

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▪ Choose the type of test you want — rapid testing or diagnostic testing. (Note: appointments for rapid tests may be harder to get right now.

▪ After you select the type of test you want, you’ll see stores with appointments available. Select a store and you’ll see appointment times to choose from.

▪ If you have insurance, you may be asked to provide that information when you register, but insurance is not required to get tested.

FREE COVID COMMUNITY TESTING SITES IN NC

NCDHHS maintains a list of sites in North Carolina offering free COVID-19 testing. We’ve listed a few local options below — along with events sponsored by county health departments — but this is far from a complete list.

Refer to the covid19.ncdhhs.gov page for more DHHS-sponsored testing sites or to your county health department.

COVID TESTS IN RALEIGH

Wake County Health Department does testing in the parking lot of Vision Church RDU, 5808 Departure Drive, Raleigh, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Wake County Health Department information: wakegov.com/covid-19-information.

Wake County Health Department does testing in the parking lot of the Wake County Human Services Center, 2845 Kidd Road, Raleigh, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday and Friday, 12:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

UPOH (United Providers of Health) offers free testing at the following sites in Raleigh. You can register at their website: upoh.org/covid-testing or call (800) 701- 1023.

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Learn more

▪ Care Tax Service, 909 Rock Quarry Road, Raleigh; Noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday

▪ Boys and Girls Club, 712 N. Raleigh Road, Raleigh; Noon to 6 p.m. every Friday

▪ Justice Served, 202 N. Tarboro Road, Raleigh; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday

▪ ED Emanuel Holmes, 2949 New Bern Ave, Suite 106A, Raleigh; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Thursday

OptumServe also provides free testing through at various Raleigh locations during the week. You can register at lhi.care/covidtesting.

COVID TESTS IN APEX

Ottendorf Laboratories, 1095 Investment Boulevard, Apex; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. most days during the week. Register online or call 919-390-2550.

COVID TESTS IN WAKE FOREST

Wake County Northern Regional Center (NRC), 350 E. Holding Ave., is doing testing 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays and Fridays, 12:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

COVID TESTS IN FUQUAY-VARINA

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Wake County Southern Regional Center, 130 N. Judd Pkwy NE, Fuquay-Varina, does testing 12:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

COVID TESTS IN ZEBULON

Wake County Eastern Regional Center, 1002 Dogwood Drive, Zebulon, does testing 12:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

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Durham County Health Department offers free COVID-19 testing at various locations, seven days a week. DURHAM COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

COVID TESTS IN DURHAM

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Durham County Health Department has free testing through OptumServe at various locations during the week. You can register at lhi.care/covidtesting. More info at the Durham County Health Department: dcopublichealth.org.

UPOH (United Providers of Health) offers free testing at the following sites in Durham. You can register at their website: upoh.org/covid-testing or call (800) 701- 1023 for more info.

▪ Boys & Girls Club, 1010 Martin Luther King Pkwy, Durham; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Thursday

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article253368783.html Page 5 of 9 Where to get free COVID tests in Raleigh, Durham, Orange NC | Raleigh News & Observer 8/12/21, 153 PM

▪ Peach Durham, 800 N. Mangum Street Durham; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday

COVID TESTS IN CHAPEL HILL

Orange County Health Department offers COVID testing at Southern Human Services Center (SHSC) at 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Get more info at orangecountync.gov.

COVID TESTS IN HILLSBOROUGH

Orange County Health Department offers COVID testing at Whitted Human Services Center, 300 W. Tryon St., Hillsborough, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Get more info at orangecountync.gov.

COVID TESTS IN SMITHFIELD

Johnston County Public Health Department and DHHS offer free testing at Smithfield Progressive Men’s Club, 1208 Old Goldsboro Road, Smithfield, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. This is walk-up rapid testing. Information at johnstonnc.com/health or call 919-209-8310

COVID TESTS IN CHATHAM COUNTY

Chatham County Health Department has testing at Central Carolina Community College, 400 Progress Blvd., Siler City, from noon to 4 p.m. on Mondays.

There is also testing at the Siler City Community Health Center, 224 S. 10th Ave., Siler City, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

More information at chathamcountync.gov.

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CORONAVIRUS Wake County to give employees cash bonus and days off for full COVID vaccinations

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Update: The story was updated at 8:50 a.m. Aug. 12, 2021, to clarify that the town of Carrboro could discipline employees who refuse to get the COVID vaccine.

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article253415405.html Page 1 of 7 NC towns offer incentives to town employees who get vaccine | Raleigh News & Observer 8/13/21, 155 PM

Wake County will join other Triangle governments offering bonuses to public employees who get vaccinated against COVID-19.

In Wake County, employees who are already vaccinated or get fully vaccinated by Sept. 15 will get a $250 bonus and two paid days off, County Manager David Ellis said in a news release.

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Wake County employees who don’t get vaccinated will have to undergo weekly COVID-19 testing, starting Sept. 20 until the county reports under 5% of tests are positive and the transmission rate falls. The county will pay for its employee bonuses with grant money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, the release noted.

Over 76% of Wake County adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

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“I wouldn’t be encouraging our employees to get vaccinated if I didn’t think it was the right thing to do,” said Ellis, who was vaccinated in March. “We’ve led the effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19 since it first appeared in our community, and this is the next step we must take to protect our 4,200 employees and the people they serve every day.”

The Wake County Public School System has not discussed vaccine incentives, a Essential. Dependable. Local. Subscribe for just $2 for 2 months CLAIM OFFER spokesperson said Wednesday.

Hillsborough announced a $300 bonus Tuesday. Carrboro has been offering its town

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article253415405.html Page 2 of 7 NC towns offer incentives to town employees who get vaccine | Raleigh News & Observer 8/13/21, 155 PM

employees a $100 vaccination bonus since late June, and over 70% of its 153 employees are vaccinated, town officials said in a news release.

Town spokeswoman Catherine Lazorko clarified Thursday that unvaccinated employees who do not receive a religious or medical exemption by Sept. 1 could be fired or face other disciplinary action, as well as weekly testing.

The town of Chapel Hill plans a similar bonus program for its over 750 full-time employees, Mayor Pam Hemminger said Tuesday.

The Sound of Judgment A battle for racial justice in NC confronts bloody past, uncertain future

The city of Durham does not have a bonus incentive.

“Currently, vaccines are not required for city employees,” city spokeswoman Beverly Thompson said in an email. “We certainly encourage City employees to be vaccinated, and various ways to incentivize employees to do that are always under consideration by senior management.:

PROOF OF VACCINE OR WEEKLY TESTS

Orange County and all three of its towns have set a Sept. 1 deadline for all employees to show proof they have been vaccinated or undergo weekly testing for COVID-19. Orange County, which has 1,040 full-time employees, is not planning to offer a bonus, spokesman Todd McGee said in an email.

Hillsborough Mayor Jennifer Weaver said the public’s response to the bonus program has been positive so far.

“As we are all aware, our community overall is making good progress on vaccine coverage, for which I am extremely grateful and proud, but certainly the embrace of vaccinations is not universal,” Weaver said. “I hope the town setting this example of how important the vaccines are to our collective public health encourages others to take the step.”

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article253415405.html Page 3 of 7 NC towns offer incentives to town employees who get vaccine | Raleigh News & Observer 8/13/21, 155 PM

Roughly 60% of Hillsborough’s 97 employees have been vaccinated so far, the release noted. Town offices remain closed to the public, and many employees are still telecommuting.

Weaver said the town will pay the bonuses — at a cost of just over $29,000 — with money from its general fund in order to thank employees who have been vaccinated and encourage more to join them.

“With the Delta variant being so much more contagious, it is imperative that we either get folks vaccinated or are regularly testing the unvaccinated,” she said. “This is essential for the welfare of individual employees, their co-workers and the community we serve.”

Orange County has one of the highest vaccination rates in the state at 76% but still has seen COVID-19 infections rise, especially among unvaccinated people.

The infection period is shorter among those who are vaccinated, health experts have said.

On Tuesday, Orange County was reporting 234 confirmed cases for every 100,000 people in the past 14 days, according to state Department of Health and Human Services data. Over 60% of those cases were among those ages 18 to 49, data showed.

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RELATED STORIES FROM RALEIGH NEWS & OBSERVER https://www.newsobserver.com/news/coronavirus/article253415405.html Page 4 of 7 Orange Co. To Reinstate Indoor Mask Mandate As State Hospitalizations Continue To Rise | WUNC 8/12/21, 150 PM

Orange Co. To Reinstate Indoor Mask Mandate As State Hospitalizations Continue To Rise North Carolina Public Radio | By Amy Jeffries, Elizabeth Baier Published August 10, 2021 at 8:15 PM EDT

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A business in San Antonio posts a reminder about face masks. The city is one of a growing number of localities and states mandating that face coverings be worn in public. https://www.wunc.org/health/2021-08-10/orange-co-to-reinstate-indoor-mask-mandate-as-state-hospitalizations-continue-to-rise Page 1 of 13 Orange Co. To Reinstate Indoor Mask Mandate As State Hospitalizations Continue To Rise | WUNC 8/12/21, 150 PM

Orange County is reinstating an indoor mask mandate Wednesday at 5 p.m. It applies inside all public places and public transportation.

With 76% of its population fully vaccinated against COVID-19, Orange County has one of the highest vaccination rates in the state. But oGcials are nonetheless reporting a "surge" in infections mostly among unvaccinated people.

At the end of June, new COVID cases in the county were in the single digits, but 235 new cases were reported during just the Orst week of August.

This step is essential if we hope to slow the spread of the Delta variant.

Renee Price

The new mask mandate applies to anyone 2 years and older, regardless of vaccination status.

"With cases of COVID-19 and its Delta variant surging across Orange County and the

nation,WUNC we are issuing a mandate requiring adults and children to wear face coverings whileHere inside & Now any building," said Renee Price, Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners, in a statement. "This step is essential if we hope to slow the spread of the Delta variant."

The mandate does not apply to individuals diagnosed with a medical or behavioral condition or disability, including diGculty breathing; children under 2; children under 5 whose parents cannot keep a face covering on the child's face; anyone who is actively eating or drinking, among other exceptions.

https://www.wunc.org/health/2021-08-10/orange-co-to-reinstate-indoor-mask-mandate-as-state-hospitalizations-continue-to-rise Page 2 of 13 Orange Co. To Reinstate Indoor Mask Mandate As State Hospitalizations Continue To Rise | WUNC 8/12/21, 150 PM

The Orange County mandate comes as the state experienced the largest single day jump in hospital ICU admissions since the beginning of the pandemic.

Weekly COVID-19 hospitalizations among people ages 20-49 are at an all-time high, according to state oGcials. ICU admissions related to COVID-19 statewide jumped to 557 Monday from 502 on Sunday.

Overall, 2,179 people were hospitalized due to COVID-19, with 272 people admitted in the past 24 hours, according to data reported to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

"These high-levels of COVID-related admissions jeopardize the ability of our hospitals to provide needed care in our communities," said Chief Deputy Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. "The vast majority of our COVID-19 hospitalizations are in unvaccinated people. This underscores the need for everyone to be vaccinated against the virus and use preventative measures to slow the spread of COVID-19."

Tags Health COVID-19 NC Coronavirus Updates

Amy Jeffries

Amy is the Daily News Editor at WUNC in Chapel Hill where she manages day-today coverage of everything from gerrymandering to rogue emus. See stories by Amy Jeffries

https://www.wunc.org/health/2021-08-10/orange-co-to-reinstate-indoor-mask-mandate-as-state-hospitalizations-continue-to-rise Page 3 of 13 Orange Co. To Reinstate Indoor Mask Mandate As State Hospitalizations Continue To Rise | WUNC 8/12/21, 150 PM

Elizabeth Baier

Elizabeth “Liz” Baier is WUNC’s Digital News Editor. She joined the station in May 2016. See stories by Elizabeth Baier

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https://chapelboro.com/news/coronavirus-covid-19/orange-county-now-has-substantial-covid-spread-masks-recommended-indoors Page 1 of 8 Orange County Now Has 'Substantial' COVID Spread, Masks Recommended Indoors - Chapelboro.com 8/12/21, 158 PM

As COVID trends spike in Orange County, new guidance from the CDC urges mask wearing indoors.

Orange County is now classiﬁed as having substantial community spread of COVID-19, according to data from North Carolina Health and Human Services. Just last week, Orange County was in the signiﬁcant impact category. This change represents an increase in spread of the virus.

This map shows COVID data from July 26th to August 1, 2021. It classiﬁes North Carolina as having substantial community spread. (Photo via CDC)

The levels of spread are low (least spread) , moderate, signiﬁcant, substantial and critical (most spread). Designations of North Carolina counties are based on case rates, test positivity rates and hospitalization impact throughout the county.

COVID data from July 4-17th shows Orange County at signiﬁcant spread. Viral spread has increased since then. (Photo via North Carolina Department of Health https://chapelboro.com/news/coronavirus-covid-19/orange-county-now-has-substantial-covid-spread-masks-recommended-indoors Page 2 of 8 Orange County Now Has 'Substantial' COVID Spread, Masks Recommended Indoors - Chapelboro.com 8/12/21, 158 PM

and Humans Services)

Guidance from the CDC issued last week said counties in substantial or high community spread areas should be wearing masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status.

This includes wearing masks in schools, health settings, and public transportation.

Governor Roy Cooper addressed the changing guidance last week.

“We are recommending people in North Carolina follow these health protocols,” Cooper said. “Everyone in a county with high rates of virus spread, including those who have been vaccinated, is encouraged to wear a mask in public indoor settings.”

Cooper said more than 80 percent of counties now have high virus spread.

According to CDC data, North Carolina has reported more than 2,000 cases every day since July 29. Orange County has also seen its cases spike 128 percent in the past week with 73 new cases.

North Carolina has also seen more than three consecutive weeks of increased hospitalizations. 1,359 people are currently hospitalized as of August 1.

Vaccinations are proven eﬀective against the virus and minimizing the spread of variants. Orange County currently has the highest vaccination rate in the state at 66 percent, according to state health department data. Despite this, the county has seen increased spread as the delta variant rapidly circulates.

https://chapelboro.com/news/coronavirus-covid-19/orange-county-now-has-substantial-covid-spread-masks-recommended-indoors Page 3 of 8 Orange County Now Has 'Substantial' COVID Spread, Masks Recommended Indoors - Chapelboro.com 8/12/21, 158 PM

The map displays the number of people vaccinated by county as of August 2. Orange County has 95,660 people fully vaccinated (Photo via North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services)

Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Mandy Cohen said one infection from the delta variant spreads to an average of six new people, while the original strain only infected two to three others.

“This is a moment of rapid viral spread,” Cohen said. “Driven by a highly contagious virus, ﬁnding and infecting those who are still unvaccinated.”

Ninety two percent of new cases in North Carolina are from those who are unvaccinated.

Governor Cooper emphasized the importance of getting shots in the arms of all North Carolinians to stop the alarming trends.

“It’s simple. Get a vaccine now,” Cooper said. “It will protect you and prevent future variants like delta that could emerge to threaten our health and the economic recovery. Do it for yourself, do it for your family, do it for the children under 12. Do it today.”

Featured photo via Travis Long / News & Observer

https://chapelboro.com/news/coronavirus-covid-19/orange-county-now-has-substantial-covid-spread-masks-recommended-indoors Page 4 of 8 Orange, Wake and Durham are most vaccinated counties; Hoke and Harnett among lowest :: WRAL.com 8/12/21, 200 PM

37 NC counties are under alert, including Wake, Cumberland, Durham, Johnston, Weather and Wayne counties. Details

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LOCAL NEWS Orange, Wake and Durham are most vaccinated counties; Hoke and Harnett among lowest

Tags: coronavirus, coronavirus vaccine

Posted August 2, 2021 1:28 p.m. EDT Updated August 3, 2021 3:59 p.m. EDT

https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/orange-wake-and-durham-are-most-vaccinated-counties-hoke-and-harnett-among-lowest/19805518/ Page 1 of 7 Orange, Wake and Durham are most vaccinated counties; Hoke and Harnett among lowest :: WRAL.com 8/12/21, 200 PM

By Matt Talhelm, WRAL reporter

North Carolina's counties have a huge discrepancy in numbers of vaccinated and unvaccinated residents.

The percentage of people with at least one dose in the most vaccinated county is more than double the least vaccinated county.

Coronavirus in North Carolina: Maps, charts and data

Depending on where you live, these numbers could have quite an impact on your daily life and sense of safety.

Hoke County has the lowest rate of vaccinated people, with just 35.9% of the population with one dose.

Harnett County is also trailing, with a low vaccination rate of 41.7% with at least one dose.

Just under 55% of residents of Johnston County have gotten one vaccine dose.

Two-thirds of people in Cumberland County have gotten their first dose.

Orange County has 78.6% of residents with one dose – more than double than in Hoke County, where the positivity rate has tripled in a month to almost 12%.

https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/orange-wake-and-durham-are-most-vaccinated-counties-hoke-and-harnett-among-lowest/19805518/ Page 2 of 7 Orange, Wake and Durham are most vaccinated counties; Hoke and Harnett among lowest :: WRAL.com 8/12/21, 200 PM

Wake County has 61% with at least one dose, with 58% fully vaccinated.

Durham has 59% with one dose, and 56% fully vaccinated.

Durham, Wake, and Orange are the most vaccinated counties in central NC.

Vaccination numbers in NC county-by-county

search by county

AT LEAST FULLY # of cases per % increase of COUNTY 1 DOSE VACCINATED 100k last 14 days cases in 7 days

Wake 77.6 66.6 216 73.1

Durham 72.7 64 115 87.6

Orange 78.6 69.4 86 128.2

Cumberland 66.6 58.5 425 34.8

Johnston 54.9 47 302 33.2

Chatham 62.7 54.4 165 107.5

Nash 60.7 52.5 103 204.2

Moore 62.3 54.8 281 77.5

Franklin 53.4 44 202 71.2

Granville 59.8 53 139 123.1

Person 56.6 50.8 192 81.5

Vance 52.4 43 103 218.2

Edgecombe 50 43.6 200 14.6

Wilson 54.1 46.9 137 15.4

https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/orange-wake-and-durham-are-most-vaccinated-counties-hoke-and-harnett-among-lowest/19805518/ Page 3 of 7 Orange, Wake and Durham are most vaccinated counties; Hoke and Harnett among lowest :: WRAL.com 8/12/21, 200 PM

Wayne 53 45.1 192 62.2

Sampson 53.5 45.5 285 44.6

Hoke 35.9 29.4 406 51.7

Lee 58.3 50.6 324 107.7

Harnett 41.7 36 315 76.1

Halifax 55.4 46.8 216 127.3

Bladen 40.4 31.5 608 80.3

Columbus 44.4 37.2 692 49.4

Robeson 40.6 33.3 583

Stanly 34.5 23 272

Harnett and Hoke counties offer free vaccination clinics and mobile units.

Harnett County's health department is working with the school system to put out mobile vaccine clinics, starting Tuesday, to get more students and their families vaccinated.

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https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/orange-wake-and-durham-are-most-vaccinated-counties-hoke-and-harnett-among-lowest/19805518/ Page 4 of 7 Orange, Wake and Durham are most vaccinated counties; Hoke and Harnett among lowest :: WRAL.com 8/12/21, 200 PM

Upcoming vaccination events in Hoke County

Date Hours Address Phone

Aug. 2 to Mon-Fri, 8:30am- Hoke County Health Department 683 East 910-875- 31 4:30pm Palmer Road Raeford, NC 28376 3717

August 4 Wed. 9am-1pm Hoke County DSS 314 S. Magnolia Street 910-904- Raeford, NC 28376 1695

Aug. 7, 14, Sat. 9am-noon 211 Sports Complex 3195 Red Springs Road 910-904- 21, 28 Raeford, NC 28376 1695

Aug 3 Tues. 9am-noon Sandy Grove Middle School 300 Chason Road 910-904- Lumber Bridge, NC 28357 1695

Aug 4 Wed. 9am-noon Scurlock Elementary School 775 Rockfish Road 910-904- Raeford, NC 28376 1695

Aug 5 Thurs. 9am-noon Hoke High School 505 South Bethel Road 910-904- Raeford, NC 28376 1695

Aug. 10 Tues. 9am-noon West Hoke Elementary 6050 Turnpike Road 910-904- Raeford, NC 28376 1695

Aug. 11 Wed. 9am-noon Rockfish Hoke Elementary 6251 Rockfish Road 910-904- Raeford, NC 28376 1695

Aug 12 Thurs. 9am-noon Upchurch Elementary 730 Turnpike Road 910-904- Raeford, NC 28376 1695

Aug 17 Tues. 9am-noon Hawk Eye Elementary 4312 Old Maxton Road 910-904- Red Springs, NC 28377 1695

Aug 18 Wed. 9am-noon East Hoke Middle 4702 Fayetteville Road 910-904- Raeford, NC 28376 1695

https://www.wral.com/coronavirus/orange-wake-and-durham-are-most-vaccinated-counties-hoke-and-harnett-among-lowest/19805518/ Page 5 of 7 Quintana Stewart humbled by recognition for Covid efforts | Arts & Entertainment | newsoforange.com 6/24/21, 816 AM

https://www.newsoforange.com/arts_and_entertainment/article_c3348616-cf54-11eb-9353-c33c05932292.html

FEATURED Quintana Stewart humbled by recognition for Covid eﬀorts

Dale Edwards/News of Orange Jun 17, 2021

Orange County Schools Superintendent Dr. Monique Felder, Mary Swann Parry from the Art of Science and Hope, Orange County Health Director Quintana Stewart, and past Orange County Commissioner Penny Rich. Kristin Prelipp

Quintana Stewart’s mask hides a beaming smile, but it’s impossible to miss her joy and excitement. Her quiet, introverted and, humble personality hide something else that would otherwise be hard to miss: conﬁdence.

Ask any corporate CEO, organization president, business owner, manager, and elected oﬃcial about the eﬀects of the pandemic, and you’re likely to hear from nearly each one that there was no preparing for it. “We didn’t have a manual,” they might say. “No one saw this coming,” is another common refrain.

But in winter 2020, Quintana Stewart, the Orange County Health Director, found herself in somewhat familiar territory.

“It was not new to me, or it’s not new to public health,” she said. “This is what we do. We do clinical disease as our job to control the spread of such viruses.”

But that’s not to say COVID wasn’t a challenge. “I had an opportunity to serve as a Public Health Preparedness Manager in my previous position in Forsyth County, so I was doing preparedness during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic,” Stewart said. “I had the basis, I knew the drill and how we could

https://www.newsoforange.com/arts_and_entertainment/article_c3348616-cf54-11eb-9353-c33c05932292.html Page 1 of 3 Quintana Stewart humbled by recognition for Covid efforts | Arts & Entertainment | newsoforange.com 6/24/21, 816 AM

manage and control this, but COVID-19 was very diﬀerent. It lasted much longer than anyone probably anticipated. And it disrupted life in a way that the H1N1 pandemic did not.”

Stewart recently was honored for her contributions and leadership in helping lead the county through the COVID-19 crisis. In Chapel Hill, a recent Pop-Up Art Walk organized by Mary Swann Parry from the Art of Science and Hope, included a portrait of Stewart as a postage stamp. Friday, the portrait was delivered to Stewart at the Orange County Health Department to be installed in the building’s lobby. A portrait of Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, who was a lead scientist in discovering the Moderna vaccination, was also delivered, and will be displayed somewhere within the Orange County Schools. Corbett is a graduate of Orange High School.

Stewart said she was touched and honored by the recognition, but believed the spotlight should be directed elsewhere. “Orange County is a very special and unique place, and I am so grateful that my family and I made the move here,” she said. “The community has been so cooperative, and they embraced our guidance, they practice it, and it paid oﬀ. The community members were the heroes here.”

Stewart was instrumental in helping Orange County Schools manage its way through the pandemic, working closely with administrative-level staﬀ and the Board of Education. She made herself available at any time of the day or night.

In addition to the school district, Stewart informed and guided businesses and institutions. “I would give a status of where we are with the transmission of the virus in our community and tried to interpret some of the guidance and executive orders, and what does that really mean, what does that look like for us to implement,” she said. “That was a big part of what I did. I did it all in concert with my medical director, Dr. Erica Pettigrew with UNC Family Medicine. She and I were joined at the hip for most of this past year. We had lots of conversations about what that really meant and what we wanted to do for Orange County. We probably were a little more restrictive than some of our neighboring counties.”

And that may have paid oﬀ in the long run, as Orange County kept its COVID case count relatively low. Stewart credits community support, including from Penny Rich when she was chair for the Board of Orange County Commissioners. Buy-in from other members of Hillsborough’s leadership relieved some of the pressure from constituents and business that wanted to open.

“I just could explain to them, I hear you I understand,” she said. “But this is what the science says. We should really stick to the science, got 14 days to be infectious. Let’s watch it for the full 14 days. So they supported me and it made all the diﬀerence.”

It’s one thing to be pressured by business and community leaders, but another thing to see the weight of stress parents were under. Stewart said the personal impact of some policy decisions made it tough to advocate a cautious and conservative approach.

“Those were hard conversations and I didn’t always have friendly email and phone call exchanges,” she said. “But our goal is to protect the overall community from this virus. But yes, those were things that kind of kept me up some nights.”

Does she believe lessons from COVID-19 will be useful in the next pandemic? “Well, I hope I’m retired by the next pandemic,” Stewart said with a laugh. “But absolutely. I think it was a huge learning experience for me, for my team, and our community. I think we learned lots of things that

https://www.newsoforange.com/arts_and_entertainment/article_c3348616-cf54-11eb-9353-c33c05932292.html Page 2 of 3 Quintana Stewart humbled by recognition for Covid efforts | Arts & Entertainment | newsoforange.com 6/24/21, 816 AM

we can do diﬀerently. It may make the next pandemic a little easier to work through. We’ve adopted some practices at work that we probably will hold on to, like the remote working.”

In the meantime, though, Stewart said she is humbled by the recognition for her dedication to the health and well-being of her community. “I would never have expected this. I am so touched,” she said.

https://www.newsoforange.com/arts_and_entertainment/article_c3348616-cf54-11eb-9353-c33c05932292.html Page 3 of 3 ‘No one is hitting this out of the park:ʼ Gap grows between best, worst NC counties in vaccine rollout | CBS 17 7/1/21, 1031 AM

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performances of the counties have drifted further Section of NC-57 closed near apart as the state moved deeper into the vaccination 7 Hillsborough following ‘very bad tra]c accident,’ o]cials say process — a problem potentially worsened by the increasing spread of the Delta variant. Click here for full list of trending stories

“I don’t think it’s too much of a surprise, given the size of our state and its geography and other inﬂuences, that different counties are doing things differently,” said Dr. David Wohl, an infectious disease specialist at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. “From east to west, north to south, we’re a pretty diverse state, and we’re not homogeneous. And we do know that there are counties where there’s just been a lot slower uptake

of the vaccine. And some of those have been on the SPONSORED CONTENT border with South Carolina, which would share some of the characteristics of those south of the border.”

It found greater separation between the county with the best vaccination rate — Orange County — and the one with the worst than there was in late May. https://www.cbs17.com/news/north-carolina-news/no-one-is-hitting-thi…e-park-gap-grows-between-best-worst-nc-counties-in-vaccine-rollout/ Page 2 of 16 ‘No one is hitting this out of the park:ʼ Gap grows between best, worst NC counties in vaccine rollout | CBS 17 7/1/21, 1031 AM

Also continuing to grow: The gap between the top 20 counties and the bottom 20.

A total of 51.4 percent of all residents in the top 20 counties have had at least one shot as of Tuesday, compared to just 29.2 percent of those in the counties ranked Nos. 81-100. In other words, the top and bottom quartiles are separated by 22.2 Baking With Wild^owers: Discover Loria Stern’s Edible Art percentage points. By KitchenAid

The top 20 counties showed a rate of 48.8 percent in late May compared to 27.2 percent in the bottom 20 counties — for a separation of 21.6 points.

A study by Bloomberg News found a similar trend nationally, with the top and bottom quartiles of counties across the U.S. now separated by 32 percentage points — after that gap was 12 points in late March.

“We want to make sure that we’re raising vaccination rates consistently across the country,” Dr. Bechara Choucair, the White House’s vaccinations coordinator, told CBS 17 News.

The gap between Orange County — which led the state both last month and on Tuesday — and the last-place county also grew wider.

https://www.cbs17.com/news/north-carolina-news/no-one-is-hitting-thi…e-park-gap-grows-between-best-worst-nc-counties-in-vaccine-rollout/ Page 3 of 16 ‘No one is hitting this out of the park:ʼ Gap grows between best, worst NC counties in vaccine rollout | CBS 17 7/1/21, 1031 AM

Untitled spreadsheet : Sheet1 MAY 27 FIGURES County Population 1 Dose NC Providers May 27 1 Dose Federal Program May 27 Total With One Dose (May 27) Alamance 174,055 60,716 12,938 Alexander 38,755 11,147 1,190 Alleghany 11,510 4,071 860 Anson 25,289 7,005 975 Ashe 28,150 9,276 1,805 Avery 18,035 6,555 807 Beaufort 47,490 17,249 2,414 Bertie 19,601 7,076 756 Bladen 34,444 9,455 1,726 Brunswick 146,135 58,486 13,709 Buncombe 267,046 101,329 30,280 Burke 91,934 26,468 5,138 Cabarrus 216,608 58,854 23,591 Caldwell 83,703 24,096 4,745 Camden 10,717 2,994 339 Carteret 71,640 24,668 6,417 Caswell 23,666 7,644 826 Catawba 160,504 47,443 14,767 Chatham 77,713 27,618 8,590 Cherokee 29,972 8,321 1,411 Chowan 14,074 5,339 824 Clay 12,058 3,128 787 Cleveland 100,289 27,493 6,553 Columbus 56,220 14,656 2,602 Sheet1 > <

Orange County’s rate is nearly 43 percentage points greater than last-place Onslow County. Four weeks ago, Orange was 41.8 points better than Dare County, which was in last place at the time.

The state says 45 percent of its total 10.5 million residents have gotten one shot to at least start the vaccination process.

And the analysis found both ends of the spectrum becoming more polarized.

There are seven counties — including Wake and

https://www.cbs17.com/news/north-carolina-news/no-one-is-hitting-thi…e-park-gap-grows-between-best-worst-nc-counties-in-vaccine-rollout/ Page 4 of 16 ‘No one is hitting this out of the park:ʼ Gap grows between best, worst NC counties in vaccine rollout | CBS 17 7/1/21, 1031 AM

Durham — where at least half of all residents have gotten a shot.

But in ﬁve counties — including Hoke, Harnett and Cumberland — their rates are stuck in the 20s. In Onslow and Hoke, it’s less than a quarter.

“There are discrepancies, but no one is hitting this out of the park,” Wohl said. “To the extent that we would love to see, you know, 80, 90 percent, we’re getting there. And I think we’ll get there slowly, too, I just think we should be realistic, no matter where you are, Orange County or elsewhere.”

The Delta variant makes it an even bigger issue because it spreads faster and is potentially more contagious than other strains, and a growing concern is that pockets of unvaccinated people could spark small clusters that could mushroom into big ones.

“Those places are at risk of having outbreaks and spikes, which means they’re at risk of having more hospitalizations or more lives lost,” Choucair said.

The key, of course, is reversing vaccine hesitancy. But a key question: How to persuade the holdouts who, months into the process, still have not yet come around to get the shots?

“I think having one-on-one conversations with trusted people is so important,” Choucair said. “What we learned from surveys, what we’ve learned from focus groups, is that people trust people they know — particularly, people trust their doctors. So

https://www.cbs17.com/news/north-carolina-news/no-one-is-hitting-thi…e-park-gap-grows-between-best-worst-nc-counties-in-vaccine-rollout/ Page 5 of 16 ‘No one is hitting this out of the park:ʼ Gap grows between best, worst NC counties in vaccine rollout | CBS 17 7/1/21, 1031 AM

having that one-on-one conversation with your primary care doctor is so important at this point.

“We’re encouraging (vaccinated people) to take a moment to share their experience with people they know, with their friends, that neighbor, their family who haven’t been yet vaccinated,” he continued. “And we know that they can make an impact. So it’s an all-hands-on-deck. We’re all rolling up our sleeves and trying to have these one-on-one conversations with people and we’re hoping more people will be vaccinated.”

CBS 17’s Joedy McCreary has been tracking COVID-19 ﬁgures since March 2020, compiling data from federal, state and local sources to deliver a clear snapshot of what the coronavirus situation looks like now and what it could look like in the future.

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Mobile Vaccine Clinics In NC Aim To Reach More People North Carolina Public Radio | By Jason deBruyn Published July 6, 2021 at 9:39 AM EDT

Jason DeBruyn / WUNC WUNC Katie Benedyk,1A a community paramedic with Orange County Emergency Services, draws up a dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. https://www.wunc.org/health/2021-07-06/mobile-vaccine-clinics-in-nc-aim-to-reach-more-people Page 1 of 16 Mobile Vaccine Clinics In NC Aim To Reach More People | WUNC 7/6/21, 11:22 AM

On a warm and sunny morning in late June, Community paramedics Katie Benedyk and Landon Weaver pulled up to the @rst stop of the day. Benedyk walked around to the back of the minivan to prep a vaccine dose.

"And then we will make sure that after we open the vial, that the top gets cleaned really well, because you want it to be sterile," she said as she wiped the top of the vial. "Moderna is a 0.5 cc dose. Unlike the P@zer, we don't have to reconstitute it, so it's really simple to draw up."

There's a lot of people who want the vaccine, but they can't get out to get it. And I think this is marvelous for people who can't get out to get it.

Esther Hester

She stuck the needle in to the vile and pulled out one dose.

"Moderna carries on average 10 to 11 doses per vial," she said, Nicking the syringe to get out all the air bubbles. Then she set the vial back in the mini fridge and put on a fresh pair of gloves.

"I've got a box full of supplies that has alcohol prep, CDC cards, Band-Aids, gloves, a sharps container, hand sanitizer. Basically everything we need just generally to bring into the house," she said. "And then we set the vaccine in there. And then off we go. It's got everything we need."

Covid-19 vaccines are widely available in North Carolina now. But not everyone is able or feels comfortable leaving their house to get one. In Orange County, thanks to a partnership between emergency services and the health department, a mobile https://www.wunc.org/health/2021-07-06/mobile-vaccine-clinics-in-nc-aim-to-reach-more-people Page 2 of 16 Mobile Vaccine Clinics In NC Aim To Reach More People | WUNC 7/6/21, 11:22 AM

vaccine clinic is trying to make that process a little more convenient. Benedyk and Weaver load up the white minivan and bring vaccines to any corner of the county.

Jason DeBruyn

Orange County Emergency Services community paramedics Landon Weaver and Katie Benedyk head back to the mobile vaccine van after administering a dose of Covid-19 vaccine.

Mobile Clinics Aim To Improve Vaccination Accessibility

Vaccination rates have slowed across the state. Just about 56% of adults have received at least one shot. President Joe Biden has wanted to see that number up around 70% range by now. The community paramedics taking vaccines to people's

https://www.wunc.org/health/2021-07-06/mobile-vaccine-clinics-in-nc-aim-to-reach-more-people Page 3 of 16 Mobile Vaccine Clinics In NC Aim To Reach More People | WUNC 7/6/21, 11:22 AM

homes hope they can help the state get closer to that @gure.

At one of the team's stops, a townhouse in Chapel Hill, Benedyk handed off duties to Weaver.

Esther Hester, 64, lives by herself but has some di]culty getting out of the house. She's been very careful to not get the virus and is happy to have the vaccine come to her instead. To start, Weaver went over the standard checklist.

"So no medications that you are allergic to?" he asked. "Have you had vaccines before, like the Nu vaccine?"

"Oh yeah, I get that every year," Hester responded.

Before getting her shot, Hester video chatted with her niece, who is set to get her vaccine soon and is a little fearful of needles.

"See, there's nothing to it," Hester said after getting the jab.

https://www.wunc.org/health/2021-07-06/mobile-vaccine-clinics-in-nc-aim-to-reach-more-people Page 4 of 16 Mobile Vaccine Clinics In NC Aim To Reach More People | WUNC 7/6/21, 11:22 AM

Orange County Health Department

Information about the Orange County mobile vaccine clinic

Weaver sat with Hester for 15 minutes after she got the shot to make sure she didn't have side effects. They scheduled her second dose, and Hester said how appreciative she was that someone brought the vaccine to her.

"There's a lot of people who want the vaccine, but they can't get out to get it. And I think this is marvelous for people who can't get out to get it," she said. "I truly, truly appreciate this right here. And I wish it could get out to a lot of people. It's a blessing that you guys can do this."

Weaver said these mobile visits target exactly the types of people they want to reach.

"The whole objective is to identify folks that we know are out in the community and https://www.wunc.org/health/2021-07-06/mobile-vaccine-clinics-in-nc-aim-to-reach-more-people Page 5 of 16 Mobile Vaccine Clinics In NC Aim To Reach More People | WUNC 7/6/21, 11:22 AM

the county as a whole, who have not had the ability to access vaccine but are interested in it," he said.

He and Benedyk agreed it’s rewarding to bring the vaccine to people who want it.

"There have been multiple seniors that we've gone to for @rst and second dose vaccine where they're excited because in a couple weeks after their dose, they'll get to see their grandkids for the @rst time in a year," said Benedyk, noting the mobile clinic is not just for seniors. "Younger kids and those who still live at home that have any form of special needs, such as autism or Asperger's, cerebral palsy, all of these other ones where going to a doctor's o]ce or somewhere new or outside of their norm can be signi@cantly traumatic for them."

Tags Health COVID-19 Vaccine Orange County Health Department

Jason deBruyn

Jason deBruyn is the WUNC data reporter, a position he took in September, 2016. See stories by Jason deBruyn