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Incoming NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley speaks at the press briefing.
Jessica Webb
editor@thesmokymountaintimes.com
Omicron is here, and North Carolina leaders stress caution this holiday season. The latest widespread variant of the Covid-19 respiratory virus, omicron, is making its way into North Carolina. On Monday, ahead of the Christmas holiday, Gov. Roy Cooper and outgoing NCDHHS Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen held a press briefing to emphasize the importance of vaccinations, booster shots and testing to prevent the spread of the virus.
Early evidence suggests omicron is 2-3 times more contagious than the delta variant making it 4-6 times more contagious than the original Covid-19 virus. The state is anticipating as many as 10,000 people could test positive a day statewide, raising concern that hospitals could become overwhelmed. On Monday, there were 2,892 newly reported cases with a 9.3% daily percent positive rate in the state.
Given how quickly the new sprain can spread, Dr. Cohen said she anticipates omicron to become the dominant variant within the next couple of weeks, confirming it is already present in all parts of the state.
Her office issued a Secretarial Advisory with a clear message: Vaccinate. Boost. Test. Mask.
Health officials anticipate more people will have breakthrough infections but say vaccinations and boosters are the best prevention against getting seriously ill or risking death.
“The main reason to get a vaccine and to get boosted is to make sure you don’t get seriously ill or die from this virus. There is less of a chance you will get it if you are vaccinated and even less if you are boosted,” said Gov. Cooper. “Vaccinated people do get infected but when they do, especially if they have had a booster, they have a lot more protection.”
Incoming NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley also shared updates on how the state is handling the logistics of an expected wave of omicron COVID-19 cases.
When it comes to holiday gatherings, the advice was to get tested and wear masks.
“Testing before you gather can help slow the spread of omicron,” Kinsley said. “And if you test positive, quickly seeking out treatment can help reduce the risk of severe disease.”
Information on testing locations, free tests and home tests is available at ncdhhs.gov/gettested. North Carolinians can learn more about the state’s vaccine distribution at myspot.nc.gov (English) or Vacunate.nc.gov (Spanish).
Swain County
Swain County cases have risen, with 85 people testing positive for Covid-19 over the past 14 days, with 42 of those over the past 7 days and one on Monday. Transmission is considered high and precautions like wearing masks in public places are strongly encouraged. According to the state dashboard, there is an outbreak at both a nursing home and a correctional facility in the county.
In Swain County among people ages 5 and older, 8,954 people are vaccinated with at least one dose and 7,605 are fully vaccinated, or 57% of the total population of the county including the Qualla Boundary.
Statewide, 66% of the population has received at least one dose and 62% is fully vaccinated. Statewide, among those aged 65 and older, who are at highest risk of severe illness and death, the vaccination rate is 91%.