600 hospitalized with COVID-19 in NC, virus rate soars
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services updates COVID-19 data each week, monitoring hospitalizations and virus particles in wastewater.
Data from hospitals on Wednesday, Sept. 13, showed that more than 600 people statewide are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, an increase of 29% since last week. Wastewater data shows the rate of virus is second highest so far this year.
While hight, the numbers are still much lower than pandemic levels.
New COVID-19 vaccine approved
The Food and Drug Administration on Monday authorized updated COVID vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna. On Tuesday, a scientific advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention voted to recommend the shots for everyone 6 months and older.
Some Americans may be able to receive the next COVID shots as early as Wednesday.
All people age 6 months and older are also encouraged to receive a flu vaccine, and eligible individuals should receive an RSV vaccine. RSV vaccines are approved for individuals age 60 or older, and medication is approved to prevent RSV in infants and toddlers. Parents of infants and people age 60 years or older should talk to their medical provider for more information on RSV prevention.
Experts say, if you're in a high-risk group, it's not a bad idea to dust off your masks and start wearing one again, especially if you're indoors with crowds.
The most effective type of mask is still the N-95 version.
As cases increase, Durham County Public Health is encouraging the community to take the following steps for protection against COVID-19:
- Stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines.
- Get tested. All people who have COVID-19 symptoms or were recently exposed to COVID-19 should take a COVID-19 test.
- Wear masks. Masks provide an extra layer of protection against COVID-19 and are recommended after exposure, when caring for someone who is sick, when community spread is high, and more. CDC guidance on the use and care of masks can be found here.
- Follow CDC guidance for if you have been exposed or have tested positive for COVID-19. If you have been exposed to COVID-19, wear a mask for a full 10 days, and get tested five days after exposure. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, stay home and away from others for at least five days and wear a mask for at least 10 days. It is also important to isolate if you have symptoms but have not yet received COVID-19 test results.
As of May 2023, doctors and labs are no longer required to report COVID-19 cases to the state health department. As a result, case counts are no longer reported by the NC Department of Health Human Services and are unavailable to report on our previous data dashboard.
