January 5, 2022

Public Health Officials Urging Vaccination and Boosters Against COVID-19 Omicron Variant

COVID-19 cases have risen 587% since the end of November in Orange County, with 1,010 new cases reported last week. Orange County health officials urge the public to take steps now to protect themselves and others and to avoid overwhelming hospital capacity and healthcare workers.

Most new cases are due to the extremely contagious variant Omicron, which is spreading rapidly and is expected to cause the pandemic’s highest rates of COVID-19 infections in the coming weeks. Vaccinating and boosting against COVID-19 remain the most effective ways for people to protect themselves from serious illness, hospitalization, and death. Early evidence shows boosters provide a significant level of protection against Omicron.

This Winter Everyone Should:

Vaccinate and Boost: Get vaccinated now, including obtaining a COVID-19 booster as soon as you are eligible. This is critical for those over age 65, those with underlying medical conditions and healthcare workers. The Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are the best choice for most people. Layer protection with a flu shot.
Test: Get tested if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
Mask: Wear a face covering indoors in public, even if you are vaccinated. If possible, wear a medical grade mask for more protection, such as a surgical mask, procedural mask, KN95, or N95.
Avoid large gatherings: Omicron has spread quickly even in gatherings of vaccinated people where proof of negative tests was required.

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Can the COVID-19 vaccine alter my DNA?

No. COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way. Both mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines deliver instructions (genetic material) to our cells to start building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. However, the material never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where our DNA is kept.
Learn more about mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines.

Learn more: https://www.orangecountync.gov/2617/Vaccine

Not All Masks Are Created Equal

Public health experts have been encouraging the use of cloth face masks and coverings in public settings to help prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Masks come in all shapes, sizes and colors—and have even become a fashion statement for some. Now that masks are a part of our daily lives, it raises the question—are all masks created equal?

UNC School of Medicine researchers recently conducted a study to find out. They studied how protective various masks and modifications are so people can make informed decisions about how best to protect themselves.

Which Masks Offer the Most Protection?
Viral exposure is not such a simple thing to study. For one, researchers can’t just go around exposing people to viral particles to see who gets COVID-19. Two, not all viral exposures are the same. Standing face-to-face unmasked with an infected person inside while eating cheese dip for an hour is not the same kind of exposure as when viral particles waft through the air and land on your hand prior to you wiping your nose.

To attempt standardizing exposure to rate mask effectiveness, UNC School of Medicine and Environmental Protection Agency scientists used an exposure chamber at the EPA research facility on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill. This kind of chamber is where UNC and EPA environmental toxicologists study all kinds of things, such as the effects of wood smoke and ozone on people with asthma.

READ MORE.

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic and Testing Weekly Schedule

Please note that the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic held at the Bonnie B. Davis Center has a new schedule! It will now be open Friday through Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm.

Click here for a printable PDF of the schedule.

Free COVID-19 Testing Clinics

Due to high demand and staffing shortages, COVID-19 tests are by appointment only.

COVID-19 testing hosted by the Orange County Health Department is done with no out of pocket cost (insurance will be billed). For those without insurance the tests are also available and are free.

https://www.orangecountync.gov/2451/Testing

Free COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

Vaccines are free, and no ID is required! If you are coming for your second dose, or a booster please bring your vaccination card with the record of your previous doses. Visit our COVID-19 Vaccine page for the most up-to-date information: www.orangecountync.gov/getyourshot, or call (919) 913-8088 with any questions. The call center and vaccine clinics will be closed on Thanksgiving and the Friday afterwards.

The Hillsborough walk-in clinic at Bonnie B. Davis now serves ages 5 and up for their COVID-19 vaccine primary series and boosters. WALK-INS WELCOME IN HILLSBOROUGH!

The Chapel Hill clinic, however, is by appointment only. Ages 5 and up can be vaccinated! To make an appointment call (919) 913-8088 or visit www.myspotnc.gov to make an appointment.

Regular Vaccine Clinics
*NEW SCHEDULE! Bonnie B. Davis Environment & Agricultural Center
1020 US Hwy 70 W, Hillsborough, NC
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
No appointment necessary.
***Ages 5 and up only.
***Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are available.

Southern Human Services Center
2501 Homestead Rd, Chapel Hill, NC
Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Please call (919) 913-8088 to schedule an appointment.
***Ages 5 and up.
***Moderna, J&J, and Pfizer vaccines are available.

North Carolina COVID-19 Cases

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reports 1,742,844 COVID-19 cases, 19,494 deaths and 3,008 hospitalizations. 59% of North Carolina's population is fully vaccinated.

There are currently 14,579 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 112 deaths in Orange County. 75% of Orange County residents are fully vaccinated.

For more information regarding live updates (NCDHHS updates the site every day around noon), please visit the NCDHHS website.

Orange County Health Department also has a COVID-19 dashboard webpage, with information on COVID-19 data in the county.

More information may be found at www.orangecountync.gov/coronavirus

Contact Information

For general questions (not urgent) about 2019 Novel Coronavirus, contact NCDHHS at: ncresponse@dhhs.nc.gov or 1-866-462-3821 to address general questions about coronavirus from the public.

If you are an individual or a medical practice with questions about COVID-19, call the Orange County Health Department at (919) 913-8088 during business hours (8:30 am to 5:00 pm).

Contact Kristin Prelipp, the Orange County Health Department’s Public Information Officer at: kprelipp@orangecountync.gov or 919-245-2462.

Orange County Health Department:
Web: www.orangecountync.gov/coronavirus
Phone: 919-245-2400
Email: covid19@orangecountync.gov
Facebook: Orange County Health Department
Instagram: OrangeHealthNC
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