January 19, 2022

Free at Home COVID-19 Tests

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order free at-home COVID-19 tests. Limit one order per household. One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. Order your tests now so you have them when you need them.

Link to order your tests in English, Spanish

Radon Awareness Week
January 24 - 28

Radon is estimated to cause around 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States every year and is the second leading cause of lung cancer, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can get trapped in homes and buildings and expose the people who live and work inside, increasing their risk of developing lung cancer later in life.

You can’t see or smell radon. Testing is the only way to know your level of exposure.

The NC Radon Program received funds from the U.S.EPA to give away 3,000 short-term radon test kits beginning in January 2021 - one test kit per household.

ORDER A FREE RADON TESTING KIT.

More information about Radon:

The CDC’s 2022 Radon Awareness Week website
North Carolina Radon Program

Prepare for More Winter Weather

The Emergency Management Division is tracking another winter storm that will impact our area later this week. The National Weather Service advises that roughly 3.5 inches of snow will fall sometime between Thursday night and Saturday morning. Orange County is under a Winter Storm Watch starting Thursday evening. While little-to-no ice accumulation is expected, road conditions may be dangerous. We encourage everyone to use today and tomorrow to prepare and restock any items from your emergency kit that that may have been used last week.

Winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks from overexertion. Winter storms including blizzards can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice and high winds.
A winter storm can:

Last a few hours or several days.
Cut off heat, power and communication services.
Put older adults, children, sick individuals and pets at greater risk.

Learn how to protect yourself from winter weather: https://www.ready.gov/winter-weather#prepare

Free COVID-19 Testing

The Hillsborough COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination sites will be CLOSED due to winter weather from Thursday, Jan. 20th to Sunday, Jan. 23rd.

You may find other testing locations here: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing/find-covid-19-tests

The Chapel Hill testing clinic plans to be open regular hours.

Monday through Friday from 7 am to 3pm
Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm
At Southern Human Services Center (SHSC) at 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. Testing will take place in the large conference room. It may be accessed via a side entrance, not the main entrance.
Registration may be done online: https://lhi.care/covidtesting. You may also call 877-562-4850 to register. For test results call 877-562-4828.
Optum offers both PCR and rapid tests.

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 Hillsborough walk-in clinic at Bonnie B. Davis serves ages 5 and up for their COVID-19 vaccine primary series and boosters. Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are also welcome.

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 https://takemyshot.nc.gov to make an appointment.

Regular Vaccine Clinics
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.
CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER 1/20 TO 1/23.

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 2,147,777 COVID-19 cases, 20,037 deaths and 4,698 hospitalizations. 59% of North Carolina's population is fully vaccinated.

There are currently 19,291 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 113 deaths in Orange County. 78% of Orange County residents are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.

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
Twitter: Orange Health NC
Youtube: OCHDNC