March 2, 2022

Mask Mandate to be amended March 7th, 2022 to No Longer Require Masks in Public, Indoor Spaces

Orange County leaders say decision is contingent on COVID-19 Community Levels

Effective Monday, March 7, 2022, Orange County will no longer require masks in public, indoor spaces if key COVID-19 metrics continue to reach medium and low community levels.

The following metrics determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will serve as the indicators. They currently show Orange County is in the high-risk category.

• New cases: New COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days is less than 200. Orange County is at 150.87.
• New hospital admissions:  New COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people in the last seven days is less than 20. Orange County is at 28.29.
• Inpatient beds: Staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients (7-day average) is less than 15%. Orange County is at 12.86%.
• Read more about Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Community Levels at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/community-levels.html

 
Orange County leaders will rely on the most up-to-date information. Please note that the CDC dashboard COVID-19 Community Levels is not updated daily. If the numbers trend up to the high community transmission level, Orange County will reserve the right to amend the mask mandate to again require masks in public, indoor spaces.

READ MORE.

North Carolinians are Encouraged to Seek Mental Health Support Amid the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services encourages North Carolinians to seek mental health support through the 24/7 Hope4NC Helpline (1-855-587-3463). of the week by call, text or chat.

“The pandemic has led to nearly all North Carolinians experiencing stress, anxiety, loss and other threats to their mental health and well-being,” said NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “No one should feel alone right now. Remember that speaking up and seeking help is an empowering first step toward recovery.”

The Hope4NC Helpline provides free and confidential emotional support and connects people with counseling referrals and community resources. Hope4NC can also help people without insurance find behavioral health, mental health and substance abuse services.

• Hope4NC Helpline: 1-855-587-3463
• Chat Available at: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/mental-health-developmental-disabilities-and-substance-abuse/hope4nc
• Text "hope" to 1-855-587-3463
• Video: Hope4NC PSA featuring NC native Rapsody
• Volante en Español: https://files.nc.gov/ncdhhs/documents/Hope4NC-SPA.pdf

One or More Health Conditions Increase the Risk of Getting Very Sick with COVID-19- What are Those Conditions? 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its information about people who are at increased risk of becoming very sick from COVID-19 due to having one or more health conditions. Physical inactivity is now indicated as a condition increasing risk of becoming severely ill from COVID-19. Based on the current evidence, a person with any of these conditions is more likely to get very sick with COVID-19. This means that a person with one or more of these conditions and who gets very sick with COVID-19 more likely to be hospitalized, need intensive care, require a ventilator to help them breathe, or die.

READ MORE.

Free N95 Masks Still Available to the Community 

Members of the public interested in receiving a free N95 mask provided by North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) can pick them up at two convenient locations in Orange County.
 
Orange County Health Department will distribute masks at the following locations while supplies last:

• Hillsborough
  The Orange County Public Library
  137 W. Margaret Lane, Hillsborough
  Monday - Thursday, 10 am to 7 pm
  Friday - Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm

• Carrboro
  Inter-Faith Council for Social Service (IFC)
  110 W. Main Street, Carrboro
  Monday - Friday, 9 am to 5 pm 
  
  

Community members with questions may contact the health department’s call center at (919) 913-8088 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Spanish and other languages available.

Are you ready to quit tobacco? 

A 4-week FreshStart  Tobacco Cessation class will begin on Tuesday March 8, 2022 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. The class will help you to:

• Make a quit plan.
• Identify your support system.
• Get free patches, gum, and lozenges.

Upcoming Pop-Up Vaccine Events

Free COVID-19 Testing 

• Drive thru testing takes place in the parking lot in front of the Dept. of Social Services (DSS) at 113 Mayo St., Hillsborough, NC 27278. 
• Registration is strongly recommended and may be done online: mako.exchange/scheduler/registration/?location=7087 You may also call (919) 913-8088 to register weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Walk-in are also welcome.
• Your Booking ID will be valid any day during clinic hours and is reusable.
• Mako offers only PCR tests.  

• Testing takes place at Southern Human Services Center (SHSC) at 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 in the large conference room, which may be accessed via a side entrance, not the main entrance.
• Registration may be done online: https://lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 877-562-4850. Walk-in are also welcome.
• Optum offers both PCR and rapid tests.   
• You may find other testing locations here: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing/find-covid-19-tests

COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic

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. 

Ages 5 and up can be vaccinated! To make an appointment call (919) 913-8088 or visit https://takemyshot.nc.gov.

Chapel Hill
Southern Human Services Center
2501 Homestead Rd, Chapel Hill, NC
Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm
By appointment only.
***Ages 5 and up.
***Moderna, J&J, and Pfizer vaccines are available.

Hillsborough
Bonnie B. Davis Environment & Agricultural Center
1020 US Hwy 70 W., Hillsborough, NC
Friday and Saturday 8:00am - 4:00pm
Appointments encouraged but walk-ins also accepted. 
***Ages 5 and up.
***Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are available.

North Carolina COVID-19 Cases

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reports 2,592,991 COVID-19 cases, 22,671 deaths and 1,461 hospitalizations. 61% of North Carolina's population is up to date on their COVID-19 vaccination.

There are currently 25,464 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 122 deaths in Orange County. 79% 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 COVID-19, 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 weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 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

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