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Orange County at High Level of COVID-19
Community Spread
Orange County is currently at a high level of community spread for COVID-19, according to the CDC. To reduce the spread in our community it is helpful to mask indoors, wash your hands often, give each other a little space and, most importantly, be sure you are up to date on your COVID-19 vaccination.
If you do think you have been exposed, or are feeling ill, please get a COVID-19 test. There are test to treat sites available that will allow you to access medication should you test positive. A list of test to treat locations in Orange County: https://www.orangecountync.gov/2451/Testing
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Let's Talk About MonkeypoxAnyone can be infected by monkeypox regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or any other identity.
Monkeypox is much less contagious than COVID-19. But it’s still good to know the facts about the symptoms, spread, and what to do if you get sick.
HOW MONKEYPOX SPREADS
The virus is not a sexually transmitted infection. It's mostly caught through close physical skin-to-skin contact, which is why it can be spread to sexual partners.
Monkeypox spreads by:
SYMPTOMS
Monkeypox symptoms are usually mild, and many patients may not feel sick at all. The incubation period for monkeypox ranges from 7 to 17 days. Symptoms to look out for include:
Rash with fluid-filled bumps (esp. on the face, palms, arms, legs, genitals, or perianal region) Fever Headache Muscle aches and backache Swollen lymph nodes Exhaustion
You are infectious from initial symptoms until all the bumps crust and fall off, which may take 2-4 weeks.
TREATMENT & CARE - If you have flu-like symptoms and an unexplained rash, you should contact your primary care provider as soon as possible.
- If you only have flu-like symptoms (with no rash), please get tested for COVID-19.
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NCDHHS Offers Free At Home COVID-19 Tests
NCDHHS is establishing Community Access Points in all 100 counties where North Carolinians can find free and easy at-home tests, in an effort to meet people where they are, with the tools they need to protect themselves from COVID-19.
Community organizations interested in becoming a Community Access Point can register online. Information on where to find at-home tests is available at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/PickUpTests. Information on how and where to find all testing locations in North Carolina is available at: covid19.ncdhhs.gov/FindTests.
Staying up to date on vaccination and boosters offers the best protection against COVID-19 for anyone 6 months of age and older. Find a vaccine location near you at MySpot.nc.gov or by calling 888-675-4567. |
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Gun Violence Is a Public
Health Issue
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FDA Proposed Menthol BanFrom the desk of the Communication Committee of the OCHD Racial Equity Commission (REC)
Aggressive and targeted marketing of flavored tobacco has been a long standing tactic of the tobacco industry in order to lure young people into experimenting with tobacco products, addiction, and consequently premature disease and death. The tobacco industry has especially targeted Black and LGBTQ communities with predatory marketing of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars.
Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP states in a letter to the FDA that the tobacco industry marketing practices have been structured to result in harm to Black Americans. In 2019, the FDA found that there were 18.5 million people in the U.S. who smoked menthol cigarettes, which are disproportionately used by marginalized populations. Approximately 85% of non-Hispanic Black or African American adults who smoked used menthol cigarettes.
The NAACP rejects the view that these bans would be discriminatory to Black Americans stating “that the failure to prohibit the sale of menthol cigarettes and products would be discriminatory and counter the goal and function of the FDA to protect and promote public health for all, including the African American community.”
On April 28, 2022, the FDA announced proposed product standards to prohibit menthol in cigarettes and to prohibit all characterizing flavors (other than tobacco) in cigars. If these proposed product bans are implemented they could save millions of lives and minimize health disparities that are exacerbated by menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. According to the CDC, smoking is the #1 leading cause of preventable death in the US and tobacco use contributes to approximately 480,000 premature deaths each year. The FDA estimates that prohibiting menthol in cigarettes would prevent 654,000 premature deaths, and 238,000 premature African American deaths in the next 40 years. It is important to note that these proposed bans would prohibit the manufacture, distribution or sale of menthol in cigarettes and menthol flavored cigars. These bans would not prohibit, penalize or criminalize individual consumers from possessing or using menthol cigarettes or menthol flavored cigars.
The FDA has extended the public comment period for the Proposed Rules Prohibiting Menthol Cigarettes and Flavored Cigars from July 5 to August 2, 2022. Here is the link to provide public comment to the FDA https://ujoin.co/campaigns/1870/actions/public
Sources:
Food and Drug Administration: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-proposes-rules-prohibiting-menthol-cigarettes-and-flavored-cigars-prevent-youth-initiation
CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/tobacco_industry/menthol-cigarettes/index.html#:~:text=Federal%20law%20prohibits%20cigarettes%20to,and%20other%20flavored%20tobacco%20products.
NAACP: https://naacp.org/articles/naacp-writes-letter-urging-fda-ban-menthol-flavored-cigarettes-and-flavored-cigar-products
NPR: https://www.npr.org/2022/06/22/1106742729/fda-nicotine-level-regulate-cigarettes-tobacco
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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.
Ages 6 months 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
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Appointments only.
***Ages 6 months 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 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Appointments encouraged but walk-ins also accepted.
***Ages 6 months and up.
***Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are available.
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Free COVID-19 Testing
Testing in Hillsborough
Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm - 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 in Chapel Hill
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 am to 3 pm
Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm |
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North Carolina COVID-19 Cases
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reports 2,919,068 COVID-19 cases, 25,395 deaths and 970 hospitalizations. 64% of North Carolina's population is up to date on their COVID-19 vaccination.
There are currently 28,744 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 134 deaths in Orange County.
Orange County COVID-19 vaccinations:
Percentage of Population Vaccinated with at least One Dose: 80%
Percentage of Population Vaccinated with Two Doses or one Dose J&J: 77%
Percentage of Population Vaccinated with One Booster/ Additional Dose: 58%
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.
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