Rapid Increase in COVID-19 Cases - Don't Wait to Vaccinate!

North Carolina has seen a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations over the last three weeks since the emergence of the Delta variant. More than 94% of the cases in North Carolina are now in people who are not vaccinated. Click on the following link to find a vaccine location: 

According to the latest County Alert System report, viral spread is increasing rapidly and 54 counties are now experiencing significant community spread or greater. The state’s other key metrics are also increasing, including the number of people going to the emergency department with COVID-like symptoms and the percent of tests that are positive — which has been over 6% for the past week. Areas with low vaccination rates have seen the largest increases in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Rutherford County is the orange/substantial category.

"Unvaccinated North Carolinians are unnecessarily getting sick, being hospitalized and dying,” said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. "Don’t wait to vaccinate. And if you haven’t gotten your shot, you need to wear a mask indoors at all times when you are in public spaces."
 
To date, 57% of the adult population in North Carolina are fully vaccinated. while 60% of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

With the rise in cases, anyone who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, has been around people outside of their household or thinks they have been exposed to the virus should get tested.
 
The best way to stop the virus from spreading is to get more people vaccinated. Don’t wait, go to MySpot.nc.gov (English) or Vacunate.nc.gov (Spanish) to find a vaccine location near you or call the state’s COVID-19 vaccine hotline at 888-675-4567. If you’ve already been vaccinated, encourage others to get their shot.