COVID-19 Situation Update: March 23 | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Releases:

    Weekly COVID-19 NC Update:

• Downward trends in all early warning indicators
• Fewer reported cases and hospital admissions than last week
• Medium to low levels of community risk in all counties
• Most sequenced cases are Omicron BA. 1

    Weekly COVID-19 NC Vaccine Update:

• 50% Vaccinated Population with at Least One Booster/Additional Dose
• 76% Adult Population Vaccinated with at Least One Dose
• 38% Children and Teens Vaccinated with at Least One Dose

    More information: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard

    Weekly Update:

• The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched Spring into Summer, a community campaign focused on increasing rates of COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for adults and children.
• NCDHHS released its plan for the current stage of the pandemic, Moving Forward Together (Spanish). NCDHHS also announced upcoming changes to its COVID-19 Data Dashboard starting today, March 23.

    COVID-19 Vaccinations:

• A free COVID-19 vaccine is available to all who want it. Vaccination is now open to everyone 5 and older. Visit MySpot.nc.gov to find a location.
• To strengthen and extend protections against COVID-19, boosters are now available to all North Carolinians 16 and older. If you are eligible, you should get a booster now.
• If you received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, you can get your booster six months after your second shot. If you received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you can get your booster two months after your shot. Anyone over 50 or at high risk should get a booster dose now.
• You can choose any brand of COVID-19 vaccine for your booster shot. Limited preliminary evidence suggests that booster doses of one of the two mRNA vaccines - Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech- more effectively raise antibody levels than a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
• To learn more about boosters and to find a spot to take your shot, go here.
• For more information on the COVID-19 vaccines, visit YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov or call the COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center for free at 1-888-675-4567.

    COVID-19 Testing & Treatment:

• If you develop symptoms, get tested immediately and isolate until you receive your test results. If you test positive, follow isolation recommendations. If you do not develop symptoms, get tested at least five days after you last had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
• To find a testing site near you, visit ncdhhs.gov/GetTested. For an up-to-date list of no-cost community testing events, visit the No-Cost Testing Events webpage. Additionally, all North Carolinians can request a free at-home COVID-19 testing kit.
• While vaccines provide the best protection from COVID-19, treatment options such as monoclonal antibodies are available if you have had symptoms of COVID-19 for 10 days or less or have been exposed to COVID-19. If taken early, they can reduce the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Ask your doctor about monoclonal antibodies, call the Combat COVID Monoclonal Antibodies Call Center at 1-877-332-6585 (English) or 1-877-366-0310 (Spanish), or find treatment near you.

    ICYMI:

• Governor Roy Cooper outlined steps on moving North Carolina forward from COVID-19. Cooper was joined by Kody Kinsley, Secretary for North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, who explained the Department's plan to adapt in this new stage.

   

    For a full list of the department's videos on COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines, visit the NCDHHS YouTube Channel. Videos can also be downloaded for use on the NCDHHS Vimeo Channel.

   

    For more information and updates on COVID-19, visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov and nc.gov/covid19. Those with COVID-19 vaccine questions can call the COVID-19 Vaccine Help Center at 1-888-675-4567, or visit YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov.

    Contact:

    North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

    Email: news@dhhs.nc.gov  •  Phone: (919) 855-4840