COVID-19 cases are down across the state, but a new variant currently

NEWS North Carolina

The Next Wave

COVID cases are down across the state, but a new variant currently spreading

in Europe looms. BY ELIZABETH THOMPSON AND MONA DOUGANI backtalk@indyweek.com

North Carolinians are currently faced with choices and confusion about which personal protective measures they should take against COVID-19, as Gov. Roy Cooper released guidance encouraging schools to make masks optional starting March 7 and the state’s remaining counties with mask mandates ended them.

These changes follow a drop in cases across the state, as the Omicron surge appears to be on its way down, but they have left North Carolinians with questions: To mask or not to mask? Stock up on COVID tests? Is COVID over?

Experts are even unsure, as the pandemic enters yet another new phase.

North Carolina saw a sharp decrease in COVID cases following the surge of the highly transmissible Omicron variant across the world in December and January.

At the height of the Omicron surge, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported almost 45,000 COVID cases, dwarfing prea 5 percent increase in the last 14 days, according to the World Health Organization Epi Database.

This is a cause for caution in the United States, which tends to lag a couple of weeks behind Europe’s COVID trends.

North Carolina DHHS secretary Kody Kinsley said North Carolina tends to be six weeks behind COVID trends in Europe, during a press conference on March 17.

Though cases are rising in some European countries, in the past month, travel restrictions have started to ease throughout most European nations.

The United Kingdom, France, Greece, Romania, and other nations have begun lifting requirements for entry such as passenger locator forms, COVID-19 entry restrictions, and proof of vaccination.

However, most countries in the European Union enforce policies regarding the use of face masks while indoors or using public transit.

vious surges. That number is now down to fewer than 2,000 daily cases.

Some public health experts—such as Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden’s top adviser on the pandemic—predict an “uptick” of COVID cases as a result of the BA.2 subvariant of the Omicron variant, which is causing an increase in cases in Europe.

U.S. surgeon general Vivek Murthy urged Americans to remain prepared for whatever COVID has in store, in an interview on Fox News Sunday.

“We’re in that mile 18 of a marathon,” Murthy said. “We can’t quit, because COVID’s not quitting.”

COVID increase in Europe

As of March 21, the collective number of COVID-19 cases in all of Europe has risen to 194.4 million, roughly A storefront in Chapel Hill where masks are required

PHOTO BY ELIZABETH THOMPSON

Loosen up?

While cases are low, John Wiesman, professor of the practice in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, said North Carolinians should enjoy this time.

“We are at a place where community transmission is much lower,” Wiesman said. “And we do have this pentup demand to want to do things we haven’t been doing, whether it’s going to the movie theater, whether it’s doing some traveling, whether it’s seeing people in our family who we haven’t seen for a long time.”

That doesn’t mean COVID is over though, Wiesman said.

Thomas Holland, associate professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, hearkened back to the first COVID curveball, the Delta variant.

“Last summer when we had really low case counts,” Holland said, “and around June, July time, I felt pretty confident that we wouldn’t see another big surge until the winter— sort of traditional respiratory virus season, and that was wrong, right? Delta arrived around that time, and then we had a big surge even during the warm summer months.”

Even as North Carolinians enjoy this time, Wiesman said, they shouldn’t let their guard down.

“I think the keyword here is we just need to remain vigilant,” Wiesman said.

Remaining vigilant

Wiesman recommended consulting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention community-level transmission data to assess your risk. Wastewater data is also one way to detect COVID transmission early, Wiesman

“The places that I still wear a mask are the places where I don’t really know the vaccination status of the people around me.”

said. North Carolina Health News previously reported on how wastewater works as an early detection tool.

It’s not up to just individuals to remain vigilant, Wiesman said, but also governments.

“We need to make sure that our public health systems have the resources they need to track these variants and viruses,” Wiesman said.

A key part of that vigilance is for Congress to pass the supplemental pandemic funding that has been stalled in Washington. Biden asked Congress for $22.5 billion in his National COVID-19 Preparedness Plan, but so far that package has received pushback on both sides of the aisle.

Governor Cooper, DHHS’s Kinsley, and other North Carolina officials urged the importance of continued federal aid at a press conference on Thursday, North Carolina Health News previously reported.

“I am most concerned about our supply of testing in the private markets and the unique ability of the federal government to maintain those levels of supply by pushing and propping up that market,” Kinsley said Thursday. “So I hope we will see that funding come. We need it to stay prepared. It’s not the time to take a step back.”

Federal funding would help provide for some of the newer tools to fight against COVID, including the new antiviral medication Paxlovid, which has been shown to dramatically reduce the risk of hospitalization if taken early in a COVID infection, and the long-acting antibody combination Evusheld, which can be used for pre-exposure prevention against COVID. For months, supplies had been limited, but now doses of the drug are sitting on pharmacy shelves and in federal stockpiles.

There are things that individuals can do to prepare for whatever curveball COVID might throw next.

Taking action now

Wiesman encouraged taking this time to get vaccinated or boosted if you have not yet.

It’s also a good time to have some rapid tests at home. Biden announced earlier this month that people can order four more free rapid tests after the initial program was rolled out in January. Insurers are now also required to reimburse for the purchase of as many as eight rapid tests per month.

Especially as pollen season starts in North Carolina, using a rapid test can help determine if that runny nose is the result of the yellow stuff floating in the air or if you have a runny nose because you’ve caught COVID. Rapid tests are especially important if you want to spend time indoors or in close proximity to someone who is at risk of a bad outcome if they catch the virus.

You can also take action to help yourself and others by having a mask handy, Holland said.

“The places that I still wear a mask are the places where I don’t really know the vaccination status of the people around me,” Holland said. “Like going in the grocery store. Or in stores. I still mask up for that whether it’s required or not.”

Just because mask guidelines have loosened up for now does not mean that masks don’t work, Holland said. A well-fitting mask—such as an N95 or a KF-94—helps to reduce transmission of the coronavirus.

In some cities in Europe, such as Madrid, Spain, the use of face masks is mandatory for individuals both indoors and outdoors where distancing cannot be maintained.

People wear masks when walking outside, on the subway, in classrooms, at work, and sometimes even in cars. COVID testing sites are also widely available, and pharmacies carry take-home tests that cost the equivalent of about $6 to $8.

Though the vaccination rate has hit 85 percent in Spain, with 87 percent of people having at least one dose, lawmakers are still enforcing safety measures, and individuals are still taking precautions to ensure health and safety.

If cases start to pick up again in the United States like they are in Europe, Holland said it would make sense to mask up again and limit travel and interactions.

“We are still in an uncertain time,” Wiesman said. ”Just be aware of that.” W

This story was originally published by NC Health News, an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit, statewide news organization dedicated to covering all things health care in North Carolina. Visit NCHN at northcarolinahealthnews.org.

NOTICE OF DURHAM COUNTY PRIMARY AND ELECTION Tuesday, May 17, 2022

The Primary and Election for Durham County will be held in Durham County, NC on Tuesday May 17th. All Durham County precincts will be open from 6:30 am until 7:30 pm. 17-year-old Durham County voters who are registered and will be 18 years old on or before Nov. 8, 2022, may vote in Durham’s Primary. 17-year-olds are not permitted to vote in School Board or Town of Cary elections. Party primaries will be open to voters registered with that respective party. Unaffiliated voters may vote a non-partisan ballot that will only include the School Board Election and Town of Cary (if applicable) OR choose to participate in either the Republican or Democratic primaries. Registered Libertarians will be given a non-partisan ballot.

The following contests will be on the Durham County ballots*:

• US Congress • NC Supreme Court • NC Court of Appeals • NC General Assembly • NC District Court • Durham County Sheriff • Durham County District Attorney • Durham County Clerk of Court • Durham County Board of Education (Final Election) • Town of Cary Council (Final Election – Cary residents only) *Offices will only appear on your ballot if you are eligible to vote for the respective contest.

ABSENTEE ONE-STOP (EARLY VOTING) LOCATIONS

South Regional Library

4505 S. Alston Ave., Durham

Durham Tech- Newton Building

1616 Cooper Street, Durham

North Regional Library

221 Milton Rd., Durham

The River Church

4900 Prospectus Dr., Durham

East Regional Library

211 Lick Creek Lane., Durham

Eno River Unitarian

4907 Garrett Rd., Durham

NCCU Law School

640 Nelson St., Durham

Durham County Main Library

300 N Roxboro St., Durham

Early voting schedule: Thursday, April 28, 2022 – Saturday, May 14, 2022 Hours are consistent at all four early voting sites. • Weekdays: 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. • Saturdays: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. • Sundays: 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE: The voter registration deadline for the Primary and Election is Friday, April 22, 2022 (25 days prior). Voters that miss the registration deadline may register and vote during the Absentee One-Stop Voting Period (Early Voting). Voters who are currently registered need not re-register. Registered voters who have moved or changed other information since the last election should notify the Board of Elections of that change by April 22, 2022. Party changes are not permitted after the voter registration deadline. SAME DAY REGISTRATION: Voters are allowed to register and vote during early voting. It is quicker and easier to register in advance, but if you have not registered you can do so during One Stop voting with proper identification. This same day registration is not allowed at polling places on Election Day. Information regarding registration, polling locations, absentee voting, or other election matters may be obtained by contacting the Board of Elections.

ELECTION DAY POLLING PLACE LOCATION CHANGE

• Precinct 25, previously located at Northern High School has moved to Lucas Middle School, located at 923 Snow Hill Rd., Durham.

Website: www.dcovotes.com Phone: 919-560-0700 Email: elections@dconc.gov Fax: 919-560-0688