Covid-19 Incidence Rate Doubled in August

Plurality of new cases in people ages 25-49.

Transmission rates of Covid-19 remain high in Buncombe County, rising throughout August 2021 and even more in early September 2021.

At the beginning of August, when the first surge of the Delta variant began to be tracked, there was an incidence rate of 151 cases per 100,000 people. By August 23 the rate had more than doubled to 312 per 100,000, and by August 31 was 365 per 100,000, leading to a total of 1,355 cases in August.

A plurality of 42.1% of all new cases are among people 25-49 years old, and new cases in individuals younger than 18 have risen to 20%, up from 14.5% in the previous weeks.

Get Vaccinated!

“Only those 12 and up are eligible for vaccination,” says Buncombe County Health and Human Services Director Stacie Saunders. “That makes it that much more important for those who are eligible to get vaccinated. The rest of us can create a shield of protection around those not eligible and help reduce their risk of exposure.”

HHS has administered more than 98,340 total doses of Covid-19 vaccine since December 2020. Approximately 72% of the eligible Buncombe County population (63% of the total population) has received at least one dose of vaccine, while 68% of the eligible population (59% of the total) is fully vaccinated.

Individuals can visit the Buncombe County Health Department at 40 Coxe Ave., Asheville, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. to receive a vaccination at no cost. Individuals can also visit www.YourSpotYourShot.nc.gov to find vaccination opportunities throughout North Carolina.

15.4 Times More Likely to Die

According to recent NC DHHS data, individuals who are unvaccinated are 4.4 times more likely to become ill with Covid-19 than those who are vaccinated. Worse, unvaccinated individuals are 15.4 times more likely to die than someone who is vaccinated.

In fact, with a very few exceptions in the single digits, almost all those 415 who have died at Mission have been unvaccinated.

“These are risks that you do not have to take. Vaccines are safe and effective and they are the best way to reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death for people,” says Saunders.

Get Tested & Get Vaccinated

Even those who have had their vaccinations can get a mild case of Covid-19. This writer was vaccinated in February and March, and received his “booster” shot at the beginning of September (age and COPD made him eligible). But on Sept. 7 he was diagnosed with the illness—a “breakthrough infection.”

So, even if you’ve been vaccinated—and even more important if you have not—and you experience any symptoms of Covid-19, get tested immediately and isolate from others while waiting for your test results. Testing locations can be found at www.ncdhhs.gov/GetTested.

Then get vaccinated, wear a mask in all public places, wash your hands, and get tested if you have been exposed or have symptoms. Visit www.buncombeready.org for more information on Covid-19 in Buncombe County.

If you are mildly sick, and within 8 to 10 days of the onset of symptoms, MAHEC has a list of who’s doing monoclonal antibody testing. You can also go online at covid.infusioncenter.org for a national map that will show you where testing may be available. But do it as soon as you can, as it can be hard to schedule the treatment.

Huge Increases in Infections and Death

Even with 60% of county residents having been vaccinated, with deaths spiking from 1 per 100,000 to 3 per 100,000 the county is trying to get the remaining 40% vaccinated. To some extent it’s working: weekly vaccination numbers were at 200/week in July; after the (cash-payment) incentive program, weekly doses rose to 400 in August and, in the final week of August, reached 550 doses.

Mask “Mandate” Reinstated, With No Teeth

As of August 18, Buncombe County reimposed its state of emergency and reinstated the mask mandate, though without any enforcement mechanism or consequences for businesses that refuse to comply. The Commissioners did not want to be “heavy-handed,” but preferred to rely on area businesses to be “good corporate citizens.”

“The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners declared a Local State of Emergency requiring residents and visitors in any indoor spaces in public spaces to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others. Effective immediately, indoor public spaces include business establishments, offices and workplaces, public transportation facilities and vehicles, and any indoor place the public is invited and allowed to enter and gather. The order applies to all people who are at least 5 years old, and face coverings are recommended for all people over the age of 2.

“The mask requirement currently extends throughout unincorporated Buncombe County as well as the municipal limits of the City of Asheville, the Town of Montreat, the Town of Woodfin, and the Town of Weaverville.”

Unfortunately, some large corporations are apparently more worried about offending anti-maskers than helping create a safe community. When we visited the Ingles store on Tunnel Road opposite the VA, we saw numerous customers shopping unmasked. When we asked the store manager why that was permitted, given the county’s new mandate, he told us, “Corporate says we don’t have to enforce it. We ask if they want a mask, but if they say no, there’s nothing we can do.”

After suggesting that the store could turn away the unmasked, just as they do people with “no shirt, no shoes, no service,” his response was “Corporate says we don’t have to.”

Huge Growth in Infections

The South now accounts for more than half of all new pediatric infections, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate of pediatric hospital admissions per 100,000 is up by 600% since the Fourth of July, and nearly 300 times higher than it was in June, when just 8,400 pediatric cases were reported over a week. The admission rate is also nearly 308% higher than it was a year ago.

Protect your children, and everyone’s! Get tested, get vaccinated, and if eligible, get a Monoclonal Antibody infusion. It really could be a matter of life or death.