From Staff Reports 

COVID-19 trends in Buncombe County remain stable and walk-in vaccination appointments are available, county Public Health Director Stacie Saunders reported during her weekly COVID-19 community update at the May 4 meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissions in Asheville. 

Regarding COVID-19 trends in Buncombe, Saunders noted that, as of May 4, 17,531 confirmed cases of the virus have been reported in the county since the pandemic’s start in March 2020.

“There have been 314 COVID-19-related deaths in our community,” she added.

What’s more, Saunders said, “There are 83 new cases per 100,000 per week (through May 4), down from 97 per 100,000 two weeks ago.

“The percent positivity is 3.6 percent, down from the 4 to 4.5 percent range of the last several weeks.

As for regional hospitalizations, she said they “continue to remain low and stable.”

In turning to vaccines statistics as of May 4, Saunders stated that, since Dec. 22, Buncombe County Health and Human Services has administered more than 82,790 total doses of the vaccine with help and support from Buncombe County Emergency Services.

“Each vaccine means we are closer to controlling the virus,” Saunders said. “Each vaccine means we are closer to things we have missed so much. Each one is a step we make toward recovering our economies, restoring our normal lives and reviving our communities.”

She also reported that Buncombe statistics for all vaccine providers per the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Dashboard show that about 47 percent of  population (121,346 individuals) are vaccinated, with at least one dose and 40.5 percent of population is fully vaccinated.

With the consolidation of vaccine administration to one site, BCHHS has added additional outreach opportunities focusing on neighborhoods, community centers and historically marginalized populations like homebound, unhoused individuals, migrant farmworkers and African-American communities, Saunders said.

BCHHS is also supporting worksite outreach. In addition, BCHHS will be working to provide vaccine opportunities in Swannanoa/Black Mountain, Sandy Mush, Weaverville and Southside, she noted.

Regarding site consolidation, the county health director said that, beginning May 10, all BCHHS vaccine administration will take place at the A-B Tech Conference Center, 16 Fernihurst Drive, Asheville. 

Walk-in vaccines are available during clinic hours of 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, she said. Appointments can also be scheduled by visiting www.buncombeready.org, or by calling (419-0095. 

As for restriction being eased, Saunders said, “Governor (Roy) Cooper announced recently that he will be looking to lift restrictions in June. This is based on the desire, thus far, of folks to get their vaccine and the hard work that vaccine-providers have been doing across the state to vaccinate North Carolinians.”

During his press conference in late April, “Cooper further stated that he is considering lifting the mask mandate when our state reaching two thirds of adults receiving at least one dose of vaccine,” Saunders noted. “This is the threshold that the state has set for us to see a continued dampening of transmission and help control the virus. North Carolina as a whole is at about 50 percent. of adults having received at least one vaccine.”

On the topic of testing, Saunders asserted, “Visit the Find my Testing Place website or visit starmed.care to register for COVID-19 testing in Buncombe County. Individuals who are showing symptoms or believe they have had close contact to COVID-19 should get tested.”

As for emergency alerts, she said, “Buncombe County residents can stay up-to-date on emergency situations by signing up for BC Alerts by texting ‘BCAlert’ to 99411 or by clicking here. Users can select which type of notices they’d like to receive, the languages for the communications, and even TTY options. These alerts include key information about COVID vaccines and waitlists as well.” 

Saunders added, “If residents have previously signed up for BC Alerts, they will need to re-register in order to continue receiving them due to a change in emergency alert providers. Visit www.buncombecounty.org to learn more.  

“Please continue to practice the 3Ws to stop transmission of COVID-19, even if you’ve received a vaccine. It will take the vaccine and these important preventative measures to get our families back to a sense of normalcy,” Saunders concluded.

For more information about COVID-19, vaccine appointments, and COVID testing, visit www.buncombeready.org.

The next COVID update will take place during the May 18 meeting of the county commissioners.