Alamance County once again has high levels of community COVID-19 transmission. It is among half of North Carolina counties with high transmission, according to data from the state’s Department of Health and Human Services.
The increase in transmission comes as the more transmissible Omicron BA.5 variant overtook other variants in the state, leading North Carolina cases. Last week, there were 450 positive cases in Alamance County.
There are also currently seven outbreaks in the county, as of July 27. Four are in nursing homes and three are in residential care facilities.
Gov. Roy Cooper reminded people more waves of the virus are likely as more variants emerge. Currently, subvariants of Omicron make up all cases in the state.
“Get vaccinated and boosted, wear a mask indoors in crowds if you believe you need better protection and if you become infected, talk with a health professional quickly about effective treatments like Paxlovid,” Cooper said in a press release. “Cases are on the rise with this latest BA.5 variant so I encourage all North Carolinians to know their risk and take steps to protect themselves.”
NC DHHS Communications Manager Kelly Haight Connor also encouraged people to get vaccinated against the virus. According to the state’s dashboard, only 33% of adults in Alamance County are vaccinated and have received a booster shot.
“COVID-19 Vaccines are still the best protection from severe illness, hospitalization or death for ourselves and our communities,” Connor wrote in an email to Elon News Network.