January 12, 2022

Confused about Boosters?

Here is what you should know!

Link to guidance in English, Spanish

Press Release January 7, 2022

COVID-19 Boosters Recommended for Children Ages 12 to 15, Additional Dose Recommended for Immunocompromised Children Ages 5 to 11

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday announced it recommends the Pfizer COVID-19 booster for children ages 12 to 15 to further protect them from COVID-19. The CDC also recommends a third dose of Pfizer for children ages 5 to 11 who have compromised immune systems.

In addition, the wait time for boosters for anyone who received Pfizer COVID-19 vaccinations has been reduced from six months to five months. People who received two doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine should receive their booster in six months. People who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should receive their booster two months after their vaccination.

READ MORE: English, Spanish

What is the difference between quarantine and isolation?

Quarantine is when you might have been exposed to the virus and may or may not be infected.

Isolation is when you are sick or when you have been infected with the virus, even if you don't have symptoms. Isolation separates people who are infected with the virus from others, even in their own home.

Learn more from this short video: https://youtu.be/l3s75_X8Xjs

New COVID-19 Guidelines for Isolation Period for Those Infected with COVID-19

The CDC recently outlined new COVID-19 guidelines that recommend a five-day isolation period for those infected with COVID-19. Under the new rules, all Americans who test positive, regardless of vaccination status, should isolate themselves for five days and wear a mask for another five, even among family at home. New guidelines shortening COVID-19 quarantine times are about keeping people at their jobs, and does not signal the pandemic is letting up, Dr. Anthony Fauci said. The decision strikes a balance of keeping Americans safe without “drain(ing) society of their very critical workers. It’s not 100% risk-free but then again nothing is 100% risk-free,” Fauci said. READ MORE.

It should be noted that certain settings such as health care, long-term care facilities and congregant living have different guidance. Learn more from the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html

Did you attend the pop-up vaccine event on January 6th at Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough?

If so, please READ THIS.

What happened? A Nurse Practitioner believed he was giving the accurate dosing to the patients and later realized he had given the pediatric dosing rather than the adult dosing.

How many people were vaccinated at the Cedar Ridge clinic on Jan. 6th ? 126 people were vaccinated.

How many teens received the wrong dosage? Less than 35 teens.

READ MORE.

Plea from Hospitals: If it is Not an Emergency, Please go Elsewhere

With emergency departments once again pushed to capacity by another surge of COVID-19, the Triangle’s three hospital systems are making a joint plea: If it’s not an emergency, please go elsewhere.

The graphic above provides information on where to seek care as well as COVID-19 testing information.

COVID-19 Testing

Please note that the COVID-19 Testing Clinic in Hillsborough has a new schedule! It will now be open weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm.

This drive thru location is by registration only.
This site offers PCR tests. If you need a rapid test in addition to a PCR test, please inform data collectors when they are collecting/verifying your information.
Due to high testing volumes, the wait time for PCR test results may be longer than 72 hours.
Due to an overwhelming demand and staffing shortages the state vendor (Starmed) will open online registration in the morning (MON-FRI) from approximately 8:30 am and close at around 11 am. On Sundays, registration will open from approximately 9 am to around 10 am. These times may vary.
If the testing lot is full, please come back at a later time or the next day and notify the staff.
To register, go to https://unityphr.com/campaigns/starmed/covid. If Hillsborough location is not available, please try again at a later time or the next day.
To help speed up the process and to avoid too much traffic please do not come to the testing area before you register for Hillsborough location. After you register for the day, please arrive between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm.
You may find other testing locations here: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing/find-covid-19-tests

Thank you so much for your patience and understanding.

https://www.orangecountync.gov/2451/Testing

Weekly COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Clinic Schedule

Click here for a printable PDF of the schedule.

Free COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

Vaccines are free, and no ID is required! If you are coming for your second dose, or a booster please bring your vaccination card with the record of your previous doses. Visit our COVID-19 Vaccine page for the most up-to-date information: www.orangecountync.gov/getyourshot, or call (919) 913-8088 with any questions.

The Hillsborough walk-in clinic at Bonnie B. Davis serves ages 5 and up for their COVID-19 vaccine primary series and boosters. Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are also welcome.

The Chapel Hill clinic, however, is by appointment only. Ages 5 and up can be vaccinated! To make an appointment call (919) 913-8088 or visit https://takemyshot.nc.gov to make an appointment.

Regular Vaccine Clinics
Bonnie B. Davis Environment & Agricultural Center
1020 US Hwy 70 W, Hillsborough, NC
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
No appointment necessary.
***Ages 5 and up only.
***Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are available.

Southern Human Services Center
2501 Homestead Rd, Chapel Hill, NC
Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Please call (919) 913-8088 to schedule an appointment.
***Ages 5 and up.
***Moderna, J&J, and Pfizer vaccines are available.

North Carolina COVID-19 Cases

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) reports 1,930,710 COVID-19 cases, 19,763 deaths and 4,098 hospitalizations. 59% of North Carolina's population is fully vaccinated.

There are currently 16,740 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 113 deaths in Orange County. 75% of Orange County residents are fully vaccinated.

For more information regarding live updates (NCDHHS updates the site every day around noon), please visit the NCDHHS website.

Orange County Health Department also has a COVID-19 dashboard webpage, with information on COVID-19 data in the county.

More information may be found at www.orangecountync.gov/coronavirus

Contact Information

For general questions (not urgent) about 2019 Novel Coronavirus, contact NCDHHS at: ncresponse@dhhs.nc.gov or 1-866-462-3821 to address general questions about coronavirus from the public.

If you are an individual or a medical practice with questions about COVID-19, call the Orange County Health Department at (919) 913-8088 during business hours (8:30 am to 5:00 pm).

Contact Kristin Prelipp, the Orange County Health Department’s Public Information Officer at: kprelipp@orangecountync.gov or 919-245-2462.

Orange County Health Department:
Web: www.orangecountync.gov/coronavirus
Phone: 919-245-2400
Email: covid19@orangecountync.gov
Facebook: Orange County Health Department
Instagram: OrangeHealthNC
Twitter: Orange Health NC
Youtube: OCHDNC