With hospitalizations increasing and the Delta variant spreading, Orange County has extended the local COVID-19 related State of Emergency declaration indefinitely, The extension went into effect Friday, July 23, at 5 p.m.
Orange County's percent positive rate of COVID tests was at 0.4 percent, the week of June 6-12, but has increased steadily since, reaching 1.3% for the week of July 4-10 and 2.9% for the week of July 11-17. Most of the new cases are amongst unvaccinated individuals and are caused by the rapidly spreading Delta variant.
The Health Department continues to urge individuals who are eligible for a vaccine to get the shot. Learn more about how to schedule an appointment here.
Orange County will continue to follow the terms of Governor Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 220 related to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. As noted in Executive Order 220, the Local Education Agencies of Orange County, together with all other public and private schools in Orange County, shall comply with the StrongSchoolsNC Public Health Toolkit.