NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC – New Hanover County is back in the Low CDC COVID Community Level after case rates and healthcare impacts have improved this week. While we are now at a low community level, it’s important to stay prepared for changes as the virus continues to spread.
Most notably, the current case rate of COVID-19 has dropped to 139.89 per 100,000 compared to 298.97 per 100,000 when New Hanover County moved to the High CDC Community Level two weeks ago. New hospital admissions for COVID-19 are at 9.3 per 100,000 for the last week.
“The county has seen improvements in all COVID metrics, which is very good news,” said Interim Health Director Jon Campbell. “When looking at the data from the last couple of years, we predicted that we would see an increased impact from COVID around the holidays. But our ability to return to a low level in just a few weeks shows that we have effective measures in place to combat such an increase. Most importantly, we know the vaccines and boosters can help prevent severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19 so staying up-to-date on those will help to continue to lessen the impact on our healthcare system and keep everyone in the community safe.”
Recommended precautions for a Low Community Level include being fully vaccinated and boosted, and testing for COVID if you develop symptoms. Mask usage at this community level is optional. The CDC plans to update community levels weekly, so residents can check the CDC website to know the current community impact level.
Vaccines, Boosters and Tests
Initial vaccines and boosters are available on a walk-in basis at the Pandemic Operations Center (1507 Greenfield Street) during the following days and times:
- Monday-Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Thursday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
The Pandemic Operations Center continues to serve as a community access point and provides free at-home tests for pickup during operating hours at 1507 Greenfield Street in Wilmington. For more information on the Pandemic Operations Center, COVID-19, vaccines, boosters, or other resources, visit Health.NHCgov.com or call the Pandemic Operations Call Center at 910-798-6601.
COVID-19 Community Data, as of January 20:
- New Hanover County’s percent positivity over the past 7 days is 17.6 percent (this represents positive Molecular (PCR) tests as a percent of total PCR tests performed countywide).
- Approximately 64.7 percent of New Hanover County residents have completed the initial COVID-19 vaccine series.
- Since March 1, 2020, there have been 63,360 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Hanover County, resulting in 454 deaths.
Health Director Update
Jon Campbell was selected to serve as Interim Health Director for New Hanover County, upon the departure of former director David Howard. Mr. Campbell is a certified physician assistant and has served as Health and Human Services' Pandemic Operations Manager since December 2021, and will continue to lead that operation as part of this new role. He has an extensive medical and healthcare background, working as an Emergency Department Physician Assistant for more than 13 years and serving as a Senior Aeromedical Physician Assistant with the Army National Guard.