Ages 12-18 eligible for vaccine here
North Carolinians no longer are required to wear masks or follow social distancing requirements in most instances, Gov. Roy Cooper announced last week.
Cooper’s announcement came one day after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention said people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 safely can do most activities without wearing a mask or social distancing.
The governor also faced pressure from Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham), who called on Cooper to immediately lift the state’s mask mandate ahead of the governor’s announcement Friday.
“We can take this step today because the science shows our focus on getting people vaccinated is working,” Cooper said. “But to keep moving forward – and to make sure that we keep saving lives – more people need to get vaccinated.”
In Cherokee County, the numbers have slowly started to go down, with no new cases being reported Monday. The health department is taking appointments for children ages 12-18 to receive the Pfizer vaccine beginning this week. Call 837-7486 or use the online scheduler.
From May 10-17, there were 33 positive test results reported for COVID-19 at the health department, 13 who had contact with previously reported cases. All but four of those testing positive have developed symptoms, one has been hospitalized and they have all been isolated.
The outbreak reported May 10 is linked to the Cherokee County Detention Center. Since the pandemic started, the health department has conducted 15,368 tests, 12,701 which were negative, Of the 2,645 positive tests, 2,575 have been released, 36 are deceased and 34 are active.
Cooper’s executive order removes the indoor mask mandate in most settings. All state mass gathering and capacity limits and social distancing requirements were eliminated under the order, which took effect Friday afternoon.
Mandatory indoor mask requirements remain on public transportation, in child care and health care facilities, and in homeless shelters, schools and prisons. Masks are “strongly recommended” at large, crowded indoor events such as sporting events and live performances. State public health officials also recommend continued mask wearing for unvaccinated people.
If you become sick with a respiratory type illness, call the health department or your primary care provider to determine if you need to be tested. To help repent speak, wash your hands, avoid touching your face, stay home if you are sick, and cover coughs and sneezes.
David Brown of the Cherokee Scout and Nyamekye Daniel of The Center Square contributed to this report.