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NCDHHS: COVID-19 trends improving

PRE News & Ideas | By Annette Weston-Riggs
Published September 22, 2023 at 6:16 AM EDT
3D print of a SARS-CoV-2—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19—virus particle. The virus surface (blue) is covered with spike proteins (red) that enable the virus to enter and infect human cells. The spikes on the surface of coronaviruses give this virus family its name – corona, which is Latin for “crown,” and most any coronavirus will have a crown-like appearance.
National Institutes of Health
3D print of a SARS-CoV-2—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19—virus particle. The virus surface (blue) is covered with spike proteins (red) that enable the virus to enter and infect human cells. The spikes on the surface of coronaviruses give this virus family its name – corona, which is Latin for “crown,” and most any coronavirus will have a crown-like appearance.

COVID-19 trends in North Carolina are improving.

This week’s numbers from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services showed an 11 percent drop virus particles per person found in samples.

Nearly 8% of emergency room visits were for respiratory viruses, slightly lower than last week, and about five percent of those admissions were for COVID-like illnesses.

There were 623 hospital admissions for COVID-19, and DHHS said that’s a two percent decrease from last week. However, that is still about 200 more visits to the emergency department for COVID than a month ago.

Health officials are also recommending updated booster shots for people six months and up.
Annette Weston-Riggs
Annette is originally a Midwest gal, born and raised in Michigan, but with career stops in many surrounding states, the Pacific Northwest, and various parts of the southeast. She has been involved in the media industry in eastern North Carolina for more than three years. An award-winning journalist and mother of four, Annette moved to ENC to be closer to family – in particular, her two young grandchildren. It’s possible that a -27 day with a -68 windchill in Minnesota may have also played a role in that decision. In her spare time, Annette does a lot of toddler and baby cuddling, reading, designing costumes for children’s theater and producing the coolest Halloween costumes anyone has ever seen. She has also worked as a diversity and inclusion facilitator serving school districts and large corporations. It’s the people that make this beautiful area special, and she wants to share those stories that touch the hearts of others. If you have a story idea to share, please reach out by email to westona@cravencc.edu.
See stories by Annette Weston-Riggs