Robeson County sees slight increase in the number of new COVID-19 cases

Jun. 19—LUMBERTON — Cases of the novel coronavirus saw a slight increase in Robeson County over the past week, but no new virus-related deaths were reported.

The Robeson County Health Department reported 79 new cases in the county between June 12 and Friday, up from the 67 cases reported from June 5 to June 11.

This brings the pandemic total to 17,261 cases.

With no virus-related deaths reported in the county over the past seven days, the county's pandemic death toll remains at 247.

County Health Department Director Bill Smith said he continues to receive questions about acquiring COVID-19 after being vaccinated. There have been about 1,200 breakthrough cases in North Carolina out of the more than 3.3 million people vaccinated, and that 99% of new virus cases are to unvaccinated individuals, he said.

"If you cannot afford to miss work due to financial obligations, being vaccinated will help," Smith said. "There remains plenty of vaccine available for vaccinations of everyone 12 and over at centers, clinics, and pharmacies.

A virus variant called Delta, first identified in India, has now been found to be 65% more transmissible than the typical strain of COVID-19, Smith said. It has not generally been found in North Carolina yet, but nationwide occurrences have tripled in the past week. The Pfizer vaccine has been shown to have an efficacy rating of 70% against this variant if both doses are taken, Smith said.

The new Nomavax vaccine is ready for distribution, Smith said. The two-shot vaccine has a 90% efficacy rate overall, similar to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and higher than the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and a 100% efficacy rate against moderate and severe disease. Nomavax will be applying for FDA Emergency Use Authorization, but with little need for more vaccines nationwide — as others are widely available — it may have to go through the full authorization process, which could take months, he said.

"The saying more of the same is not what is needed applies here," Smith said. "Having more vaccine in the U.S. is not going to increase vaccination rates. Having more people get vaccinated is the solution to the ending of the pandemic. There is plenty of vaccine available throughout the country and county in centers, clinics and pharmacies. While the overall positive tests are down locally, there are still family units that are having multiple people contract the virus due to not being vaccinated."

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services statistics show 28,559 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and 25,985 second doses have been administered in Robeson County as of Friday.

These numbers are down from the numbers reported last week by NCDHHS. Smith said this is likely because of a reporting error.

UNC Health Southeastern reports five virus-positive patients in isolation at its medical center, down from nine on June 11, with no additional positives under investigation. There are 12 employees under quarantine because of possible exposure to the virus, up from seven on June 11 and the most since early February.

Statewide, 2,415 new virus cases were reported by NCDHHS between June 12 and Friday, down from 3,029 for the period of June 5-11. This brings the total number of cases in the state during the pandemic to 1,010,113.

There were 75 virus-related deaths reported in the state between June 12 and Friday, down from 114 from June 5 to June 11. There have been 13,340 total virus-related deaths in North Carolina.

The state reports 475 virus-related hospitalizations statewide, the eighth consecutive week that number has decreased.

There have been 3,333,078 first doses and 3,139,556 second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine administered in the state as of Friday.

In other virus related news, NCDHHS announced Tuesday it is launching an expanded COVID-19 testing program to support public, charter and private K-12 schools in protecting students and staff from the spread of COVID-19. The program will launch in the fall and schools can register to participate beginning in early July.

"COVID-19 screening testing can help protect our school communities and help keep students in the classroom," said Ann Nichols, state school nurse consultant at NCDHHS. "We encourage everyone, including students, to get vaccinated if they are eligible, but students under 12 don't have that option yet. This testing program will help keep our schools safe and our students learning."

Supported by a grant from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the program will provide participating schools with access to COVID-19 rapid tests and other testing options. Public school districts and charters will also have the option to receive financial support to hire additional school health team staff to facilitate the screening testing program and response.

A statewide vendor to provide COVID-19 testing services that follows CDC guidance will be available to all schools, public and private.

The NCDHHS will pilot the program in several summer school programs in preparation for the 2021-22 school year.

Registration for schools to participate in the program will open in early July. Information will be sent to superintendents this summer.