cases
Featured Health & Fitness

Durham County Experiencing Increases In COVID-19 Cases

Phyllis Coley @phyllis_coley

Durham County is currently experiencing increases in COVID-19 cases, as indicated by the North Carolina COVID-19 Wastewater Monitoring Dashboard. These increases follow state trends showing increases in case spread, while COVID-19 hospital admissions and emergency department visits are also increasing across the state. 

“Unfortunately, here in Durham and across the state we are seeing increases in our COVID-19 metrics, so it’s important that we stay vigilant and remember our tried and true safety measures,” said Health Director Rod Jenkins. “Get tested, stay home and away from others if you test positive or don’t feel well, wear masks when needed, and of course, please get up-to-date on your vaccines. This includes getting your fall booster when they become available soon.” 

As cases increase, the community is encouraged to take the following steps for protection against COVID-19:

  • Stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines. All approved brands and doses are available for free at the Durham County Department of Public Health (DCoDPH) for all people age six months or older. Updated, fall boosters are expected to be available by the start of October and will be available at DCoDPH. 
  • Get tested. All people who have COVID-19 symptoms or were recently exposed to COVID-19 should take a COVID-19 test. Free home COVID-19 tests continue to be available for pickup at DCoDPH Mondays and Fridays, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM, and Wednesdays, 12:00 PM-4:00 PM. No insurance or identification is needed to pick up tests. More testing and test pick-up locations can be found on the NCDHHS website here. More information on when to get tested and what to do after a test can be found on the CDC website here.
  • Wear masks. Masks provide an extra layer of protection against COVID-19 and are recommended after exposure when caring for someone who is sick, when community spread is high, and more. CDC guidance on the use and care of masks can be found here. 
  • Follow CDC guidance if you have been exposed or have tested positive for COVID-19. If you have been exposed to COVID-19, wear a mask for a full 10 days, and get tested five days after exposure. If you have tested positive for COVID-19, stay home and away from others for at least five days and wear a mask for at least 10 days. It is also important to isolate if you have symptoms but have not yet received COVID-19 test results. 

All people age 6 months and older are also encouraged to receive a flu vaccine, and eligible individuals should receive an RSV vaccine. RSV vaccines are approved for individuals age 60 or older, and medication is approved to prevent RSV in infants and toddlers. Parents of infants and people age 60 years or older should talk to their medical provider for more information on RSV prevention. Flu shot locations can be found online here. 

For more data on cases of COVID-19, the flu, and RSV in North Carolina, visit the North Carolina Respiratory Virus Summary Dashboard here. As of May 2023, doctors and labs are no longer required to report COVID-19 cases to the state health department. As a result, case counts are no longer reported by the NC Department of Health and Human Services and are unavailable to report on our previous data dashboard.