Buncombe County extends mask mandate through the new year due to rising COVID-19 cases

A mask mandate for indoor public spaces has been extended through noon Jan. 5, 2022, according to Buncombe County Health Department spokesperson Stacey Wood.

According to a Nov. 30 news release, the indoor mask requirement, ordered by the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners, extends to Asheville, Biltmore Forest, Black Mountain, Montreat, Weaverville and Woodfin.

Public Health Director Stacie Saunders said the extension stems from a recent boost in COVID-19 cases before the Thanksgiving holiday and possibly another surge in the coming weeks.

Pandemic reporting: 'Discernable increase' in Buncombe's COVID-19 cases before holiday; mask mandate in limbo

“Unfortunately, COVID-19 cases continue to increase after a high level plateau. The percent positivity is now consistently above 5% again, and we are likely to see a further increase after the Thanksgiving holiday,” Saunders said in the release.

“Transitioning to living with COVID-19 means doing what we can now to reduce transmission and burden of new infections. Our goal is to dampen as much as possible any surge we may see during this holiday season with the hope of achieving decreasing case rate and spread as we enter the new year.”

Buncombe's positivity rate between Nov. 22-28 was 5.7%, according to data from the release. There were 135 cases per 100,000 recorded in that time and 1.5 deaths per 100,000.

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This is the third time the mandate's expiration date has been delayed. It comes on the heels of worldwide concern about the omicron COVID-19 variant that has been labeled a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization.

WHO said in a statement on its website Nov. 28 it is "unclear" whether this variant is more transmissible compared to other variants. Also unclear are facts about the severity of this newly discovered variant's symptoms.

Many nations including the U.S. have reacted by enacting travel restrictions from areas where omicron has become most prevalent, like South Africa, where it was first detected.

Vaccines that help protect against severe COVID-19 symptoms are still widely available throughout the county and officials are still urging residents to get the shot and help stop the virus' spread.

Local, state and federal officials also are encouraging people who have already received their first battery of COVID shots to get a booster.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Nov. 29 strengthened its booster recommendation for young people.

"Everyone ages 18 and older should get a booster shot either when they are 6 months after their initial Pfizer or Moderna series or 2 months after their initial J&J vaccine," CDC officials said in a Nov. 29 statement.

Free COVID-19 vaccines are available to anyone ages 5 and older at Buncombe County Health and Human Services by appointment or walk-in between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday at 40 Coxe Ave., downtown. No ID is required.

As of Nov. 30, 66% of Buncombe's population was partially vaccinated.

Learn more at buncombeready.org.

Andrew Jones is Buncombe County government and health care reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow or reach him at @arjonesreports on Facebook and Twitter. Email him at arjones@citizentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Buncombe County extends mask mandate until Jan. 5 due to COVID-19 rise