Buncombe COVID cases up 50% in a week, omicron and holiday could see 'many more' infected

Just days before Christmas and as the omicron variant has become the most prevalent version of COVID-19 in the United States, Buncombe County cases are up 50% in the past week, officials said in a Dec. 21 news release.

Local cases rose from 155 per 100,000 to 232 per 100,000 since about Dec. 14. Positivity rates are at 5.6% right right now, however, remaining relatively stable compared to previous weeks both before and after Thanksgiving Day.

More: Drop in Buncombe County's COVID-19 rates offers spark of hope for holidays

“New cases are quickly increasing for our community," Buncombe Public Health Director Stacie Saunders said in the statement.

"This is a time when many are taking part in holiday events and parties and each one of those events increases the chances of being exposed to the virus. This increased holiday activity coupled with a new more contagious variant means we will likely see many more people infected before and after the holiday.”

Hospitalizations are also up, according to the release, with 6% of inpatient beds occupied by those who tested positive for COVID compared to 4.7% last week.

Mission Health and HCA Healthcare North Carolina Division spokesperson Nancy Lindell said Dec. 21 that there are 69 COVID-positive patients occupying beds, an increase of 19 patients since Dec. 3.

"That encompasses all the hospitals we have, the five regional hospitals and Mission," she said.

Mission is "not anywhere near capacity" in its ICUs, Lindell said.

She compared the current level of hospitalized COVID-positive patients with 162 on Sept. 3 of this year, one of the most severe pandemic spikes the hospital had seen.

At Pardee Hospital in Hendersonville, as of Dec. 21, there were 13 patients hospitalized with COVID. Three of those are in the ICU. That is almost the same as Dec. 1 when there also were 13 hospitalized COVID patients with two in the ICU.

"As we all try to digest the many numbers and stats being used in the media to gauge the severity of this virus," Pardee UNC Health Care Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Ellis told the Citizen Times in an email, "I would like to encourage us to stay focused on the number of hospitalizations and the number of deaths, and what percentage of these are occurring in the unvaccinated.

On Dec. 21, AdventHealth Hendersonville had 11 people hospitalized with COVID, and more than 80% were not vaccinated, spokesperson Victoria Dunkle said.

The number of patients on ventilators there recently increased to eight.

"While it is too soon to tell how severe an omicron surge could be, we do know we typically see a spike in cases following any holiday," Dunkle said in an email. "In the previous waves of the pandemic, AdventHealth Hendersonville trained and cross-trained team members and modified our facilities to meet the need for care. We are once again taking steps to prepare for the likelihood of increases in hospitalizations after Christmas and New Year’s celebrations."

According to the N.C. COVID data dashboard, 1,682 people currently are hospitalized with the virus, up more than 100 since last week.

Buncombe health officials did not caution fully vaccinated people against holiday travel, but said that if they do visit friends and family in the coming weeks, they should wear a mask, get tested and follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

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

Those who aren't fully vaccinated and boosted shouldn't travel, according to the release. However, if they do, it's recommended they follow a strict quarantine regimen shortly after.

"If you do travel and are not fully vaccinated and boosted, in addition to testing, stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel, even if you test negative," the release said.

"If you have not started your vaccine series, now is the time. If you are eligible for your booster, now is the time,” Saunders said.

With vaccines testing become a more prominent infection-prevention measure than ever, Buncombe officials are urging people to find local providers.

WNC residents in Buncombe can find testing sites at the Find My Testing Site NC portal.

They can find vaccine sites at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines.

Related: Opinion: Thinking about whether or not to vaccinate the kids?

Buncombe's latest COVID updated came just a day after Gov. Roy Cooper in a public appearance restated much the same advice as local and federal officials: get booster shots, wear a mask and get tested.

“With holiday gatherings, COVID cases beginning to rise and a new highly contagious variant on the way, it’s important everyone takes steps to protect themselves and their families,” Cooper said. “With every vaccine dose, we get closer to turning the tide of sickness and death brought on by this pandemic.”

President Joe Biden also spoke publicly on Dec. 21 on the omicron surge, encouraging similar prevention measures, and announcing he would direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency to set up new vaccination sites across the country.

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: COVID cases up 50% in a week, unvaccinated shouldn't travel