Residents are encouraged to practice safety precautions over the Thanksgiving holiday with COVID-19 continuing to impact the community. Some of these measures include getting a vaccine and updated booster, self-testing for COVID-19 as a precaution, especially if plans include being around elderly or more vulnerable individuals, and practicing good hand washing and hygiene.
The New Hanover County Pandemic Operations Center (located at 1507 Greenfield Street) continues to provide COVID-19 initial vaccinations and bivalent boosters to the community, and – beginning December 1 – those will be offered solely on a walk-in basis without the need for any appointment.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ website TakeMyShot.NC.gov, which the county used for vaccine appointments, will no longer be operational after December 1; and based on the county’s current operations and the availability of vaccines and boosters, appointments are no longer needed.
“While the state-run appointment website has been a great tool for making appointments for COVID-19 vaccines and boosters, a lot has changed in the last two years,” said Pandemic Operations manager Jon Campbell. “When vaccines first became available, there was a limited supply, and a lot of people were trying to get vaccinated at specified locations, so making an appointment was very important. Now, vaccines and boosters are much more accessible and available at a variety of locations. We are very fortunate in New Hanover County to have the Pandemic Operations Center that has a dedicated team offering vaccines and boosters to anyone in need.”
Vaccines, Boosters, and Testing
Initial vaccines and boosters are available at the Pandemic Operations Center throughout the week. Appointments can still be made through TakeMyShot.NC.gov from now through December 1, but are not required. Vaccines and boosters will be available during the following days and times:
- Mondays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Tuesdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Wednesday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Thursdays from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
- Fridays from 9 am-5 p.m.
Members of the community are also encouraged to pick up free at-home tests and masks during operating hours at 1507 Greenfield Street in Wilmington.
For more information on the Pandemic Operations Center, vaccines, boosters, or testing, visit Health.NHCGov.com/Coronavirus or call the Pandemic Operations Call Center at 910-798-6800.
Low COVID-19 Community Level
Following its weekly review of county-specific data, the CDC has kept New Hanover County at a low COVID-19 community level. Recommended precautions for this level include being fully vaccinated and boosted, and testing for COVID if you develop symptoms. Mask usage at this community level is optional. The CDC plans to update community levels weekly, so residents can check the CDC website here to know the current community impact level.
COVID-19 Community Data, as of November 18:
- New Hanover County’s percent positivity over the past 7 days is 4.8 percent (this represents positive Molecular (PCR) tests as a percent of total PCR tests performed countywide).
- Approximately 64.4 percent of New Hanover County residents have completed the initial COVID-19 vaccine series.
- Since March 1, 2020, there have been 60,973 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Hanover County, resulting in 447 deaths.
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