As people gather for Thanksgiving, the CDC recommends taking precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19, such as wearing a mask indoors in public settings and especially during travel on public transportation, avoiding crowded and poorly ventilated spaces, and celebrating outdoors if possible.
Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 should stay home and not attend any Thanksgiving activities or other public events, and should seek testing immediately. Testing is also recommended for anyone who has been a close contact to someone with COVID-19 (5-7 days after their last exposure, or 3-5 days after exposure for people who are fully vaccinated). Testing for COVID-19 is available in Transylvania County at private healthcare providers, CVS, Mercy Urgent Care, Pardee Urgent Care, and Walgreens. At-home test kits are also available for purchase at local stores and for free by request at https://www.pixel.labcorp.com/nc. Additional testing locations in nearby counties can be found at: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing. (Please note that Transylvania Public Health does NOT offer COVID-19 testing for the general public.)
COVID-19 VACCINES
The FDA has authorized and the CDC has recommended boosters of the COVID-19 vaccine for all adults 18 and older to help strengthen and extend protections against COVID-19. People who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine can receive a booster 2 months after their single dose, and those who received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine can receive a booster shot 6 months after their second dose. The CDC recommends that anyone over age 50 or at high risk get a booster dose now. People may choose any available brand for their booster dose; some may prefer another dose of the vaccine type they originally received while others may prefer to get a different type for their booster. Limited preliminary evidence suggests that booster doses of the mRNA vaccines (Moderna or Pfizer) raise antibody levels more effectively than a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Due to increased demand for COVID-19 vaccinations, Transylvania Public Health is now offering all COVID-19 vaccines BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Appointments can be made online using the link below or by calling 828-884-4007. All COVID-19 vaccinations are available, including single doses of Johnson & Johnson for ages 18 and older, first and second doses of Pfizer for ages 12 and older and for ages 5-11, first and second doses of Moderna for ages 18 and older, additional doses of Pfizer and Moderna for immunocompromised individuals, and booster doses for anyone ages 18 or older who received a Johnson & Johnson vaccine at least 2 months ago or both doses of Pfizer or Moderna at least 6 months ago. For second, additional, or booster doses, people should bring the vaccination card(s) given when they received previous dose(s). For more information, please call 884-4007 or click here for our COVID-19 vaccination information page.
Schedule COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment
COVID-19 vaccines are also available in Transylvania County from Blue Ridge Health Center-Brevard Health Center, Gordon’s Family Pharmacy, Ingles Pharmacy, Walgreen’s, Wal-Mart Pharmacy, and some private providers. Specific availability of each vaccine may vary; contact each vaccine provider for more information about which vaccines they are currently offering.
Transylvania Public Health may also be able to provide on-site vaccinations by request for groups at worksites, churches, community centers, and neighborhoods. To request a vaccination event, click here or call 884-4007.
OTHER COVID-19 GUIDANCE
Transylvania County is currently experiencing substantial (orange) levels of community transmission, with about 70 new cases per 100,000 people. To help slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect our communities, public health officials continue to recommend that everyone wear a mask in indoor public spaces in areas of high or substantial levels of transmission as defined by the CDC’s Community Transmission Map. This map currently shows 73% of counties nationwide experiencing high (red) levels of community transmission, 14% with substantial (orange) levels, 11% with moderate (yellow) levels, and 3% with low (blue) levels. In North Carolina, it shows 64 counties with high (red) levels of transmission, 30 counties with substantial (orange) levels, 5 counties with moderate (yellow) levels, and 1 county with low (blue) levels.
Testing is recommended for anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 and anyone who has been a close contact to someone with COVID-19 (5-7 days after their last exposure). Testing for COVID-19 is available in Transylvania County at private healthcare providers, CVS, Mercy Urgent Care, Pardee Urgent Care, and Walgreens. At-home test kits are also available for purchase at local stores and for free by request at https://www.pixel.labcorp.com/nc. Additional testing locations in nearby counties can be found at: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing (Please note that Transylvania Public Health does NOT offer COVID-19 testing for the general public.)
People who are not fully vaccinated should receive a vaccination as soon as possible, wear a face covering in all indoor public settings, wait 6 feet apart in all public settings, wash hands often, not gather with unvaccinated people who live in other households, not travel (or get tested 1-3 days before and 3-5 days after travel and quarantine for 7 days after travel), quarantine and get tested 5-7 days after exposure after close contact to someone with COVID-19, get tested if they have any symptoms of COVID-19, and participate in any routine screening testing offered.
People who are fully vaccinated should wear a mask in indoor public spaces if they live in an area of high or substantial transmission. They should also wear a face covering in all K-12 schools, child care, and other indoor settings with a large number of children or child-focused activities, as will as in public transportation and health care settings and other crowded indoor venues. Fully vaccinated people should get tested if they have any symptoms of COVID-19 3-5 days after an exposure to someone with COVID-19 (they should wear a mask around others until they receive negative test results). CDC guidance recommends that people who are fully vaccinated might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of community transmission, especially if they or someone in their household is immune compromised or at increased risk of severe illness, or if someone in their household is not vaccinated.
Businesses should require employees to report vaccination status and require employees who are not fully vaccinated to wear a face covering indoors, maintain 6 feet of distance from others, and participate in routine screening testing for COVID-19, especially in high-risk settings like long-term care facilities. Businesses in areas of high or substantial transmission should encourage fully vaccinated employees to wear a face covering indoors when within 6 feet of other people and should post signage that all employees and visitors should wear a face covering. Businesses should also remind all employees and visitors to self-monitor and get tested if they have symptoms of COVID-19.
People with questions about COVID-19 symptoms, testing, guidance, or vaccines can call 884-4007 during the health department’s normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm).
COVID-19 Daily Data
(Updated 11/24/21 at 11:15 am) (Demographic data for COVID-19 deaths will be updated weekly, as needed. Last updated 11/24/21 at 11:15 am) For more information about cases in North Carolina, visit the NC DHHS COVID-19 Case Count website. For more information about...
read moreSUMMER AT THE TOWN POOL WITH FRIENDS ON A HOT SUMMER DAY.
A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY LUNCH FOR ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE CO-WORKERS.
MATCHING TATTOOS WITH YOUR COUSINS, JUST LIKE YOU ALWAYS SAID YOU WOULD.
You might not know it, but memories like these are made possible by Transylvania Public Health. We inspect places like public and private pools, restaurants, hotels and even tattoo parlors to help keep them clean and safe for everyone in Transylvania County to use.
We also keep Transylvania County safe by offering immunizations, screening for health concerns, encouraging good nutrition, and more. Good public health is the backbone of a thriving, healthy community. Transylvania Public Health is already doing a lot to keep you healthy. Get to know us – there’s a lot more we can do for you.
HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday – Thursday
8:30am-12:00pm & 1:00pm-5:00pm
Friday
8:30am-5:00pm (last appt at 4:30pm)
828.884.3135
PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY.
Transylvania County is known for its natural beauty, making it a popular tourist destination and more importantly, a place for families to grow and thrive. We’d venture to say that without clean water, a healthy population, and a well-immunized community, this wouldn’t be so.
Transylvania Public Health is committed to keeping our county beautiful and its people healthy. We’re a quiet but steady partner in economic development, an outspoken player in community health and promotion, and a valued member of any health crisis or disaster preparedness team.
TRANSYLVANIA PUBLIC HEALTH.
WE’RE HERE FOR EVERYONE.
EVERYWHERE. EVERYDAY.
MY HEALTH
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
