Orange County had just nine new COVID-19 cases over the last seven days and has not seen any new COVID-related deaths since April 5, however, public health measures are still in place.
Orange County Health officials say community members should continue to abide by mitigation strategies, especially as variants of the virus emerge.
More than 60 percent of Orange County residents are fully vaccinated and COVID case numbers are trending downward. Orange County Health director Quintana Stewart said those numbers are a good sign that vaccines are working.
Even with these encouraging trends, however, Stewart said there is more the county wants to do. That’s why the health department established the Orange County Mobile Vaccine Team.
The Orange County Mobile Vaccine Team poses by one of the vans used to help homebound community members receive a COVID-19 vaccination. (Photo via Orange County Health Department)
“We go out and we give vaccinations to those that are not physically able to come to one of the vaccination clinic sites,” Stewart said.
The mobile vaccine team gives COVID vaccines free of charge to those in need, such as home-bound people or those on supplemental oxygen. So far, they have administered about 900 shots throughout the county.
Stewart said the team is a collaboration of community volunteers, paramedics and nurses at health department.
“We are really trying to make this accessible to any and everyone that would like to receive a vaccine,” Stewart said.
Stewart said the success of the mobile vaccination initiative is another example of the Orange County community listening to public health officials.
“It’s the community members. They have followed our lead and our advice, and they have really taken ownership of this and really operated in a way that shows we care,” Stewart said. “That’s the only way we will really get to the end of this pandemic, if we continue to operate in that vein.”
Getting to the end, however, is becoming increasingly difficult with the emergence of the more contagious Delta variant. The mutation of the original virus is now responsible for more than 20 percent of new COVID infections in the U.S.
Stewart said the variant is “an eye opener” and should serve as a reminder that the pandemic is not over.
“I think folks should just remember those mitigation strategies that have worked,” Stewart said. “I would just say if you know you’re going to be indoors, maybe it’s not such a bad idea to continue to wear that mask. Especially if you’re around people and you don’t know what their vaccination status is.”
While the Delta variant is concerning, Stewart said the best prevention measure is to get vaccinated.
For more information on getting vaccinated in Orange County, click here.
Call 919-245-6127 to sign up to be referred to the Orange County Mobile Vaccine Team.
Featured Photo via Orange County Health Department
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Anti-science nonsense regarding “maybe it’s not such a bad idea to continue to wear that mask.”
We’re ordered to “follow the science” and yet we continue to have local “leaders” invent their own science. This is why we believe none of you – you simply want to exert control over individuals. Get out of our lives.