With COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations back on the rise in North Carolina, Orange County officials have extended the county’s indoor mask mandate through the end of 2021.

“The [Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough] mayors and I, in consultation with our health director, concur that requiring masks indoors in public spaces is our best course of action for the safety and well-being of the public at large,” said Renee Price, Chair of the Orange County Board of Commissioners, in a statement released on Tuesday. “The recent increase in cases makes it prudent to keep the indoor mask mandate in place a little while longer. We are still experiencing substantial community transmission, according to the CDC.”

Orange County reinstated its mask mandate in early August after the delta variant produced a spike in COVID cases. Case numbers and hospitalizations had been steadily dropping since early September, but those numbers have begun to rise again after flatlining for the last two weeks. State health officials say there were 1,112 North Carolinians in the hospital with the virus on Tuesday, the most since November 8.

Locally, Orange County health officials say there has been a 30 percent increase in COVID-19 cases in the last seven days.

Local leaders say they are concerned not just about the current uptick, but also about the possibility of greater transmission as friends and family gather for Thanksgiving and beyond.

“As we head into the holidays, it’s best for everyone to play it safe and continue with indoor masking,” said Carrboro Mayor Lydia Lavelle in the county’s statement.

Hillsborough Mayor Jenn Weaver agreed, saying, “I know we all look forward to a day when indoor masking isn’t necessary. But with an uptick in cases, 5- to 11-year-olds only recently eligible for vaccines and heading into the holidays when more people gather with family, this small act of courtesy can save someone’s life.”

Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger added that she’s also concerned about keeping hospitals from getting overwhelmed.

“Our hospital systems are currently facing staffing shortages and, as a result, rises in COVID cases can mean a shift back into crisis mode and a longer wait for routine healthcare services,” she said. “This would not be a good outcome for our community.”

The mask mandate applies to anyone 2 years of age or older – vaccinated or not – with the exception of individuals “with a diagnosed medical or behavioral condition or disability, including difficulty breathing.”

County officials say they will reevaluate the mandate in mid-January.

And in addition to the mask mandate, health experts are also continuing to urge residents to get vaccinated – and get booster shots if they’re eligible. Nearly three-quarters of Orange County residents are vaccinated, but county officials say unvaccinated residents still account for the majority of new cases – and the vast majority of hospitalizations.

If you need to get vaccinated, or receive a booster shot, visit MySpot.NC.gov to find a provider near you and to schedule an appointment.

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