The Orange County government announced Monday it extended its local state of emergency declaration regarding COVID-19 to an indefinite period.

The local government’s order, which saw the extension enacted on Friday at 5 p.m., has been in place since March of 2020, aiding the county’s response to the coronavirus pandemic by employing increased public health measures and allowing government officials to meet virtually. In a release about the indefinite extension, the county government cited increasing hospitalizations and percentage of positive coronavirus tests as reasons to continue the emergency order.

Orange County reported a 0.4 percent positive rate of COVID-19 tests in early June, but experienced upticks in the rate through July as the delta variant of the coronavirus increased its spread. According to the local government, the percent positive rate reached 1.3 percent the week of July 4-10 and then increased to 2.9 percent the week of July 11-17. Monday’s release said most of these new positive COVID-19 cases are among unvaccinated individuals and can be attributed to the delta variant.

Increases in new positive cases, as well as coronavirus-related hospitalizations, are also being recorded across North Carolina. It comes as Governor Roy Cooper’s executive order including face mask requirements in certain settings, like public transportation, health care settings and school buildings, is set to expire on July 30. Last week, Cooper and state health officials announced new guidelines for public schools to follow for the new academic year, but the guidance largely gives responsibility of mask requirements to individual school districts and local governments.

Despite North Carolina’s executive order expiring past July, Orange County’s extended state of emergency adopts the guidelines listed in that executive order. The amendment says the county’s Board of Commissioners and Health Department Director Quintana Stewart determined “it is in the best interest of the residents of orange County to leave in place the declaration of emergency and to continue to follow the terms of Governor Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 220.”

Current guidance from state officials and the federal Centers for Disease Control says those vaccinated against COVID-19 are at less of a risk when not wearing masks to prevent the spread of the virus. Cooper’s Executive Order 220 also states this, saying “fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing face coverings or physically distancing.” Currently, North Carolina reports 46 percent of its population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, ranking in the bottom half of the United States. Orange County leads the state in vaccination rate, recently tallying 64 percent of its population being fully inoculated.

In June, Orange County closed its Emergency Operations Center established in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The group of local government officials ended regular meetings coordinating responses to prevent the spread of the coronavirus after 530 active days.

To read the full amendment to the Orange County State of Emergency, visit the county government’s website.

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