Health Officials Caution Lake Norman Towns During COVID Uptick

CORNELIUS, NC — A trio of Lake Norman towns met Monday morning and heard an update from Mecklenburg County Health Director Gibbie Harris prior to discussing town business.

Harris cautioned that as we approach more holidays, COVID cases have ticked back up to eight percent in Mecklenburg County. She put that into perspective following Thanksgiving, a time when many people gathered in groups indoors.

"We are not terribly surprised to see the increases, we are not seeing huge spikes like we were before," said Harris. "It's just a slow upward trend."

Harris explained that people need to use common sense health precautions including washing hands frequently, getting tested for COVID if you experience symptoms and wearing a mask indoors. There is still an indoor mask mandate in Mecklenburg County which is not set to expire until the percent positivity rate falls below five percent for a week.

"According to the CDC determination, we are still in the red," she explained. "That's significant to high transmission in the community, so the bottom line is people need to be vigilant."

Harris encouraged initial vaccinations as well as booster shots for those who are eligible.

"We are seeing very slow increases in the number of first doses," said Harris.

She also noted that during cold weather viruses like to spread including COVID and the flu. People are more likely to be indoors and do things like touch their noses if their nose runs.

She advises a flu shot in addition to a COVID vaccine.