Cabarrus County wants all residents, visitors to wear masks indoors and in crowds

CONCORD, N.C. — The Cabarrus Health Alliance (CHA) has issued a Public Health Advisory to all residents and visitors -- regardless of vaccination status -- to wear masks indoors (not in your own home) or in crowded outdoor areas where social distancing is not possible.

Health officials say the delta variant is more than two times as transmissible as the original strains of COVID-19 and is causing large, rapid increases in infections.

Cabarrus County has seen a 200% increase of new COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks, and is averaging 800 news cases per week, according to the CHA. The percent of positivity has jumped dramatically from 2.4% to 14.2% in two months.

“Our community and our health care system cannot sustain the rapid rise in cases,” said Dr. Bonnie Coyle, CHA Public Health Director. “Vaccines are still the best protection against COVID-19 but masks also play a part in controlling the spread, along with washing our hands, social distancing and proper cleaning of public spaces. But to truly see case counts and hospitalizations decrease, we need the support of our community and partners to individually or institutionally implement these masking recommendations.”

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, while the original virus spread from one person to an average of two or three people, the delta variant is spreading from one person to an average of six people.

“We had a reprieve this summer,” Coyle said. “We looked like we were getting on the other side of this pandemic, getting things under control. Some people may still think that’s where we are. We’re trying to get the word out -- no this has surged again.”

Since June 2021, the Atrium Health region has experienced an 800% increase in hospitalizations, placing Atrium Health Cabarrus in a similar situation to many hospitals in the region, where available bed space is extremely limited. As of this week, 30% of current Atrium Health admissions are for COVID-related illness, according to the CHA.

Coyle is asking for people to comply voluntarily. Health officials and local leaders are discussing the possibility of a mandate.

Cabarrus Health Alliance and Atrium Health leadership said they anticipate an even more drastic spike in two weeks due to “relaxed efforts to prevent the spread (masking, social distancing) of a more infectious variant, combined with children returning to school and gatherings associated with upcoming Labor Day holiday and major sporting events.”

To ensure masks are as protective as possible, NCDHHS recommends that you:

• Make sure your mask fits snugly against your face and covers your nose and mouth. To help with a snug fit, you can use a mask with a metal strip along the top of the mask.
• Use two or more layers for your face covering. You can do this by wearing a cloth face covering with two or more layers or by wearing one disposable mask (sometimes referred to as a surgical mask or a medical procedure mask) underneath a cloth mask.
• Do not wear two disposable masks.
• Make sure you can see and breathe easily.

NCDHHS says to prevent getting or spreading COVID-19:

• Get the vaccine. This is the most effective protection against COVID-19.
• Wear a face covering when indoors or in places where social distancing is not possible.
• Wash your hands.
• Cover your cough or sneeze.
• Avoid close contact with individuals who are or maybe sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Get tested if you are a close contact and are experiencing symptoms.
• Avoid touching your nose, eyes and mouth.
• Clear and disinfect commonly touched spaces.

Mother Desiree Caple and daughter Grace Caple said they support a mask mandate but are worried people won’t comply.

“I want to protect others, and I feel like others should want to protect others too,” Desiree Caple said.

“It depends on who cares about other people,” Grace Caple said.

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