COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a disease caused by a virus named SARS-CoV-2 and was discovered in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. It is very contagious and has quickly spread around the world. COVID-19 is caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. It is part of the coronavirus family, which include common viruses that cause a variety of diseases from head or chest colds to more severe (but more rare) diseases like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).Like many other respiratory viruses, coronaviruses spread quickly through droplets that you project out of your mouth or nose when you breathe, cough, sneeze, or speak. (Source: CDC)
Questions? Call the Public Health Call Line: 910.253.2339 (open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding county-observed holidays) or email coronavirus@brunswickcountync.gov
COVID-19 Vaccines
All community members aged 6 months or older are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines
NEW: Children 6 months of age and older are now eligible for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine. Health Services requires written permission from a parent/legal guardian to administer vaccines to those 6 months-15 years of age and to administer booster vaccines to those aged 5-17. If someone else brings your child to their appointment, complete a consent form to send with them. Click here to download consent form.
Español: Las personas de 6 meses a 17 años son elegibles para la vacuna Pfizer y Moderna. Los Servicios de Salud requieren el permiso por escrito de un padre/tutor legal para administrar vacunas a los que tienen entre 6 meses y 15 años de edad y para administrar vacunas de refuerzo a los que tienen entre 5 y 17 años. Si alguien más trae a su hijo a su cita, complete un formulario de consentimiento para enviarlo. Descargue un formulario de permiso aquí.
Para programar la cita de su hijo/a, llame al 910-253-2339 oprograme en línea aquí.
Where to find your Free N95 masks in Brunswick County
Here are spots in Brunswick County where you may find federally provided N95 masks, as supplies last. These supplies will not include child-sized masks at this time.
Contact the site or pharmacy first for pick up instructions and to inquire about mask availability:
- BSRI Senior Centers
- Retail pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS Pharmacy and select grocery stores (see a full list of pharmacies participating in the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program)
- Municipal town halls
Brunswick County Health and Human Services dispersed its full allocation of N95 masks to several of our municipal and senior center partners to improve access countywide.
N95 masks are not available through Brunswick County Health Services, including clinics, as our focus remains on vaccination efforts.
Supplies are limited and dependent upon the numbers the federal government sends counties, pharmacies, or stores. The County is not aware of additional masks shipments coming from the federal government at this time.
Learn more about N95 and other types of masks here.
COVID-19 North Carolina Dashboard (NCDHHS)
Follow the buttons below for the most up-to-date COVID-19 data for our county and state on the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 Dashboard.
Note: Beginning Monday, Feb. 28, 2022, Brunswick County will discontinue updates to the case count table. Current and historical case count data and other metrics related to COVID-19 for Brunswick County and North Carolina are available on the NCDHHS COVID-19 North Carolina Dashboard.
Follow the links above for the latest data from the NCDHHS or visit covid19.ncdhhs.gov/dashboard.
Quick Links to COVID-19 Information
Guidance
Guidance for the Public and Providers
Click a section below for guidance and links to more information for the public and providers related to COVID-19 mitigation and protection.
Public Guidance
Preventing the Spread of Germs
Know how it spreads
- The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
- Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
- These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
- Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.
Everyone Should
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick, even inside your home. If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members.
- Put distance between yourself and other people outside of your home.
- Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread virus.
- Stay at least 6 feet (about 2 arms’ length) from other people.
- Keeping distance from others is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others
- You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.
- Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in public, for example to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities.
- Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.
- The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.
- Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.
- Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social distancing.
Cover coughs and sneezes
- If you are around others and do not have on your cloth face covering, remember to always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit.
- Throw used tissues in the trash.
- Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Clean and disinfect
- Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
- If surfaces are dirty, clean them. Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
- Then, use a household disinfectant. Most common EPA-registered household disinfectantsexternal icon will work.
Monitor Your Health
- Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19.
- Especially important if you are running essential errands, going into the office or workplace, and in settings where it may be difficult to keep a physical distance of 6 feet.
- Take your temperature if symptoms develop.
- Don’t take your temperature within 30 minutes of exercising or after taking medications that could lower your temperature, like acetaminophen.
- Follow CDC guidance if symptoms develop.
People at High Risk
COVID-19 is a new disease and there is limited information regarding risk factors for severe disease. Based on currently available information and clinical expertise, older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Based on what we know now, those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 are:
- People 65 years and older
- People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, including:
- People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
- People who have serious heart conditions
- People who are immunocompromised
- Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications
- People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher)
- People with diabetes
- People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis
- People with liver disease
Source: CDC
Provider Guidance
This is a rapidly evolving situation, and the most recent guidance from NC DHHS is linked below.
Provider Guidance
- NC DHHS Memo to North Carolina Health Care Providers
- State Health Director Temporary Order Requiring the Reporting of Novel Coronavirus
- Interim Guidance for Personal Protective Equipment
Guidance for Health Care Settings
- Interim Healthcare Facility Preparedness Checklist
- Healthcare Personnel and Visitor Monitoring Log
- NC Interim Guidance for Long Term Care Settings
