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Stanly County reported 24 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, down from the 99 new cases on Monday and the slowest daily increase of January, according to data from the county health department.

The numbers spiked up to 59 new cases on Thursday.

The health department also reported 20 hospitalizations on Thursday due to the coronavirus. That’s the lowest total since Dec. 22, when only 12 people were hospitalized. It’s also a 40 percent decrease from this time last week, when 38 people were hospitalized.

With three additional deaths reported on Thursday, there are now 113 deaths in the county related to the coronavirus.

At least 5,867 people in Stanly County have tested positive for the coronavirus since March, according to the county health department.

Stanly’s rolling seven-day average positivity rate is at 11.6 percent, down from almost 15 percent last week, per the state Health and Human Services Department, which is below the state’s current overall average of 13.3 percent.

Below is a breakdown of the number of cases and deaths by the other municipalities according to DHHS data:

• Albemarle (28001): 2,517 cases and 70 deaths;
• New London (28127): 916 cases and seven deaths;
• Norwood (28128): 616 cases and six deaths;
• Locust (28097): 576 cases and one death;
• Oakboro (28129): 452 cases and four deaths;
• Stanfield (28163): 403 cases and two deaths;
• Richfield (28137): 263 cases and one death;
• Badin (28009): No information for the town.

For people wanting to get tested, OptumServe, which is contracted by the state, is testing people at the Stanly County Senior Center in Albemarle. Appointments for the senior center location are available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 877-562-4850. To schedule an appointment at the OptumServe drive-in testing site in Locust, call 877-562-4851.

Statewide, there have been roughly 8.6 million tests conducted resulting in at least 739,500 cases. A total of at 3,238 people were reported hospitalized Wednesday, and 9,046 people have died.

Though it’s since gone up, on Tuesday, the state reported 3,978 new cases, the lowest daily increase so far this month.

Vaccination appointments being rescheduled 

The Stanly County Health Department is rescheduling first dose vaccination appointments this week after receiving no new vaccine doses from the state. Instead, most of the state’s doses are going to mass vaccination events, like the one that occurred last week at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Stanly County Health Director David Jenkins said if people have an appointment scheduled beginning Wednesday with the health department for their first dose, they will be contacted and their appointment will be rescheduled. People receiving their second dose, which is shipped separately from the first doses, should not be impacted.

“We thank you for your understanding and ask for your patience as we continue to work to meet the needs for our community during this pandemic,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins said that by Friday evening, the county should hear from the state regarding the standard allocation of vaccine doses it will receive for the next three weeks. Stanly could possibly receive additional vaccines if it can find ways to target marginalized communities.

“It’s not ideal, the number that we’re going to be getting, but at least it allows us to plan effectively because we have some certainty,” said County Manager Andy Lucas. “That’s been the real challenge over the last month is we’ve just had no certainty from week to week how much we were going to get.”

“The biggest problem we face right now is that we have millions of people who need it (vaccines) but only thousands of shots,” Gov. Roy Cooper said during a Wednesday afternoon news conference.

As of Tuesday, the health department has administered more than 2,800 vaccinations.

Around 70 percent of the almost 1.2 million doses sent to the state have been administered, according to DHHS data.

About the second vaccine dose

Since Stanly County administers the Moderna vaccine, people should get their second dose four weeks after receiving the first dose.

While the majority of people in Stanly have only received the first dose (240 people have been administered the second shot per DHHS data), both doses of the vaccine are needed to be fully protected from the virus.

“While there is some protection that starts a week after the first dose, the second dose is needed to make sure you get the most protection against COVID-19. Getting the second dose makes your immune system stronger if you are later exposed to COVID-19,” said Atrium Health infectious disease physician Dr. Anupama Neelakanta during a Zoom call with reporters.

Though people might suffer worse side effects after the second dose, that’s natural and it should go away after 48 to 72 hours.

“While not everyone has side effects after getting the vaccine, many will. This can be a sign that your immune system is working to protect you. You will probably feel more side effects after the second dose, compared to the first dose. This is especially in people who are between the ages of 25 to 55,” Neelakanta said. “When planning for your second dose, try to get it on an easy day.”