Use of Monoclonal Antibody Therapy for COVID-19 Up 18-Fold in NC

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— North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Press Release

As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge across North Carolina, the use of monoclonal antibodies for treatment of COVID-19 increased by 18-fold since late June from 100 administrations for the week of June 23 to 1,874 for the week of Aug. 11. Statewide, there are more than 130 sites offering monoclonal antibodies to treat COVID-19 as this treatment can decrease the likelihood of hospitalization related to COVID-19.

Monoclonal antibody therapy is not a substitute for vaccination against COVID-19. However, it can reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms and decrease the likelihood of hospitalization, especially in high-risk patients. If you test positive for COVID-19, monoclonal antibody therapy must be administered within 10 days of your first COVID-19 symptoms, so it is crucial to get tested early.

Anyone who has symptoms of or been exposed to COVID-19 should get tested as soon as possible. Testing is widely available across the state. To find a testing site in your community, go to ncdhhs.gov/GetTested. People who are not experiencing serious symptoms should not go to the emergency department for routine COVID-19 testing. People should seek medical attention immediately for serious symptoms such as trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, or bluish lips or face.

Vaccines are the best protection from COVID-19 related hospitalization and death, as well as complications from the virus and the vast majority of people in the hospital or dying with COVID-19 are unvaccinated. Research has shown even people who had a mild case of COVID-19 may struggle with long-term effects like shortness of breath, chest pain and brain fog.

Talk to your health care provider to see if monoclonal antibody therapy is an option, find a treatment center near you or call the Federal Monoclonal Antibody Call Center for assistance at 1-877-332-6585 (English) or 1-877-366-0310 (Spanish). Some people may qualify for preventative treatment before showing symptoms. More information, including answers to frequently asked questions, are available on NCDHHS’ COVID-19 website.

The federal government is providing monoclonal antibody therapy at no cost to patients. However, health care providers may charge an administration fee for treatment. Medicare and many commercial insurance companies are covering all costs for patients. Check with your health plan to learn more about treatment costs.

Monoclonal antibodies are proteins made in a laboratory to fight infections, in this case, the virus that causes COVID-19, and are given to patients directly with an IV infusion or a shot. Some early evidence suggests this treatment can reduce the amount of the virus, or viral load, that causes COVID-19 in a person’s body. Having a lower viral load may reduce the severity of symptoms and decrease the likelihood of hospitalization.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued an Emergency Use Authorization to allow the use of monoclonal antibody therapies for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in certain high-risk patients. Additionally, the FDA authorized this treatment for use in some patients who are exposed to COVID-19 even if they do not have symptoms. People who are not fully vaccinated or who have immunocompromising conditions, including those taking immunosuppressive medications, and have either been exposed to COVID-19 or are at high risk of exposure due to where they live or work may qualify for preventative treatment.

Vaccination is the best protection against serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. All unvaccinated North Carolinians age 12 and older should get a COVID-19 vaccine now to protect themselves, their community and those who cannot be vaccinated. Rigorous clinical trials among thousands of people ages 12 and older have proven vaccines are safe and effective. Almost 200 million Americans have been safely vaccinated.

In addition to getting vaccinated, to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect our communities, NCDHHS recommends that everyone wear a mask in indoor public spaces if you live in area of high or substantial levels of transmission as defined by the CDC until more people are vaccinated and viral transmission decreases. In North Carolina, that is now all 100 counties.

Free COVID-19 vaccines are widely available across the state to anyone 12 and older. To get a vaccine near you, visit MySpot.nc.gov or call 888-675-4567. You can also text your zip code to 438829 to find vaccine locations near you.

 

Henderson City Council Adopted FY 21-22 Budget with No Budget Sessions or Public Discussion

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— This story is in audio form only. Click Play.

The Local Skinny! Home and Garden Show 8-18-21

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Thank you for listening to WIZS Radio!  Your Community Voice!!

You’ll hear the latest from the Vance County Regional Farmers Market, including Twilight Markets ahead, plus the latest tips for lawn and gardening for this time of year.

 

The Local Skinny: Jobs In Vance

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The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for August 17, 2021. The Chamber compiles the information, and it is presented here and on the radio. Contact the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at 438-8414 or email christa@hendersonvance.org to be included.

JOB OPENINGS IN VANCE COUNTY – Week of August 17, 2021

 

Name of the Company: Versatrim

Jobs Available:  Looking to hire people for: Shipping Dept., Molding Dept. Quality Control, Operator Assistant, Slitting Dept., Surface Inventory and Printing Dept.

Method of Contact:  Contact Human Resources dept at 1-866-200-8132 or NC Works Center @ 857 Beckford Drive in Henderson 252-438-6129.

 

Name of the Company:  Pinnell Insurance, A Division of Watkins Insurance Agency

Jobs Available: Administrative Assistant – If you are interested please send in a 3 minute or less video of yourself answering these questions: What has been your life’s greatest achievement? What frustrated you the most about your last position or job? What most attracted you to respond to our ad?

Method of Contact:  Please send all video’s to info@watkinsinsurance.com and be sure to include your name and phone number

 

**** Ker- Tar Community Job Fair Saturday August 21st from 9:am til noon located at Hix Field 313 E. Spring St. in Oxford, NC. 20 Employers & Community Resources will be available. For more information contact NC Works 919-693-2686 or email VGCC at flecherl@vgcc.edu

 

Name of the Company:  Penn Pallet

Jobs Available:  looking for a hardworking reliable 1st shift employee Monday – Friday 7:00am – 3:00pm. Great starting rate at $14.00 an hour with weekly production incentives. Other benefits include paid holidays, earned vacation and individual/ family insurance. Experience in wood industry helpful but not needed. Forklift experience also helpful.

Method of Contact:  Apply online at pennpallet.com or email Melony.francisco@pennpallet.com

 

Name of the Company:  Chick-fil-a

Jobs Available: Daytime cashiers and drive thru team members. Must be at least 16 years old, have valid driver’s license, basic computer skills and available to work 6am to 4pm Monday – Saturday.

Method of Contact:  To apply text frontofhouse to 252-359-3232 or apply online at cfaresturant.com

 

Name of the Company:  Vance County

Jobs Available: Economic Development Director – Qualifications are Bachelor’s Degree, Certified Economic Developer or working toward credential, excellent written communication, public speaking and presentation skills, also proficient in Microsoft Office, general business technologies and analytical tools.

Method of Contact: Go to the Vance County website for more details and to apply online

 

Some of these businesses are present or past advertisers of WIZS.  Being an ad client is not a condition of being listed or broadcast.  This is not a paid ad.

 

The Local Skinny: Five County Job Fair Coming To Oxford Saturday

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The next Kerr-Tar Community Job Fair is here, this Saturday, August 21.  Twenty or more employers and other community resource providers will gather from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. at Hix Field in Oxford.

As Desiree Brooks, business service manager for the Workforce Development Board of the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments explains, as of now over 20 employers from all five counties of Kerr-Tar will be present.

“We were trying to target a Saturday this go around just to kind of give others the opportunity to come out if that’s their desire.  We are hoping that it will be convenient for all.  We are really anticipating a great turn out,” Brooks said.

The last job fair held in June in Henderson for Vance, Granville, Warren, Franklin and Person Counties was a huge success Brooks said.  Over 200 people turned out on a Friday at the Raleigh Road Outdoor Theatre.

She said, “Everyone was pleased, and we got so much positive feedback from employers.  There were hires there and people filling out applications.  So, it will be the same thing at this event, and we are hoping we will have even more people in attendance.”

The success is based on cooperation and partnerships with Vance Granville Community College, Chambers of Commerce and other governmental agencies along with the Kerr-Tar Workforce Development Board and NC Works.

When asked who would attend, Brooks said, “We’ve got ADUSA or Food Lion Distribution Center, Altec, Amcor, Bridgestone, Captive Aire, Carolina Sunrock, which they’ll have a simulator at the event too so you can actually get live experience.  We’ve got City of Creedmoor, City of Oxford, County of Granville, Granville County Health Systems, Granville County Sheriff’s Office, MGM Products, Murdock Center, Ontic, Plastic Ingenuity, Polywood, Revlon, Ricewrap, Spuntech and Versatrim.”

For more information, contact NC Works at 919-693-2686.  Email fletcherl@vgcc.edu or jody.blackwell@piedmontcc.edu.  Also visit www.vgcc.edu/career-fair and www.kerrtarworks.com.

Hix Field in Oxford is located at 313 E. Spring Street.

The Local Skinny! Barrow Seeks Grants; K9 Officer For HPD

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Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow will welcome a new officer to the department soon. It’s a Labrador retriever, trained and ready for service.

Barrow said the police department first started using K-9 units in the early ‘90s, and there were two dogs in service until last year.

“We went from two to none there pretty quick,” Barrow told John C. Rose on Thursday’s The Local Skinny! segment.

This breed of dog will be a first for the department, which previously used either Malanois or German Shepherds. The dogs have a trainer/handler and require a special vehicle to support the animal while it’s working.

When Barrow got a call from the N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement agency about the 4-year-old lab that was available, he jumped on it.

“We actually went up there and watched it work, and we liked it,” Barrow said. And he got a pretty good deal – sale price $1. There is also a K-9 vehicle at ALE that Barrow hopes will be coming his way. This expenditure will be made with money from asset forfeiture funds, used strictly for police department needs, he added.

There is money in the latest police budget for purchase of two animals, and Barrow said they’ve already purchased one pup who will be ready to begin his training soon.

The K-9 officer that just had his animal retire last year is set to leave very shortly to meet and train the dog – and himself.
Barrow said the handler will simultaneously be training the new dog while completing his own certification as a trainer.

So when Dog #3 joins next spring, he will be able to train another officer to become that dog’s K-9 handler.

In some additional police matters, Barrow said he feels confident that his department will be approved for at least one of the grants that it has applied for, and either one would be a good addition for him and his officers. One grant is for the purchase of 52 body-worn cameras for police officers and a second grant is for equipping cruisers with additional cameras.

As was shared with the City Council when he sought approval to proceed with the grant requests, the cost is less in the price of the cameras, but in the equipment needed to properly store the data the cameras generate. Some data needs to be stored for a short period – say, 90 days – and some data needs to be stored permanently.

“I have strong feelings that I’ll get one or the other, or even both” Barrow said. He said the police department has enjoyed a good relationship with grant providers in the past. “I don’t know how we could survive without them,” he said of the funding opportunities.

Barrow said the city council also approved use of asset forfeiture funds to install a gate, fencing and shrubbery around the new outdoor pavilion outside McGregor Hall.

Cost for the project is about $30,000, although Barrow said he was still waiting for a few quotes. The 15 or so public parking spaces will go away to allow for a ramp to be built off the pavilion. The ramp is needed for unloading and loading equipment when there are performances at the pavilion, he said.

The project will help protect the pavilion and will create a buffer between that area and the police department.

“I needed something that could go up and down constantly, so we’re going with a hydraulic system,” Barrow said, kind of like the gates you’d see in big city parking lots.

Home And Garden Show With Paul McKenzie

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WIZS, Your Community Voice.  Thank you for listening!

The Local Skinny! each Wednesday on WIZS is the Vance County Cooperative Extension Service Home and Garden Show.

 

The Local Skinny: Jobs In Vance

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Local Skinny Jobs in Vance

The H-V Chamber of Commerce and WIZS, Your Community Voice, present Jobs in Vance for August 10th, 2021. The Chamber compiles the information, and it is presented here and on the radio. Contact the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce at 438-8414 or email christa@hendersonvance.org to be included.

JOB OPENINGS IN VANCE COUNTY – Week of August 10, 2021

 

Name of the Company: Chick-fil-A

Jobs Available:  Daytime Cashiers/ Drive thru Team Members – Must be available to work 6:00am – 4:00pm Monday thru Saturday, be 16 years old, have a valid driver’s license and have basic computer skills

Method of Contact:  to apply text FRONTHOUSE to 252-359-3232

 

Name of the Company:   Chick-fil-A

Jobs Available: Also Hiring for all positions- necessary skills –  friendly, excellent communication, trustworthy, accurate and quick to learn

Method of Contact:   to apply text CHICKEN to 252-359-3232

 

Name of the Company: Pizza Inn of Henderson

Jobs Available:  All Positions

Contact Person:  Randy Poythress

Method of Contact: please stop by 1250 Coble Blvd. to apply

 

Name of the Company: Belk, Inc. of Henderson

Jobs Available: Hiring for full time and part time employees – Competitive pay, flexible schedules and employee discounts

Contact Person:  Chris Tilley

Method of Contact: Come by the store on 350 North Cooper Drive and apply in person

 

****JOB FAIR Saturday August 21st from 9:am til noon located at Hix Field in Oxford, NC. This job fair is Sponsored in part by NC Works. Area employers will have booths set up.

 

Some of these businesses are present or past advertisers of WIZS.  Being an ad client is not a condition of being listed or broadcast.  This is not a paid ad.

 

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

The Local Skinny: Covid Data for Vance and Granville Counties

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— Info Courtesy of Granville Vance Public Health —

Covid Local Data Update previous 7 days ending Saturday, August 7th

In the past 7 days, there have been 42 new cases in Vance County, a 16.67% increase from the week before. The percent positivity rate in Vance County is 6.03%. According to the CDC COVID Data Tracker, there is substantial community transmission in Vance County.

In the past 7 days, there have been 63 new cases in Granville County, a 6.78% increase from the week before. The percent positivity rate in Granville County is 5.64%. According to the CDC COVID Data Tracker, there is high community transmission in Granville County.

In Vance County, 50.5% of those over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine and 40.8% are fully vaccinated.

In Granville County, 58% of those over the age of 12 have received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine and 50.6% are fully vaccinated.

In North Carolina, 62% of the adult population is at least partially vaccinated and 58% of the adult population is fully vaccinated.

Kerr Tar Regional Council of Governments

Safe Routes Program Encourages Biking And Walking To School

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There may be a couple of bike racks outside some school buildings in the area, but gone are the days that students’ bicycles fill those racks during the day while children are in class. The familiar crosswalks still function, but they are more for students getting out of cars than for those who have walked from their nearby homes.

Kisha High recognizes that rural areas and small towns may face challenges when they encourage children to walk or bike to school, but the Safe Routes to School program does more than just promote those practices.

High is the Safe Route to Schools program coordinator for the Kerr-Tar COG. She spoke with WIZS News about all the ways her program can have positive impacts on schoolchildren – on or off school campuses.

“The name can be misleading,” High said. “It’s not just about school – you’re a pedestrian when you’re in the parking lot at the grocery store.” By sharing information about safety practices when people are in areas where there also are vehicles, High said the program can improve overall safety and health.

The program is funded by federal and state departments of transportation. It’s a non-infrastructure grant, so her efforts are largely aimed at outreach. Whether it’s a Back To School event or a walking competition within a particular school, she’s willing and ready to participate or help organize.

She will be at the Back to School Bash in Oxford tomorrow, for example, raising awareness about how important it is to be healthy and how important it is to be safe.

Although the program’s mission is to promote walking and biking to schools, she added the words “where possible” to take into account that there aren’t many sidewalks in rural communities and schools are in more centralized locations.

But children may still walk to bus stops, for example, and it’s important for them to understand safety rules, she said.

Friendly competitions are one way to promote walking as a way for children to exercise. High said students at West Oxford Elementary in Granville County used pedometers last spring to track their steps. They calculated their mileage in a “Walking to Tokyo” race in advance of the Olympics.

Whether walking to school, in the store parking lot, or the neighborhood, safety should be top of mind, High said.

“We’re all pedestrians at some point during the day,” she added.

For more details, listen below.