Public health director warns of early rise in COVID cases, outlines prevention and clinic plans

Pitt County public health staff reported early signs of an increase in COVID-19 cases and outlined preparations for the fall respiratory-virus season during the Sept. 15 commissioners meeting. Public health official West Gray told the board the county has already seen a recent rise in COVID cases and that, based on last year’s pattern, the county could see RSV surge in November and influenza in December. Gray summarized clinic volume figures, saying the health department finished fiscal year 2024 with 10,239 clinical visits and logged 1,902 visits in the first two months of the current fiscal year, with a target of roughly 1,000 visits per month and an annual goal of 12,000 visits. Gray described several operational activities and programs: a repeat partnership with East Carolina University to provide school health assessments and immunizations; environmental‑health workload stats (including thousands of consultations and hundreds of inspections last year); on‑site wastewater permit work and new trainees to reduce wait times; vector‑control adulticide activities and mosquito station servicing; and school‑based dental clinic relocations to Belvoir Elementary. He also reported outreach events, such as a large family health block party on Aug. 23 that provided medications, food distributions and screening services to hundreds of residents. In response to a commissioner’s question about vaccine availability, Gray said standing orders would allow people 65 and older and those 18 and older with qualifying conditions to get the new COVID booster without a prescription at participating pharmacies, and that flu shots would be widely available beginning in late September and October. Why it matters: the county’s public health operations — immunizations, environmental health inspections, disease surveillance and community outreach — affect school readiness, food safety, wastewater and vector control and other routine services that keep residents healthy. Next steps: public health will continue surveillance, repeat the school health partnership, onboard wastewater trainees to shorten waitlists, and continue outreach about vaccination and preparedness.