The novel coronavirus outbreak is no longer a major concern in North Carolina, according to the state health department.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced changes to the COVID-19 dashboard and state-funded testing sites as the federal coronavirus emergency comes to an end on May 11. COVID will become a routine part of public health and health care activities.

NCDDHS closed its remaining community testing sites on March 31.

Home test kits are widely available and can be found at community access points and through Project ACT and the federal program distributing at-home test kits through the United States Postal Service.

“While we continue to see illness and deaths from COVID-19, it is no longer the threat it once was thanks to testing, vaccines and treatment,” said Susan Kansagra, Director of NCDHHS Division of Public Health. “As we evolve our response to the more routine nature of COVID-19 going forward, these indicators will help us monitor our health care capacity from respiratory illness including COVID-19 and adjust our response if needed.”

NCDHHS will continue to monitor COVID-19 cases and will now combine the data with other respiratory illness data.

COVID vaccine data will move to monthly updates, with numbers not changing as much and will retire May 31. Vaccine data will continue to be available through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Monthly reports on outbreaks in congregate living settings, patients presumed to have been recovered, hospitalizations and deaths by vaccination status will be retired. All this information will be available on the CDC’s COVID Data Tracker site.

Even though the number of cases are low, North Carolina residents are encouraged to keep tests on hand. Vaccinations still offer the best protection against serious illnesses and death from the virus. Data shows the new booster shot is effective. Vaccines are available for people six months or older. Find out more info at myspot.nc.gov.

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