As of yesterday Asheville's covid rates - as measured by virus in wastewater - hit the highest levels ever recorded. This means an utterly catastrophic level of covid spread and risk. And it's getting worse.
These rates are worse, a lot worse, than the previous records set during the first Omicron winter wave in 2021-22.
While this is part of an ugly nationwide wave, runaway tourism combined with the near-total lack of precautions from local governments, medical facilities, businesses and community spaces has made it particularly bad here.
Due to this strict precautions are necessary to protect yourself and others. Wear a tight-fitting N95 in all public spaces. Get the updated shot. Stay home whenever you can. The next few weeks are going to be bleak, but every step we take matters.
We'll have more in our next updated covid alert over at the Asheville Blade.
begging folks to realize that in sufficiently tight spaces you really need to know how to seal your masks.
3M auras and trifold mask designs work good, i’d also recommend flomasks or equivalent
if your face is a weird shape we recommend the Envo mask, it's reusable and has a very thick gel gasket. you still have to be careful how you put it on (if you see fog on your glasses when you breath out, it's leaking), but it makes a good seal as long as you take the time to adjust it.