Tracy, a Health Department staff member, told the Consolidated Human Health Services Board that weekly virology surveillance shows an increase in COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses, and she provided updates on accreditation, budget items and upcoming community events.

Tracy said respiratory virology surveillance shows the COVID-19 rate in eastern North Carolina rose to about 11.5% from 8% the prior week and that the department is seeing other respiratory infections including colds, croup and pneumonia. She told commissioners the department currently has no additional state or federal funding for COVID test kits or hand sanitizer.

On accreditation, Tracy said the health department received a 90-day notice and that the Health Department Self Assessment Instrument (HDSAI) and supporting documentation are due by Nov. 1, with a projected site visit in March 2026. She said the HDSAI checklist contains 147 activities, of which 140 have been completed and seven remain to be finalized.

Tracy also announced a back-to-school immunization and resource event scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 14, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the health department; she said Medicaid prepaid health plans and several community partners will attend and that the department will participate in regional community events on Aug. 8 and Aug. 9 and a back-to-school event in Beulahville on Aug. 16.

On finances, Tracy said July expenses had not yet closed and that the department received two state funding allocations in the last 30 days: $6,000 for communicable disease work and $242,823 in public health workforce infrastructure money that will roll over into the new fiscal year. She said the department currently has four open positions, is interviewing for two and expects to post two more.

When Commissioner Branch asked whether the COVID uptick had produced hospitalizations, Tracy said she had not heard of significant hospitalizations and that hospital partners did not report concerns at a regional meeting that day.

Discussion versus decision: The board received the HHS update as information; there were no votes or directives recorded on the epidemiology, accreditation, event or budget items during this meeting.