Chris Ohl News Today

The NCDHHS's weekly respiratory virus report shows more than 1,000 patients admitted to hospitals with the flu and more than 900 for COVID the last week of December.

Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines said he will lift the city's mask mandate at the end of the month.

Health officials are pleading for residents to get vaccinated and avoid overburdening the health care system, as the county grapples with the recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

As COVID-19 cases skyrocket across the state, public health officials are urging caution as move into another holiday weekend as some concerts across the Triad are being disrupted.

Though peak viral loads can be similar in vaccinated versus unvaccinated people, the viral load in the vaccinated contains less live virus and doesn't last as long.

A local infectious diseases expert said this old wives' tale started because of tick-borne illnesses, which don't do well in cold. Respiratory viruses are different.

If you're immunocompromised, you can get a 'third dose' as part of your vaccine series. If you're a senior or adult at high risk of illness, you can get a 'booster.'

COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to increase throughout the state. WXII spoke with an infectious disease expert from Wake Forest Baptist Health to break it all down. As the positivity rate rises to nearly 9% in our state, locally in Forsyth County, Dr. Chris Ohl with Wake Forest Baptist Health said cases are also rising in unvaccinated people.“Our cases are up, Forsyth County, they are probably up 200%, 250% from where they were a few weeks ago, but that is going from a very ...

VERIFY PROCESS The 14-day quarantine post-exposure -- which initially was health experts rule of thumb -- now might not be necessary. The CDC revised its guidelines in December, stating quarantine can end after day 10, without testing, if you are not showing any COVID-19 symptoms.. Or, it can end after day seven with a negative test conducted on day five. But, infectious disease physician Chris Ohl, MD, urged caution with the shorter quarantine. "The seven-day quarantine does have a little bit...

VERIFY PROCESS The 14-day quarantine post-exposure -- which initially was health experts rule of thumb -- now might not be necessary. The CDC revised its guidelines in December, stating quarantine can end after day 10, without testing, if you are not showing any COVID-19 symptoms.. Or, it can end after day seven with a negative test conducted on day five. But, infectious disease physician Chris Ohl, MD, urged caution with the shorter quarantine. "The seven-day quarantine does have a little bit...