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COVID-19 Rates Declining; Experts Still Advise Caution

Rates of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths have all declined nationally and in New Hanover County since spiking in January, but we're not out of the woods yet, medical experts say. As of Saturday, there had been 15,711 coronavirus cases and 139 deaths in New Hanover County, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. (See statistics here.) Infections and hospitalizations are down sharply from the worst days of January all across the United States. CNN reported that the daily rate of infections climbed to an average of 250,000 in late January and fell well below 100,000 last week.

Experts quoted in Atlantic magazine last week said the decline probably can be traced to four causes: the deployment of highly effective vaccines, people spending less time indoors as the weather improves, people getting used to masks and other restrictions, and at least temporary natural immunity among people who have recovered from minor COVID cases. The Biden administration has pledged that vaccines will be available for all Americans by this summer.

The pandemic is not over yet, however, and North Carolina's health department urges continued precautions such as masking, hand washing and social distancing for the immediate future. One challenge, according to Rochelle Walensky, head of the Centers for Disease Control, is that new strains of COVID are spreading and potentially could prove more dangerous. President Joe Biden predicted last week that if his COVID relief package is passed into law and citizens stay vigilant, “By next Christmas, we’ll be in a very different circumstance than we are today, God willing."

Steve Miller Announces Run Against Rouzer in 2022

Steve Miller, who ran in the Democratic primary last year for a chance to serve on the New Hanover Board of County Commissioners, announced that he will run next year to replace Republican David Rouzer as our representative in the U.S. Congress. 

"I recently made a final decision to toss my hat in the ring and run against one of the cowardly Congressmen who voted to overturn the electoral college results in the House of Representatives. His name is David Rouzer, an acolyte of Jesse Helms," Miller said in his announcement. "(Rouzer)  has done nothing for his constituents in 6 years in office.  I promise to do more -- much more."

You can find out more about Miller by visiting his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SteveMillerforCongress/

We now have 3 precincts left that still need organizers, H01, H24 and M07. Help us reach 100%! H24 is particularly challenging because of the ongoing turmoil at the UNCW Campus.

You do not have to live in the precinct to volunteer to organize it. The work involves calling, emailing, setting up a Zoom meeting or working with a Zoom facilitator to set it up, conducting the meeting, electing Precinct Officers and County Convention delegates and submitting a meeting certification which reports the results.

If you can help, please email Susanne Werner (2^nd Vice-chair), [email protected], using 2021 Precinct Organizers in the subject line.

Register for your 2021 Precinct Meeting!