The CDC map shows six mountain counties are still reporting a moderate spread of COVID-19.
Clay, Swain, Haywood, Buncombe, Yancey, and Mitchell County show a medium level of spread while other mountain counties remain low.
Higher levels of COVID-19 are still detected in Buncombe County's wastewater.
AdventHealth Chief Medical Officer Dr. Teresa Herbert says symptoms of the virus have changed. She describes them as more upper respiratory, sinus symptoms with a quicker incubation time.
"This virus seems to hit much more like the common cold where you get an exposure and two to three days later, you're symptomatic, and that is actually helping the spread in some ways," said Dr. Teresa Herbert, AdventHealth CMO. "You're not inadvertently spreading it around. You know you've got something."
Despite increased spread, hospitalizations have remained low. On Monday, June 20, 2022, AdventHealth had three patients, two of which are in the ICU.
Dr. Herbert stressed the importance of booster vaccines for people who are 50 years old and older, as well as individuals with a compromised immune system.
Dr. Herbert, who is also a pediatrician, encourages parents to get their younger children -- those between 6 months and 5 years old -- immunized against COVID-19 after the US Food and Drug Administration approved new emergency use of the vaccine. She says there's enough data that parents should feel confident in having their younger children vaccinated.
"This vaccine is a medication that has been very well tested just like every other vaccine children get. We have great experience in the adult population and in children above age 5," said Dr. Herbert.
Moderna's vaccine is for children ages 6 months to 5 years, while Pfizer's vaccine is for children ages 6 months to 4 years.
Starting this week, many pediatric offices across the mountains will begin offering the vaccine. Parents with questions should consult their pediatrician.