CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The number of COVID-19 cases is increasing in Mecklenburg County as two more contagious omicron subvariants surge.

What You Need To Know

  • The number of COVID-19 cases is increasing in Mecklenburg County

  • Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 are the most prevalent in the county

  • Raina Wilson had a COVID-19 reinfection recently, which caused worse symptoms than her previous case

According to Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Dr. Raynard Washington, omicron BA.4 and BA.5 are the most prevalent subvariants in the community. 

He said early evidence suggests they are more transmissible and resistant than previous strains. 

“Where individuals who were previously infected could have protection from being reinfected as much as six to 12 months after that initial infection, it does seem that this subvariant may have the ability to evade that protection, which is certainly concerning,” Washington said. 

Raina Wilson had COVID-19 in 2020 and more recently in June. 

Last month, she said she spent almost two and a half weeks at home, recovering from COVID-19. 

This time around, she had worse symptoms and needed anti-nausea medication. 

“I couldn’t hold any food down, my body ached terribly, the headaches were very bad. I was really, really scared,” Wilson said. 

Atrium Health Vice President and Enterprise Chief Epidemiologist Katie Passaretti said most of the cases are mild for people who had a reinfection, vaccines and boosters. 

She added people who continue to be more at risk are those who are unvaccinated, have multiple medical problems and a weak immune system.

Wilson got the COVID-19 vaccine last fall. 

“I felt like, wow, if I hadn’t had the shot, then maybe I would’ve been hospitalized, and maybe that did save me,” Wilson said.

She still has some lingering symptoms, especially at nighttime. 

“I carry my cough drops because the coughing is terrible,” Wilson said.

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She is grateful to be on the mend. 

“I really don’t wish on anyone what I went through and I just prayed to God that I would get through it," Wilson said. 

She’s now taking precautions to keep COVID-19 at bay, masking and staying away from crowded places.

“They don’t understand how serious it is. I didn’t understand it, until it happened to me,” Wilson said. 

Earlier this summer, the Food and Drug Administration recommended including omicron subvariants in fall COVID-19 boosters.