Jackson County has had a spike of COVID-19 cases this week. They have gone from seven cases to 24 cases, in 24 hours. Haywood County took 17 days to reach five cases of COVID-19. In just three days, April 27-29, we have had four more cases. For our two counties, the curve isn’t flattening.
We’re on the cusp of a community outbreak if we’re not careful. Community mitigation measures work IF we use them and don’t get complacent:
• stay home if you are sick. Symptoms include one or more: cough (new, different than normal), fever, difficulty breathing, a recent loss of smell, taste
• wash hands often; disinfect frequently touched surfaces
• don’t touch your face
• wear a cloth face covering when in public;
• Call healthcare provider for further guidance and possible testing (testing criteria now relaxed for symptomatic individuals)
· Attached is the latest Haywood food resource guide. Also a Google map of the info on the guide available here. A mapped resource guide should help community members learn the types and locations of resources and allow them to map directions of resources nearest them. Clicking on the site will display details and contact information. This is in progress and will continue to be updated throughout the COVID-19 response and hopefully beyond. Call (828) 734-8097 or email Lauren.Wood@haywoodcountync.gov for updates.
· In January, at a restaurant in China, one diner infected with the novel coronavirus but not yet feeling sick appeared to have spread the disease to nine other people. One of the restaurant’s air-conditioners apparently blew the virus particles around the dining room. (source: Emerging Infectious Diseases)
· Credible COVID-19 Sources: The most up to date information and guidance can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html [cdc.gov] and https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina [ncdhhs.gov], and https://www.haywoodcountync.gov/684/Coronavirus-Covid-19-Information
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