THE NUMBERS:
4-29-20 | US | NC | Haywood | Buncombe | Cherokee | Clay | Henderson | Graham | Jackson | Macon | Madison | McDowell | Mitchell | Swain | Transylvania |
Cases | 981246 | 9948 | 9 | 55 | 16 | 5 | 162 (130in LTCF) | 1 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 7 |
Deaths | 55258 | 354 | - | 4 | 1 | - | 16 | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - |
Jackson County has had a spike of COVID-19 cases this week. They have gone from seven cases to 24 cases, in 24 hours. In Haywood County, we only had five cases over the course of 17 days, but in just three days this week (April 27-29) we’ve had four new cases, nearly doubling our numbers. For our two counties, the curve isn’t flattening.
With the regional increase in case numbers, it’s now more important than ever to exercise patience and vigilance with continued social distancing and good hygiene/cleaning practices. It’s been said before, but it bears repeating:
- Stay home if you are sick, particularly if your symptoms include one or more of the following: cough (new, different than normal), fever, difficulty breathing, or recent loss of smell/taste.
- Wash your hands often and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces.
- Don’t touch your face.
- Wear a cloth face covering when you’re out in public.
- Call your healthcare provider for further guidance and possible testing. Testing criteria is now relaxed for symptomatic individuals.
· As a reminder of how viral spread can take place: At a restaurant in China in January, one diner who was infected with the novel coronavirus but not yet symptomatic appears to have spread the disease to nine other diners at the same and adjacent tables. Researchers have concluded that the restaurant’s air-conditioners blew the virus particles around the dining room. (source: Emerging Infectious Diseases)
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.
· 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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