FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Oct. 16, 2020
Haywood County Public Health received notice of 30 new cases of COVID-19 since the last press release on Oct. 9, 2020. As of 5 p.m. Oct. 15, 2020, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has recorded 668 cases in Haywood County.
The current trends in COVID infections include a party that resulted in multiple positive COVID-19 cases; a case of someone testing positive for COVID-19, the flu, and strep, at the same time; an employer whose lax mask-wearing habits resulted in a positive COVID result and exposure for several employees with at least one hospitalized. Early this week Haywood
County had the lowest rate of new cases in the state, but following the good news, cases here are now on the rise again.
As of 5 p.m., Oct. 15, 2020, Haywood County’s COVID-19 working number, representing individuals who are in isolation or quarantine due to exposure, is 118 people. Of these, 31 cases are in isolation after testing positive and 87 people are in quarantine, having been identified as a close contact of a known case during contact tracing. All are being monitored by the Haywood County COVID-19 contact tracing team.
The COVID working number has been steadily climbing all week. On Monday it was 85, Tuesday 101, Wednesday 111, and on Thursday, 118.
“If you have symptoms such as headache, fever, cough, shortness of breath or loss of sense of smell don’t wait, get tested,” said Johnson. “If your doctor isn’t providing testing, contact one of the local urgent cares. Call first for pre-emptive screening and to find out what the current protocols are for when you arrive. It’s also important to understand that anyone tested for COVID-19, even as a standard pre-operative precaution, needs to stay home and self-quarantine away from other family members as able until test results are received, and then follow instructions according to the test results.”
COVID-19 is most commonly spread through respiratory droplets; North Carolinians should take the same measures recommended to prevent the spread of the flu and other viruses, ESPECIALLY during the phased reopening. These measures include:
Practice social distancing. To prevent community spread we need everyone to take social distancing seriously!
Wear a face covering over the nose AND mouth, especially when you will be in close contact with people.
Do what you can to NOT be a close contact with anyone
Wash your hands regularly with soap and running water for 20 seconds.
Regularly sanitize frequently-touched surfaces.
Avoid touching your face.
Cover coughs and sneezes, preferably with your elbow to avoid transferring germs to your hands.
Stay home if you are sick.
Make sure the information you are getting about COVID-19 is coming from reliable sources like the CDC and NCDHHS. For more information, please visit the CDC at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus, NCDHHS at www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus, and Haywood County at https://www.haywoodcountync.gov/684/Coronavirus-Covid-19-Information. Residents are encouraged to call 828-356-2019 for questions or concerns related to COVID-19.
