FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 23, 2021
In the week since the last press release, Haywood County Public Health has received notice of 28 new cases of COVID-19. As of 5 p.m. March 22, 2021, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has recorded a total of 3,962 cases in Haywood County since the pandemic began.
Case counts have leveled this week over last in Haywood County, and in some parts of the state, case numbers have risen. As spring break and Easter celebrations approach, now is the time to consider what course of action will be best for your family and for the community as a whole.
“Our community is to be commended for their efforts in the fight against COVID-19. We are seeing the number of positive cases decrease and the number of vaccines delivered to the citizens of Haywood County increase. As we move toward spring break and the Easter holiday, I want to encourage everyone to continue to protect themselves and others. Spring is an exciting time of year and I know that everyone is anxious to get outside and vacation as the weather warms up. I ask that if you are considering traveling during this time, please be diligent about wearing a mask in public settings, maintaining social distance when possible, and washing your hands often,” said Sarah Henderson, Haywood County Health Director.
Citizens who test positive for COVID-19 are encouraged to reach out to friends or family that meet the close contact criteria, and encourage them to self-quarantine and get tested 5-6 days after their exposure to the individual who tested positive. The end goal is to reduce community spread and keep COVID numbers on the downward trend.
Businesses need to be mindful that having quarantined employees return to work too quickly could cause a cluster of cases in the workplace. We ask that employers rely on the honor system and encourage employees who have been exposed to quarantine for the recommended time frame of 14 days from the date of exposure to help reduce potential spread.
Where to find COVID-19 vaccine information: