FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 30, 2021
In the week since the last press release, Haywood County Public Health has received notice of 53 new cases of COVID-19. As of 5 p.m. March 29, 2021, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has recorded a total of 4,015 cases in Haywood County since the pandemic began.
Case counts have risen over the last week, which may be due to an increase in gatherings with warmer weather arriving. 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.
“Even as vaccinations are increasing in the county we are in a race against time to keep case numbers low. Nationwide, as in Haywood County, vaccination rates remain low enough that there is still a very real potential of another wave of COVID cases following spring activities like Easter egg hunts, spring break trips, and large family gatherings. If your family decides to hold or attend spring events, remember it is still recommended that everyone, vaccinated or not, continue to wear masks, distance when possible, and practice thorough hand washing,” 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:
