FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 13, 2021
In the week since the last press release, Haywood County Public Health has received notice of 70 new cases of COVID-19. As of 5 p.m. April 12, 2021, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has recorded a total of 4,146 cases in Haywood County since the pandemic began.
In Haywood County case counts are continuing the upward trend again this week. Over the past week, there has also been an increase in the number of new COVID cases statewide. Vaccination efforts continue to be a priority as more than 20,000 residents of Haywood County have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine.
“The fight against COVID-19 has been a long battle and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we cannot let our guard down. I want to encourage you all to continue practicing preventative measures and to be vaccinated when it is available to you. Remember that this is a team effort, and we all need to do our part to ensure a healthy community,” 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:
