FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 6, 2021
In the week since the last press release, Haywood County Public Health has received notice of 1 new case of COVID-19. As of 5 p.m. on July 5, 2021, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has recorded a total of 4,498 cases in Haywood County since the pandemic began.
“Thanks to the availability of vaccines, COVID-19 case numbers continue to remain at an all-time low, but that does not mean we are fully in the clear just yet. Thus far, only 9% of children ages 12-17 are vaccinated with at least one dose which is lower than we had hoped at this point. As you consider summer camps and other group activities we hope that you will also consider the importance of vaccination in keeping your child safe,” said Haywood County Public Health Director Sarah Henderson.
Walk-in vaccinations are available at the health department and at many other locations throughout the county. There will also be mobile vaccination clinics held throughout the summer at festivals and events.
Haywood County Public Health is also here for more than just COVID-19 vaccines. There are a variety of programs to meet the needs of the community including:
child health
Women Infant Children (WIC)
childhood immunizations
immunizations for foreign travel
family planning services.
“While the recent focus has been on COVID-19, our priority continues to be improving the health of our community,” said Henderson.
Walk-in vaccination clinic hours are available Monday through Friday during normal business hours at the Haywood County Health Department. Moderna, Pfizer, and Johnson and Johnson vaccines available now, no appointment is necessary.
For more information on this or other vaccination sites visit: https://myspot.nc.gov/
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.
