Haywood County COVID cases up 167 this week, 85% were unvaccinated

Haywood County -- Haywood County Government News August 10, 2021

Haywood County Government news announced  increased of 167 COVID-19 cases this week. Almost 90% of the cases were unvaccinated, bringing the total number of cases close to 5,000.

Below is a copy of the report.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 10, 2021

In the week since the last press release, Haywood County Public Health has received notice of 167 new cases of COVID-19.  As of 5 p.m. on August 9, 2021, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has recorded a total of 4,892 cases in Haywood County since the pandemic began. 

According to the CDC, Haywood County, and most of North Carolina are listed as areas of high community transmission. Mask-wearing indoors is now recommended in such areas. Masks are now required in Haywood County facilities, including the libraries, for employees and the public.

Beginning this week Haywood County will report the percentage of people vaccinated versus unvaccinated in our case numbers. This week 14.4 percent of all reported positive cases were people who were fully vaccinated. Unvaccinated people accounted for the majority of cases at 85.6 percent.             

“As COVID numbers rise due to the delta variant, a clear distinction is emerging, which should not come as a surprise. Infections are far more common and serious among those who are not yet vaccinated.  The delta variant is more contagious and better at sticking with us once it gets inside our bodies, making it harder to fight off. Wearing masks when indoors and choosing vaccination are our best tools against this new variant of the virus. Choosing to both mask when indoors AND vaccinate gives us the maximum protection possible,” said Haywood County Public Health Director Sarah Henderson.

Walk-in vaccinations are available at the health department and at grocery stores and pharmacies throughout the county. 

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 are available now, no appointment is necessary.

For more information on this or other vaccination sites visit:  www.vaccines.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.

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On August 4, 2021 Haywood County Health & Human Services announced : COVID cluster identified at Canton PD

The report can be read here: https://www.haywoodcountync.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=614

wnctimes Marjorie Farrington