Call doctor if you’re showing the symptoms
Update: County reports first coronavirus death
Murphy – Four more Cherokee County residents have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the county’s case total to seven residents and two non-
residents.
On Monday night, the Cherokee County Health Department announced that another local resident is being monitored and following isolation orders. The person presented symptoms consistent with the coronavirus to their primary care provider. Officials are tracing the person’s movements to identify close contacts.
On Thursday, the health department announced a case involving an individual who was exposed to the virus while on a cruise. The health department was informed when the individual was notified of their exposure, and the individual began to self-monitor while being quarantined.
Once developing the symptoms, the individual notified the health department, which coordinated testing. The patient knew of their exposure for five days before contacting the health department.
The health department believes the individual had little to no opportunity to spread the virus in the community. Health Director David Badger said he’s “certainly appreciative” of those who follow directions to self-quarantine when notified of their exposure to the virus.
On Saturday, the health department announced the positive test of an individual who attended services at The Church at Liberty Square in Cartersville, Ga., on March 8. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on March 25 that at least four other people who attended that service tested positive, while two others died of complications from the virus.
This individual has been in isolation since being tested by their primary care provider, and the health department is tracing contacts of the person. Badger said due to medical privacy laws, he’s limited to the information he can provide on each person, but he added that tests are taking an average of 10 days to return results.
Both patients were doing well at home as of Monday morning, Badger said.
Another person was announced to have tested positive early Sunday afternoon and was in isolation at Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital with acute respiratory illness. It was determined the individual’s exposure to the virus most likely originated from a visit to Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel, but the health department was still investigating.
In a video posted over the weekend, Andrews Mayor James Reid described the individual as an elderly man, but Badger could not confirm Reid’s statements.
The hospital, a 25-bed critical access facility, has four ventilator devices. CEO Mark Kimball told WKRK as part of an hourlong interview how many ventilators the hospital had, but he was unable to accommodate an interview request with the Cherokee Scout. The health department was working with Erlanger, the casino and Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority to determine the source and possible contacts of the individual. The casino has been closed since 6 a.m. March 18, and on Friday the closure was extended by two more weeks.
Five other cases in the county were announced by the health department last week. The initial patient was a New York resident who infected three household contacts and at least one other person through contact at a contra dance at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown on March 10.
On Monday morning, Clay County announced its first positive COVID-19 case, with three positive cases in Fannin County, Ga. Monroe County, Tenn., also has three positive cases, while Blount County, Tenn., has nine cases.
As of 11 a.m. Monday, the last time the N.C. Department of Health & Human Services’ website was updated, there were 1,307 cases of COVID-19 in North Carolina and six deaths from complications associated with the virus. Across the state, 137 people were hospitalized as of Monday morning. The department also reported there were a total of 3,223 intensive care unit beds with 745 empty, and 14,594 inpatient hospital beds with 6,235 empty statewide.
Residents are reminded by the state Attorney General’s Office that there are no door-to-door testing options. For testing, people should contact their health-care provider or the health department. Symptoms are fever, cough and shortness of breath.
New recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention urge anyone who becomes ill with a respiratory infection to isolate until the following criteria are met:
u At least three days have passed since recovery, which is defined as resolution of fever without use of medications, plus improvement in cough and shortness of breath.
u At least seven days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
Badger understands the public wants more questions answered about the cases of COVID-19 in the county, but said he’s not allowed to answer many of those questions due to privacy laws. In such a small community, providing ages and locations could potentially identify the person to the public.
He added that while there is always an inherent concern, there is a higher risk of transmission when a person is symptomatic.
“That’s why social distancing is so important,” Badger said. “Because you never know.”
He said people should not be reliant on gloves and masks while in public, adding masks are better suited for those who are coughing or sneezing to prevent leaving droplets in public.
“Just because you are wearing a mask doesn’t mean you won’t touch your face,” Badger said. “You have to take full protective measures.”
He said in the health-care setting, the proper techniques and processes are just as important, if not more than, as wearing the protective equipment. He was also concerned about the public utilizing equipment that health-care professionals need.
Proper hand washing is still recommended, and Badger said locals should continue to limit their exposure. While he hasn’t had much of a chance to be out in the community, when he is he does see people practicing social distancing.
“That’s where we can all have a greater impact on this,” Badger said.
A Coronavirus Community Information phone line was created by the three local county health departments – Cherokee, Clay and Graham – and Erlanger. It is not a COVID-19 test screening line, but the public will have the opportunity to speak with medical professionals.
Local residents may call the help line from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is no cost, and no insurance is needed.