The Cherokee County Health Department reported the 43rd local death attributed to COVID-19, as a resident in their early 70s died from the virus Monday, according to a release.
The Delta variant has been blamed for the marked rise in local positive test results. The health department reported this week that there were 146 new positive test results for the coronavirus from Aug. 3-9, 78 on Monday alone, which includes the weekend. Of those cases, 133 are without a known source of transmission, 161 have developed symptoms and one has been hospitalized.
All of those affected have been isolated. The health department is performing necessary contact tracing and follow-up testing.
Since the pandemic began through Monday, the health department has conducted 16,391 tests, 13,289 which were negative, Of the 3,029 positive tests, 2,815 have been released, 43 are deceased and 171 are active.
According to the N.C. Department of Health & Human Services, 47 percent of state residents ages 18 and older have been fully vaccinated, while 51 percent have been at least partially vaccinated. There have been 9,972,679 total vaccine doses administered statewide so far.
Health Director David Badger encourages local residents to get vaccinated, saying it’s important to make sure the information you are getting about COVID-19 is coming from reliable sources. The health department offers vaccines at no charge for ages 12 and up at the office in Murphy. For details, call 837-7486.
The health department emphasizes that anyone who becomes ill with a respiratory-type illness to isolate until the following criteria are met:
- At least 24 hours have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath);
- At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
It is also recommended that household and close contacts of persons with a respiratory type illness should quarantine to the extent possible for 14 days and monitor for symptoms of a respiratory illness. If household or close contacts become sick during the monitoring period, it is advised that they then isolate until the criteria for discontinuation of isolation are met.
If you become sick with a respiratory type illness, please contact the health department or your primary care provider to determine if you need to be tested for COVID-19.