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

This week 75 percent of COVID cases were among those unvaccinated. Nearly all of those who require hospitalization are unvaccinated.  

“Between COVID-19, severe weather, staffing concerns, and several other factors, Haywood County is faced with a critical situation. The emergency medical system is stretched to its capacity. Hospitals throughout the region are full. Patients needing transport by ambulance are having to wait outside, sometimes for hours, in the ambulance before a bed in the emergency department is available. Everyone needs to be aware of the seriousness of the situation and take steps to stay safe. Avoid unnecessary travel, dangerous activities, and take all safety precautions to protect your health and wellbeing in a time when medical care options are under more pressure than usual,” 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

Haywood County Health and Human Services have received notice of three more COVID-19 deaths. Total COVID deaths in Haywood County are now 111.

The 109th death was an individual between the ages of 80-85 who died at Haywood Regional Medical Center on August 15, 2021. The immediate cause of death was respiratory failure, COVID-19 pneumonia.

The 110th death was an individual between the ages of 80-85 who died at Mission Hospital on August 10, 2021. The immediate cause of death was acute hypoxic respiratory failure, COVID-19.

The 111th death was an individual between the ages of 65-70 who died at Mission Hospital on August 20, 2021. The immediate cause of death was COVID-19, pneumonia.

To protect the families’ privacy, no further information about the patients will be released.

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.