Haywood County confirms 14 new COVID-19 cases

Press release from the Haywood County Emergency Management Team:

Haywood County Public Health received notice of 14 new cases of COVID-19 since our last press release on July 14.  This brings the number of cases recorded in Haywood County as of 4 p.m. July 16 to 146.  The individuals reside in Haywood County and are in isolation.

Three cases are work-related, two out-of-county, and two in-county. Three are out-of-state travel related. One is in-state travel related. Three are in a congregate living facility. Four do not know how they acquired the virus. 

From July 1-15 Haywood County has had 53 new cases of COVID-19; an average of 3 per day.  

As of 1 p.m. July 16, 44 cases are in isolation, and 70 people are in quarantine because they have been identified as close contacts of known cases during contact tracing efforts.  

“If you have symptoms such as headache, fever, cough, shortness of breath or loss of sense of smell don’t wait, get tested,” said Haywood County Public Health Director Patrick Johnson. “If your doctor isn’t providing testing, contact one of the local urgent cares. Call first for pre-emptive screening and to find out what the current protocols are for when you arrive. It’s also important to understand that anyone tested for COVID-19, even as a standard pre-operative precaution, needs to stay home and self-quarantine away from other family members as able until test results are received, and then follow instructions according to the test results.”

Because COVID-19 is most commonly spread through respiratory droplets, North Carolinians should take the same measures that health care providers recommend in order to prevent the spread of the flu and other viruses, ESPECIALLY during the phased reopening.  These measures include: 

• Practice social distancing. This is the Number One Enemy of COVID-19. To prevent community spread we need everyone to take social distancing seriously! 
• Wear a mask, especially when you will be in close contact with people. This is another incredibly important tool in stemming the spread of COVID-19.
• Wash your hands regularly with soap and running water for 20 seconds.
• Regularly sanitize frequently-touched surfaces.
• Avoid touching your face.
• Cover coughs and sneezes, preferably with your elbow to avoid transferring germs to your hands.
• Stay home if you are sick.

It is important to make sure the information you are getting about COVID-19 is coming directly from reliable sources like the CDC and NCDHHS. For more information, please visit the CDC at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus, NCDHHS at www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus, and Haywood County at https://www.haywoodcountync.gov/684/Coronavirus-Covid-19-Information. Residents are encouraged to call 828-356-2019 for questions or concerns related to COVID-19.