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Confirmed Positive COVID-19 Test at the Clay County Care Center

Community, News, Press Release July 9, 2020 , by
Clay County Care Center COVID-19 numbers asymptomatic physicians
HAYESVILLE, NC – The Clay County Health Department (CCHD) received confirmation of a positive COVID-19 test for a resident at the Clay County Care Center. The individual is in isolation at a local hospital. To protect individual privacy, no further information about this case will be released by the Clay County Health Department.
Current guidance for North Carolina as it applies to a congregate living facility does NOT define this as an “outbreak,” and instead says that to be classified as an “outbreak” there must be two positive cases. Staying true to our proactive and aggressive prevention mission, the Health Department is taking swift action to address this concern alongside the Care Center’s staff.
The CCHD has been working diligently with the administration and nursing staff at the Clay County Care Center for months, and completed a response plan should this type of incident occur. This plan has been activated, and testing will begin for residents and staff members on July 9, 2020. All staff and support team members have the appropriate personal protective equipment that they will need not only for testing, but for the isolation time that will be necessary until tests have come back with negative results. Clay County EMS and the Health Department will continue to provide support to the Care Center and assist in any way possible. The Care Center staff has already began notifying the residents families and staff members. For questions about this response call Scott Alexander – Administrator, at 828-389-9941.
The CCHD regularly updates our county call-in-line 828-389-8052 ext. 110 with information regarding COVID-19 as well, we encourage the public to call or see our Facebook page for up-to-date information. To receive messages from the State, text COVIDNC to 898211.
This confirmed positive case is one of the three that was reported on June 8, it is NOT in addition to that number.
Clay County has had eighteen total residents test positive, and twelve of those have recovered (66%, over half).
During this time please be mindful that the state and nation uptick in cases recently has a lot to do with the additional testing that is being done. This additional testing includes the pre-operatory screening for surgeries to include elective surgeries, which is most of Clay County’s current reasons for testing as a whole. It is also important to approach information with rational thought and information that is factual and appropriate. CCHD knows that prevention methods work; washing hands for a minimum of 20 seconds with soap and hot water, wearing masks, and using social distancing. CCHD knows that more than half of our residents that have had positive tests have recovered, and their professional staffs are competent and capable of handling what comes their way.

Erlanger physicians takes extra measures to determine if Care Center employee has COVID-19

News, Press Release April 17, 2020 , by
Clay County Care Center COVID-19 numbers asymptomatic physicians

CLAY COUNTY, N.C. PRESS RELEASE – At 5:30 p.m. on April 16, 2020, the Clay County Health Department was made aware that a staff member of the Clay County Care Center had fallen ill and had presented to the Emergency Room at Erlanger Western Carolina with clinical symptoms consistent with COVID-19. A rapid COVID-19 test was given to the patient and that test was negative, however, the attending physician, as well as other consulting physicians, agreed that they were moving forward with this as a presumptive positive and sent off for a confirmatory COVID-19 test.

Following the most current guidance for presumptive positives as defined by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, all presumptive positives are handled as if they are true positives until a confirmatory test comes back as negative.

Due to the nature of this facility being a skilled nursing facility with multiple live-in residents; the Care Center’s Medical Director, Executive Director, and the Clay County Health Department Staff decided to err on the side of caution and be proactive in assuring we are doing what is best for the health of the community and doing preemptive COVID-19 testing for all staff and residents. Testing began within 5 hours of the initial notification from the hospital to the Health Department and extensive coordination happened in a tight time frame from all parties involved to assure all state guidance and recommendations are followed.

The Clay County Care Center has notified all employees and 98% of families where most appropriate – leaving messages for the rest. All contacted have been most appreciative of these efforts, and testing will be completed by the afternoon of April 17.

Scott Alexander, Executive Director for the Care Center, wants to stress that any families that might have any further questions can reach out at any time.

The Clay County Health Department is working diligently on this matter, and more information will be forthcoming.

For information about an asymptomatic patient who worked at The Local Market, click here.

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