COVID-19 Numbers for Clay County
Lifestyle, News May 7, 2020
CLAY COUNTY, N.C. – As COVID-19 cases continue to grow, Clay County Health Department (CCHD) releases daily updates on its coronavirus-related numbers.
The following information is from the September 23rd update.
Confirmed cases in Clay remain low when compared to many surrounding counties with only 140 total positives according to the health department.
CCHD also releases recovery numbers and so far, 126 cases are no longer testing positive for COVID-19. Currently, there is 14 active case currently known in the county.
1,602 Clay residents have been tested and 1,519 were negative.
CCHD issues a disclaimer as well that the numbers won’t add up to the number tested because of pending results and confirmations.
Statewide the NCDHHS has confirmed 196,501 cases in 99 N.C. counties. 912 are currently hospitalized, and 3,345 have died.
If you become sick with a respiratory type illness and are in one of the following categories, please contact the CCHD at 828-389-8052 to speak to a provider to determine if you need to be tested.
Those suspected of having COVID-19 should isolate in an effort to stop the spread of this virus. Persons should remain isolated when sick until the following criteria are met:
- At least 3 days (72 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), AND
At least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
If household or close contacts become sick during the 14 day monitoring period, it is advised that they then isolate until the criteria for discontinuation of isolation (listed above) are met.
Second and third COVID-19 cases in Clay County confirmed within 24 hours
Health, News April 1, 2020
CLAY COUNTY, N.C. – Clay County Health Department has reported two additional COVID-19 cases within 24 hours of each other.
The second individual was an attendee at the Folk School Dance on March 10th, and as a result of being present at that event where multiple other positive’s have been confirmed, specialized testing was performed in coordination with regional partnerships on March 24th for those attendees. This individual began quarantine since the day of the initial positive report on an attendee on March 18th and began isolation at the time of testing. The Clay County Health Department is following State guidance on the continuation of their isolation period for extra precaution. All potential contacts of this individual have been notified. This individual has maintained contact with their physician and health department staff, and is doing well. To protect individual privacy, no further information about this case will be released.
The third positive COVID-19 case has been determined for Clay County. This individual is doing well in recovery after experiencing only mild symptoms and has been in isolation since testing on March 24th. It has been determined through contact tracing that they are linked to the index case that attended an event at the Folk School. To protect individual privacy, no further information about this case will be released by the Clay County Health Department.
The Clay County Health Department has been utilizing various laboratories for our residents testing kits based on the criteria that is set forth by the State or by our Medical Director and providers. These laboratories all have been running off of different timelines for results, which we understand can cause anxiety. It is important to remember that regardless of what laboratory we use, everyone that is tested is issued isolation orders until we receive those tests back. When the results are received, we are able to give guidance on if the isolation time period needs to be extended – or if they are released from those orders to resume normal activities. Be mindful, that we are still receiving exponentially more negative test results back than positives, and those positive cases have been mild for our residents. We would like to take this opportunity to extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends impacted by the passing of our Cherokee County neighbor as a result of complications associated with COVID-19.
The Clay County Health Department 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. There is an additional local call line for the community at 828-835-4258 that is staffed from 9am-12 and 1pm-4pm. To receive messaging from the State text COVIDNC to 898211