Burke County continues to have the most positive cases of COVID-19 in the Catawba Valley; now reporting 83 cases.

Catawba County reports 3 additional cases; making a total of 47 testing positive; while Caldwell reports 2 additional cases bringing its total to 25 and McDowell County with 21.

Wednesday figures from the state’s department of health and human services show 7-thousand-220 positive cases statewide, with 242 deaths.

The NC Department of Public Safety confirmed that an inmate with COVID-19 has died- marking the first prisoner at a state prison to die from the virus.

The inmate was incarcerated at Pender Correctional Institution and passed away at the hospital as a result of pre-existing conditions complicated by COVID-19.

Prison officials report he was in his late 50’s and had underlying health conditions.

Four inmates who were held at a NC Federal prison died of COVID-19 last week.

They were in prison at the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, NC.

Meanwhile, Governor Cooper says he and state leaders are working to ease stay at home restrictions in a responsible and staged way.

Reports say Cooper  will be more specific about his plans to move forward today.

Hundreds showed up for the Re-Open-NC protest in downtown Raleigh Tuesday to protest Cooper’s orders aimed at combating the spread of COVID-19.

The Morganton Farmer’s Market announces their opening day will take place Saturday May 2^nd.

The market is an essential business offering locally grown produce, along with homemade baked breads, local meats, eggs, honey, and other farm goods.

The Saturday farmers market is located at 300 Beach Street behind Maria’s Italian Eatery and is open from 8 am to Noon.

A mini-market is available every Wednesday beginning May 6^th from Noon till 4 at 111 North Green Street at the corner of Avery Avenue.

The markets will follow necessary precautions to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19.

Customers and vendors will have access to hand-washing stations at both locations.

No customers or vendors exhibiting symptoms of illness may enter the market area.

Precautions also include one customer at a time at each vendor table, only handle a product you intend to purchase, and congregating will not be allowed.

The markets will be open each Saturday and Wednesday through the end of October.

A shooting spree in Catawba County Tuesday resulted in three vehicles and two homes on Old Catawba Road being riddled with bullet holes.

A news release from the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office says 35-year-old Antwan Boyd of Catawba was arrested at a residence in Newton in connection with the incident.

Reports say a 9-millimeter semi-automatic rifle Boyd is believed to have used was located and seized at the same residence.

Boyd was charged with two counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, and three counts of injury to personal property.

According to the release, the shooting stemmed from an ongoing dispute between Boyd, a woman who is the mother of his children, and the woman’s boyfriend.

No injuries were reported.

The release states Boyd was issued a 25-thousand dollar bond for the firearm charge along with no bond on the remaining charges in that they were deemed episodes of domestic violence. 

 The US Food and Drug Administration recently gave LabCorp an emergency use authorization to offer COVID-19 home collection kits.

LabCorp calls the kit “Pixel”, and it is available with the recommendation of a health care provider following the completion of a COVID-19 questionnaire.

Test-takers use a swab to collect a sample that is then sent to LabCorp for testing.

Health Care workers and first responders will have priority access according to LabCorp officials.

The company reports 60-thousand kits will be available to begin with, initially going to health care officials who may have been exposed to the virus.

The company intends to provide tests to other consumers in the next few weeks.

LabCorp can send the kit with a nasal swab in the mail for a reported 119-dollars per kit.

The emergency authorization doesn’t mean the FDA has cleared or approved the test; it only allows the kits to be used in that circumstances exist justifying the need for quicker testing.