COVID-19 UPDATE

NC is pausing to remain in the ‘safer at home’ Phase 2 for the next three weeks; while wearing a mask is mandated when in public places.

That word coming from Governor Cooper in Wednesday's media briefing.

Masks will be required, according to the briefing, in public spaces indoors and outdoors, and when unable to distance 6 feet away from others.

The governor says there are exceptions to wearing a face covering – they will not be required for children under 11, or for those at home or outdoors exercising who are able to practice social distancing.

In regard to the new mask requirement, Cooper states it’s been added so the state will not go backward, and to stabilize our numbers so we can safely ease restrictions, and most importantly to get our children back in school.

An announcement concerning schools is due from the governor next week.

The Phase 2 extension goes into effect Friday and will last until July 17^th; at which time the governor says he hopes to be able to further ease restrictions.

Currently the state reports 56-thousand-174 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 while 906 people across NC are hospitalized with the virus.

Burke County has recorded 948 Covid 19 cases as of yesterday.  Catawba County

added 24 new cases yesterday for a total of 639.  303 have recovered and 12

patients are hospitalized.  Caldwell County added 5 new cases yesterday for a

total of 328 confirmed cases.  178 patients have recovered and 12 are

hospitalized.  And in McDowell County, six new cases were added yesterday for a

total of 194.  89 patients are out of quarantine there.

Barn Fire  

A barn fire on Lloyd Hoke Drive late yesterday afternoon caused parts of Springs

Road to be closed for a period of time.  The blaze, which was believed to have

been started by a backfire from a lawn mower/tractor, was called in shortly

before 6 p.m..  By 6:15 p.m.  requests for tankers and mutual aid from fire

departments across Catawba County were issued.  No word on any damage

at this time.

Medical Ministry Receives Recognition 

Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry has announced that the on-site

Medical Clinic recently received the 2020 Standards Gold Rating from the National

Association of Free and Charitable Clinics from their Quality Standards Program. 

The Hickory Clinic provides holistic healthcare services as well as a Hep C clinic. 

Specialty care for patients includes Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology,

Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Endocrinology, Gynecology, Counseling, Dental

care and more.  In 2019, 2,751 patients visited the clinic.

CVCC Thermal Cameras 

CVCC has debuted four strategically placed cameras on their campus for the

purpose of temperature checks during this time of Covid-19.  Approximately ten

people can be scanned through the cameras in 30 seconds.  If a student, faculty or

staff member has a temperature of more than 100 degrees, they are escorted to

an isolation area and asked to leave campus and seek medical attention. The

cameras cost six thousand dollars each and were purchased through CARES

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund.

Forest City Shooting

A suspect is now in custody in connection with a shooting in Forest City that left a 7-year-old girl in critical condition.

On Tuesday, officers responded to the report of a child who had been shot inside of a car on Oak Street.

As officers arrived, Aaliyah Norris was discovered with a single gunshot wound to her head.

She was airlifted to Spartanburg Regional Hospital, where she remains critical.

26-year-old Shaquille Mashon Francis of Forest City has been taken into custody and charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, discharging a weapon into occupied property inflicting serious bodily injury, and discharging a firearm within the city limits.

Francis is being held in the Rutherford County Detention Center under a 1-million dollar secured bond.

An investigation continues.