Remote Learning Due to Weather

As the remnants of Hurricane Zeta passes through the area, schools have

returned to remote learning for all students today.  Hickory City Schools, Burke

County Schools, Caldwell County Schools, Catawba County Schools, Newton-

Conover City Schools and McDowell County Schools will all provide remote

learning. Meanwhile, McDowell Tech announced a two-hour delay today.

One Stop Voting

Burke County has passed the 51 percent mark as nearly 16 hundred voters cast

early ballots yesterday.  Including absentee by mail, that means some 31

thousand 2 hundred and 88 people have already voted in the November 3^rd

General Election.  Catawba County has voted fifty point eight percent of the

registered voter list for 55 thousand and 18 ballots.  Caldwell County has voted

53.6 percent of registered voters, and McDowell County has voted 45 point 1

percent of registered voters in that county.  State wide over fifty percent of the

registered voters have voted.    Early voting continues thru Saturday.

COVID-19 UPDATE 

Catawba County Public Health was notified yesterday of 66 new cases of Covid-

19.  The cumulative total of Covid-19 cases in the county now stands at 4

thousand 4 hundred and 9.  30 patients are hospitalized and 3 thousand 7

hundred and 84 patients have recovered.  Caldwell County has 48 new cases of

Covid-19.  The Health Department says 2 thousand 5 hundred and 21 people have

tested positive for Covid-19 since late March.  18 patients are hospitalized and 1

thousand 6 hundred and 88 have recovered.

Burke County public health reports the fourth COVID-19 related death in the last two days, while positive cases continue to soar. Wednesday's reported death marks the 58th virus associated death in Burke. The individual was in their 80's, was hospitalized when they died from COVID-19 complications. 32 new cases were reported with a total of 3-thousand-33. 

Meanwhile, Governor Cooper held an afternoon press conference Wednesday to announce the signing of a new executive order in addressing how COVID-19 is adversely affecting some residents.

The executive order will prevent evictions for those NC residents unable to afford rent.

Cooper says otherwise as many as 250-thousand people may be evicted by January.

The order builds on the CDC’s federal eviction moratorium that requires landlords to ensure tenants are aware of CDC protections and how to claim them.