COVID Update

In the battle against COVID-19, Burke County Public Health reports the daily positivity rate continues to steadily decline.

According to the CDC daily percent tracker, less than 5-percent is considered low risk of transmission; whereas Burke is currently at a 5-point-6 percent positivity rate.

Active cases and hospitalizations in Burke are also declining; in Monday’s news release, there are 467 active cases and 29 hospitalizations.

Health officials report 53 new cases of COVID-19 over the weekend with the highest increase within the birth to 19 year old age bracket.

Burke’s total caseload is now 15-thousand-852.

49-percent of Burke residents 12 and older are now reportedly fully vaccinated.

McDowell County yesterday reported 33 new cases, with one additional COVID-related death.

McDowell’s total is now 8-thousand-612 with 165 individuals in quarantine.

Governor Bill

Governor Cooper signed a bill into law on Friday creating visitation rights for patients and requires healthcare facilities to follow federal visitation guidelines.

The No Patient Left Alone Act lifts visitation restrictions imposed on healthcare facilities during the early phase of the COVID pandemic; that forced many people to die alone.

The Act becomes effective November 1^st and states patient visitation rights in healthcare facilities will not be impacted during declared disasters and emergencies.

Reports say violation of these rights would result in facilities being given a warning initially and 24 hours to allow the visitation.

If the facility still refuses to comply, the facility will be fined 500-dollars a day for each incident.

Hudson Shooting

An altercation in Caldwell County Friday evening left one dead and another seriously injured.

Officers say the argument between two men broke out just after 8:30 on Hickory Boulevard before moving to the Dollar General parking lot in Hudson.

According to reports, 44-year-old Terry Dale Hefner of Hickory and 33-year-old Jody Shane Maltba of Lenoir began shooting at each other.

Hefner was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Maltba, reports say, sustained life-threatening injuries and was taken to Carolinas Med Center.

The investigation continues.

No Charges for Officers

District Attorney Scott Reilly said Monday the two Hickory police officers who shot a man accused of armed robbery and kidnapping will not face charges.

Hickory police officers Josh Null and Richard Bortnick were placed on administrative leave while the SBI reviewed the shooting of 42-year-old Gregory Ray Cribb.

The shooting took place near the Corner Pocket Lounge on September 30^th, after Cribb made verbal threats and advanced toward lawmen.

The report from Reilly says it was determined there was no criminal misconduct on behalf of any Hickory police after meeting with SBI investigators and reviewing bodycam footage and video surveillance.

Cribb is charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon and second-degree kidnapping.

He is being held at the Catawba County Jail under a 65-thousand dollar bond.