COVID-19 UPDATE

Burke County Public Health has been notified of the 24^th Covid associated death. 

The patient was in their 70’s and was hospitalized.  The news release says the

patient died from underlying medical conditions.  Burke now has 1 thousand 3

hundred 20 cumulative Covid-19 cases.  1 thousand 41 people have recovered

and 9 are hospitalized.

Catawba County reported 1 thousand 4 hundred 83 positive Covid-19 cases last

night; an increase of 19 from the previous day.  952 patients in Catawba County

have recovered and 32 are hospitalized.

Caldwell County reported the 9^th Covid-19 related death late Friday.  The patient

was between the ages of fifty and sixty-four, was hospitalized and was reported

to have underlying health conditions.  745 people have tested positive for Covid-

19 in Caldwell County and 384 have recovered.  18 are hospitalized.

McDowell County reported 321 cases as of Friday.  220 patients are out of

quarantine in McDowell County. The third COVID-19 death was also reported Friday.

Burke School Plan

The Burke County Board of Education has approved ‘Plan B’ in a special called meeting Friday.

According to a news release issued by Burke schools, the plan calls for school to start on August 17^th with both in-person and remote instruction.

Parents are allowed the option of allowing their children to attend two days in school, and three days remotely; or they can choose 100-percent remote learning through the Burke County Virtual Academy.

Under Plan B, the at-school instruction will occur on a rotating schedule.

One group of students will physically be at school on Mondays and Thursdays; while a second group of students will physically attend on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Then Wednesday will be a remote day for all students, and a professional development day for teachers.

According to a news release, the mid-week break will give school maintenance officials an opportunity to thoroughly clean the school buildings.

Schools superintendent Dr. Larry Putnam states the goal is to be in school buildings for in-person instruction five days a week for as much of the upcoming school year as possible.

Putnam adds though that until the COVID-19 cases in our area decreases, parents will continue to have options regarding their child’s instruction.

For additional information and updates, visit the Burke County schools website at burke-dot-k12-dot-nc-dot-us and click on COVID-19 Response.

McDowell Courthouse

The McDowell County Courthouse reopened this morning.  The

courthouse was closed on July 10^th due to Covid-19 exposure.  Court sessions will

resume today as originally scheduled.  Any business missed during last week’s

closure will be rescheduled with notices mailed out once new dates are give to

the McDowell Clerk of Court.  Meanwhile, the Rutherford County Courthouse

remains closed.  The complex shut down after a Covid-19 exposure.  Officials with

the courthouse say it is being cleaned.

New Elections Requirements

A new directive from the Executive Officer of the North Carolina Board of

Elections could mean more early voting sites in heavily populated areas, and in

person voting on weekends during the early voting period, October 15^th through

October 31^st.  The mandate cites Covid=19 are the reason for increasing ballot

access to the public.  County Boards have been told to submit their early voting

plans by July 31^st.