COVID-19 UPDATE

Covid-19 cases are dropping in North Carolina for the first time in fifty days. 

Yesterday there were less than one thousand new cases, a benchmark that has

held since mid June.  6 hundred 26 new cases were reported across the state on

Monday.  South Carolina also saw a drop in new coronavirus cases with 7 hundred

18 new cases reported. Catawba County had an increase of 13 new cases on

Monday for a cumulative total of 2 thousand one hundred and 61.  22 patients

are hospitalized in Catawba and 1 thousand 6 hundred 79 have recovered. 

Caldwell County had an increase of 19 cases on Monday for a total of 1 thousand

2 hundred and 27.  656 patients have recovered and 18 are hospitalized.

Positive cases of coronavirus continue to increase in Burke County; 24 new cases reported since Sunday with a total now at 1-thousand-774 positives since the pandemic began.

According to the county’s website, of Burke’s nearly 18-hundred positives, 349 cases are active, 15 individuals remain hospitalized, and 1-thousand-386 are presumed recovered.

McDowell County health officials report 21 new positive cases of COVID-19 and 2 additional deaths this afternoon.

McDowell’s total is now at 649 positive cases; while 272 people remain in quarantine, 360 are out of quarantine, and there have been 17 deaths.

McDowell public health continues to monitor an outbreak at Deer Park Health and Rehab where 33 residents and 26 staff members have tested positive.

Three Deer Park residents remain hospitalized, while 10 have died.

The McDowell County Health Department is holding a free drive-thru testing clinic Friday August 14^th 9 until 11 am.

Oktoberfest Cancelled

Otoberfest in Hickory has been cancelled.  The annual event set for October 9^th

through 11^th will not happen due to concerns about Covid-19.  The HDDA says the

measure must be taken to insure public health.  The next Oktoberfest is set for

2021.

Meth Arrest

A Nebo man is arrested for drug possession in McDowell County.

Reports say officers stopped a vehicle on July 13^th for multiple traffic violations.

A search of the car turned up more than 2 grams of meth in the passenger area, occupied by 30-year-old Jacob Lee McNeilly of US 70 East.

McNeilly was charged with meth possession.

Meanwhile, an inmate housed in the McDowell County jail is charged with injury to real property.

21-year-old David Allen Whittington of Nebo was charged after, reports say, he broke a window in one of the cells.

Gas Leak

A gas leak in Catawba County Monday forced the temporary closing of a roadway.

Parts of NC 10 near Startown Road was closed until 6 p.m. according to officials with the state department of transportation.

Reports say a crew with the city of Newton was working on water and sewer lines for a new animal hospital in the area whenever the leak occurred.

City officials say the location had been checked for gas lines prior to the project; however, a two-inch gas line was missed.

No injuries were reported.