COVID-19 update

Burke County Public Health Monday reported the sixty-fifth COVID-19 related death.

The individual was in their 90’s, was hospitalized, and later died from virus-related complications. Burke County’s numbers of positives indicates 90 new positives since Saturday., for a current total of 3-thousand-591. 

Local officials say the jump in numbers is due to several factors –

Increased testing within the county as there are now 22 permanent testing sites in Burke.

Time between notification between the testing sites and health officials.

Community spread and household contacts that continues to drive positive numbers up.

Residents who continue to gather in groups of more than 10 indoors without physically distancing or wearing masks  and

People who continue to go to work, events, church and other places within the community when they are sick, thus spreading the infection.

 In Caldwell County, an outbreak at a long care facility, with Brookdale reporting 3 staff and 1 resident testing positive for COVID-19. 74 new cases were reported Monday for a current total of 3-thousand-62. The 39th COVID-19 related death was reported with the individual over the age of 75, had been hospitalized, and with underlying health conditions.

Catawba County reported 91 additional cases of the virus for a total of 5-thousand-813.

And in McDowell County 44 new cases of COVID-19 and a tota; of 1-thousand-502.

Stolen Motorcycle

Two Nebo men have been charged in connection with the recent theft of a motorcycle.

McDowell County deputies were searching the Wheeler Drive residence of 29-year-old Mitchell Ray Roper and 34-year-old Jonathan Carl Ross for an unrelated case and found the motorcycle, a 2018 Suzuki which had been reported stolen in Shelby.

Roper and Ross were charged with possession of stolen goods.