COVID-19 UPDATE

Most of the positive cases of COVID-19 are because of community spread due to all types of gatherings such as recent Halloween parties, sports activities, and close contacts with other household members – that word coming from Burke County health officials as positives continue to mount.

Officials reported 34 new positive cases Monday, with a current total of 3-thousand-338.

Of that total, 459 cases are active, 2-thousand-787 are recovered, and 8 are still hospitalized.

Local public health in a news release, urge residents not to attend gatherings of any kind, especially when they’re sick.

The release goes on to say as we move into the holiday season where social gatherings are normally held between family, friends, and neighbors, remember all gatherings pose a risk for virus transmission, including the flu.

State health officials recommend having a screening for COVID-19 three to four days ahead of time for those planning to attend or host a gathering.

Also, health experts warn against participating in the traditional Black Friday shopping where customers gather in large groups waiting for the store to open or are in crowded stores for extended periods.

Any large gathering of people poses an increased risk for spreading the virus.

McDowell County reported 41 new cases for a total of 1-thousand-380. There was an additional virus-related death and 123 McDowell residents remain in quarantine.

Caldwll County reported the 34th COVID-19 related death Monday. The patient was over 75 and hospitalized with underlying health conditions. 46 new virus cases were reported for a county total of 2-thousand-877.

In Catawba County, 53 additional COVID-19 cases were reported Monday for a county total of 5-thousand-224.

Lenoir Rhyne Remote

Due to a substantial increase in COVID-19 in Catawba County, students at Lenoir Rhyne University are now learning exclusively online.

Students there are also being urged to move home early if possible because of the growing case count.

School officials say before classes began they required all students and faculty to take a COVID-19 test before arriving on campus.

Since then, school leaders report the university was averaging 6 to 9 cases a week, and only recently an uptick of about 9 to 12 cases weekly which they believed was manageable.

However, there has been a 300-percent increase in positive cases overall in Catawba County.

Banner Elk Fire

One person died in an early Sunday morning house fire in Avery County.

According to fire officials, the fire was reported just before 7 am in Banner Elk.

Reports say fire apparatus experienced difficulties in getting to the scene because of limited access for the tankers.

Two of the home’s occupants escaped with minor injuries reports say, while one person was discovered deceased inside.

The residence received heavy damages. The Red Cross is assisting the family.

Lincoln Shooting

Lincoln County deputies continue to investigate a Thursday shooting incident.

35-year-old Thomas Mathis of Lincolnton told officers he and 36-year-old Cody Johnson of Vale were involved in a physical altercation at Johnson’s home.

During the fight reports say, 28-year-old Katie Lattimore of Shelby shot Mathis in the abdomen.

Officers stopped Lattimore as she was trying to leave the scene and charged her with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

Two days following the incident, Lincoln deputies and Longview Police arrested Lattimore at a location in Catawba County.

She was taken into custody under a 50-thousand dollar secured bond.

Mathis was transported to Atrium Health Cleveland where he was treated and released the next day.

Shelby Police served him with an outstanding warrant for breaking and entering a motor vehicle that occurred a day prior to the shooting.

As a convicted felon Cody Johnson was served a search warrant for his home, after which deputies located a handgun and meth.

He was then charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and jailed under a 20-thousand dollar bond.