COVID-19 UPDATE

After seeing triple-digit daily increases for a short time, Burke County Public Health officials reported 38 new positive cases of COVID-19 on Monday.

Burke County's total of positives currently stands at 5-thousand-85.

1-thousand-2 cases are reported to be active, and 22 Burke County residents are hospitalized with the virus.

McDowell County health officials reported 1-hundred-4 new positives Monday, with a total now of 2-thousand-361 confirmed cases, with one additional virus-related death.

418 residents in McDowell are presently quarantined.

Catawba County reported 159 new cases of the virus for a total of 9-thousand-278 with 90 patients hospitalized. In Caldwell County, there were 32 additional cases of coronavirus reported for a total of 4-thousand-386 and 38 people hospitalized, which is the highest number of hospitalizations for a day since the panademic began.

Burke County health department officials remind residents who need a COVID test before the Christmas and New Year’s holidays to contact testing sites to check their modified testing schedules.

Some offices, pharmacies, and testing labs are changing operating hours in the coming weeks due to the holidays.

For a complete list regarding testing recommendations and practices during the holidays, visit the Burke Health department’s COVID-19 webpage and their FaceBook page.

N Liberty Goes Remote

North Liberty School is moving to remote learning as school officials have been made aware of numerous COVID-19 cases.

A news release about the transition to Plan C instruction says the number of positive cases at North Liberty is leading to a staffing shortage, while several classrooms also need to be quarantined.

Remote learning will continue at least through Monday December 21st.

North Liberty principal Lisa Summey notified parents Monday about the positive cases.

North Liberty is the third Burke County school to return to temporary remote learning in the last week due to a discovery of positive cases.

Murder Charge

A Morganton man has been charged with murder following a weekend shooting incident.

According to a Burke County Sheriff’s Office news release, deputies responded to a reported shooting Sunday night just before 9:30 at 1746 Skyland Drive.

Officers found 49-year-old Brandon Charles Adams with shotgun wounds.

Reports say Adams was transported by Burke EMS for treatment, but later died from his injuries.

63-year-old George Lee Allison the third of 1744 Skyland Drive has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting.

Detectives were called to investigate, obtained a search warrant, and discussed their findings with the District Attorney’s office.

Allison is being held in the Burke County jail with no bond.

The investigation continues.

Hickory Man Killed

A head-on collision on Interstate-40 near Asheville late Saturday claims the lives’ of two motorists including that of a Hickory man.

Reports with Asheville Police say officers arrived at the scene between Brevard Road and Hendersonville Road to discover one of the vehicles had been traveling in the wrong direction in the eastbound lane.

47-year-old Joseph Wesley Hyatt of Hickory was reportedly the driver of the vehicle traveling in the wrong direction.

Hyatt died at the scene, while the second driver 19-year-old Blake Daniel Banks of Asheville was transported to Mission Hospital where he also died from his injuries.

A preliminary investigation, reports say, indicates Hyatt was impaired at the time of the collision, but toxicology results are pending.

The accident remains under investigation by the Asheville Police Department’s traffic safety unit.

Shelby Shooting

Shelby Police are investigating an Monday afternoon shooting that left one dead, and another in custody.

Reports say the fatal shooting happened near the Hampton Inn close to the Cleveland Mall.

Officials have confirmed one person has died, and another was placed in handcuffs at the scene.

The victim’s identity has not yet been released.

The investigation is on-going.