COVID-19 Update

NC’s daily COVID-19 positive test rate hits 16-point-5 percent Monday with record new cases and high hospitalizations statewide.

Burke County’s positivity rate is 11-percent, while McDowell County’s has soared to nearly 31-percent. 

Monday’s report listed 66 new cases in Burke, with a total of 6-thousand-617 positives.

McDowell County Monday afternoon reported 79 new cases, with a total standing at 3-thousand-246.

414 people in McDowell are in quarantine.

Caldwell County reported 82 new cases of the virus, for a total of 6-thousand-168, with the 78th COVID-19 death.

Catawba County saw an additonal 149 cases of coronavirus for a total of 12-thousand-017.

5-thousand-187 new COVID-19 cases were reported throughout the state Monday, with 3-thousand-635 hospitalized.

Vaccine Distribution

State health officials report NC will move into Phase 1-B of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution schedule this week; however, Burke County public health members say they are still working to vaccinate all those eligible in Phase 1-A.

Burke Health officials say there is no need to call the health department to ask about the vaccine or to make an appointment.

They further state they will be pushing out information about the next group of vaccinations as soon as Phase 1-A is completed, and when additional vaccine is made available.

Phase 1-B includes three groups, with priority given by occupation and age;

anyone over the age of 75, healthcare and essential workers over 50, and then all other healthcare and essential workers under 50.

Hospice Grant 

Burke Hospice and Palliative Care has received a 1-thousand dollar grant to assist in providing end-of-life care to its indigent patients.

Provided from the Huffman-Cornwell Foundation, the grant will go into the patient assistance fund; with monies used to enhance the care patients receive and ensure that all their needs are met, regardless of their ability to pay.

The newly created fund was included in the organization’s annual Heart of Hospice internal giving campaign, in which staff, volunteers, and the Board of Directors were all invited to participate.

More than 17-thousand dollars was pledged or raised during the campaign with 55-hundred dollars going to the Patient assistance fund.

Hospice Business Development Manager Kerri McFalls says the continued support from the community and granting organizations like the Huffman-Cornwell Foundation helps safeguard the organization’s mission, and will help ensure patients don’t have to choose between things like medication, food, or heat.

Stabbing Murder

A New Year’s Day stabbing in Forest City has led to the death of one man, and the arrest of another.

A news release from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office says family members discovered 52-year-old Kevin Keith Biggerstaff deceased in a bedroom covered in blood just before 9:30 last Friday.

An investigation by detectives and the SBI revealed Biggerstaff had died from a stab wound.

Officials say Steven Brent Mooney Junior was identified as a person of interest on scene, and following further investigation, Mooney was arrested and charged with first degree burglary and first degree murder.

Reports say Mooney was initially placed in the Rutherford County Detention Center without bond, but was later charged with having a controlled substance in jail.

He was then issued a 10-thousand dollar bond with additional charges possible.