COVID-19 Update

Burke County has now lost 143 residents to COVID-19; the latest death reported to be an individual in their 70’s.

Health officials report the person was hospitalized but later died from virus related complications.

Public health reports 12 new cases in Burke, pushing the current total of positive cases to 9-thousand-480.

378 of those cases are reported to be active, and 5 residents remain hospitalized.

Health officials in McDowell County report 20 new COVID-19 cases today, with a current total at 4-thousand-751.

117 remain quarantined.

Caldwell County reported 13 new cases of the virus for a total of 8-thousand-748, with 16 people hospitalized.

In Catawba County, 42 additional cases of coronavirus reported on Thursday for a total of 17-thousand-188, with 21 patients in the hospital.

Visitation Resumes

Long-awaited and welcome news for those with loved ones residing in long-term care facilities – state health officials say most facilities currently meet the criteria to resume indoor visitation.

Thursday’s announcement comes as new COVID-19 cases throughout NC long term facilities have declined rapidly in the last several weeks according to the state’s department of health and human services.

Officials say the rapid decline in case numbers can be attributed to early vaccination prioritization for residents and staff of the facilities.

More than 205-thousand vaccines have been administered to long term care staff and residents; while the vaccinations through the federal long term care partnership for COVID-19 vaccines continues this month.

To resume indoor visitation, a facility must still follow infection prevention practices and have no new cases of COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

BVA Open Enrollment

The Burke Virtual Academy is holding open enrollment for students interested in a virtual education for the 2021-2022 academic school year.

The academy is for any student kindergarten through 12^th grade wishing to take a full slate of online classes, or for middle and high school students who would like to enroll in at least one online class while also attending in person classes at their base school or at Western Piedmont Community College.

Enrollment requires a year-long commitment from kindergarten through 8^th grade students and a semester-long commitment for 9^th through 12^th grade students.

Students must also meet certain eligibility requirements.

For more information, visit the Burke Virtual Academy website at bcva.burke.k12.nc.us.

The deadline to enroll is Friday April 16^th.

Hickory Fire

A fire at a vacant house prompted response from Hickory firefighters just after 7:30 this morning.

Smoke was reported to be coming from the basement of the unoccupied house at 1523 5^th Avenue Southwest whenever fire officials arrived.

A news release reports firefighters checked the building for possible occupants, and were further able to quickly contain the fire.

No injuries were reported and damages are considered as moderate.

The fire remains under investigation.

Marion Meth

While investigating a suspicious vehicle in McDowell County, authorities uncover drugs on two men.

On February 7^th, deputies approached the vehicle that was sitting in a parking lot off US 70 East.

The car’s occupants 38-year-old Paul Burton Smith of Marion and 38-year-old Jason Jeffrey Spencer of Tennessee were found to each possess meth following a search by officers.

Both Smith and Spencer were charged with possession of a controlled substance.