COVID-19 Update

Only 19 new cases of COVID-19 since last Friday has been added to Burke County’s total on Monday.

Health officials in Burke County reported a current total of 9-thousand-450 positive cases.

457 cases are reported to be active, while 8 Burke residents are still hospitalized.

Officials at the Burke County vaccine call center say they have appointments available this week at Freedom High School.

If you are over the age of 65 or a front line healthcare worker and want the vaccine, call 828-358-4454 to schedule an appointment.

Elsewhere in McDowell County, health workers reported 19 additional positive cases yesterday for a total of 4-thousand-687.

88 McDowell County residents remain in quarantine.

J and J Vaccine

NC will now have another tested, safe, and effective COVID-19 vaccine to protect against virus-related hospitalization and death.

The federal government has authorized the distribution of Johnson and Johnson’s one-shot vaccine and more than 80-thousand doses are due to arrive in the state this week beginning Wednesday.

Like the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the Johnson and Johnson may have possible but temporary reactions such as a sore arm, fever, headache, or feeling tired and achy for a day or two.

Health officials say all of the vaccines currently authorized were built upon decades of previous work on similar vaccines.

The increased supply, reports say, will help to ensure the equitable distribution and access to COVID-19 vaccines throughout NC communities.

The Johnson and Johnson vaccine is a single dose shot and does not require extreme cold storage.

As a result, it’s more easily shipped, stored and administered – factors that will help to increase the number of vaccination sites and make them more accessible.

Catawba Co Shooting

Catawba County authorities are investigating a weekend shooting that left a man dead on Saturday night.

Deputies with the Catawba Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a shooting at a residence at 20^th Avenue Southwest in the Brookford area just after 11:30 pm.

Once on the scene, officers discovered Justin James Locklear dead from a gunshot wound.

Those who lived inside the residence, reports say, heard noises outside their home and later found Locklear in their yard.

Officials report Locklear attacked a male prior to being shot and killed.

Reports further say a vehicle he was believed to have been driving was found wrecked at a nearby intersection.

Officers with the Catawba Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate.

No charges have been filed.

Another Charged in Shooting

A second man has now been charged in connection with a McDowell County shooting that took place in early February.

Shortly before 10:30 pm on February 7^th, deputies were called to Owl Hollow Road where they found 29-year-old Patrick Ryan Poteat of Marion lying in a yard suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg.

As Poteat was taken to the hospital for treatment, officers continued to look for the assailant identified as 25-year-old Cody Thomas Brown of Nebo.

Once found, Brown was arrested and charged that night with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury.

Reports say Brown and Poteat had exchanged gunfire, leaving Poteat injured.

Brown was not injured reports say.

Now Poteat has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a stolen firearm.