COVID-19 UPDATE

A single-digit increase in COVID-19 cases Thursday, as Burke County Public Health reported nine additional positives.

Burke is currently at 9-thousand-534 cases, with 273 still active, and 2 residents hospitalized.

McDowell County reported 10 new cases yesterdayday for a total of 4-thousand-804 positives.

107 McDowell residents remain in quarantine.

Thursday marked a year since the World Health Organization declared the spread of COVID as a worldwide pandemic.

Vaccine Clinic

The Burke County COVID-19 vaccination team will hold a mini-clinic this afternoon 1 until 3:30 for residents who are eligible to receive the vaccine in groups 1 through 3.

This includes healthcare workers, long term care workers and residents, and behavioral health staff.

Anyone 65 and older regardless of chronic conditions is eligible.

Today'sclinic will also assist frontline essential workers including grocery store workers and those who sell medicines.

Food distribution workers are eligible, as the group includes restaurant workers, farm workers, and food processing workers.

Those serving in government and community services, health care, public health, along with public safety and transportation are eligible as well.

If you are part of these aforementioned groups and have yet to receive your vaccine, call the Burke County Health Department at 828-764-9226 to schedule an appointment for today’s clinic.

Appointments are first come, first served.

Group 4 Vaccine

And as NC receives additional vaccine, Governor Cooper has moved up the next group in line for the shots.

At a Thursday afternoon news conference, the governor said the state will start vaccinating some people in Group 4 beginning March 17^th – a week ahead of schedule.

Officials with the state’s department of health and human services say they are seeing vaccine supply improve in hopes to keep ahead of schedule.

As Group 4 begins, it will include people who are homeless, prisoners who have not yet been vaccinated, and people aged 16 to 64 with high-risk medical conditions such as cancer, kidney disease, and diabetes.

Additional essential workers including retail employees, those in public works, and people in financial service will also be allowed to get the vaccine.

School Bill Passes

NC Public Schools have 21 days to open full time for grades Kindergarten through 5^th, as set forth by the passage of State House Bill 220 Thursday morning.

Bill 220 requires grades K-5 to open full time for students under Plan A in-person instruction.

The previous Senate Bill 37 was less strict in that it allowed the targeted age group to remain in Plan B if chosen by the district.

 Bill 220 also allows district flexibility to choose between Plan A for grades 6 to 12, or to move to hybrid learning under Plan B. 

Thursday’s House vote came about through negotiations between legislative Republicans and Governor Cooper, as the bill received Senate approval Wednesday.

Reports indicate Cooper is prepared to sign the bill.

Districts have 21 days to comply with the law, but they can make changes before the deadline.