COVID -19 UPDATE

With no end in sight to the rise in COVID-19 cases, a cluster of cases is now reported at a Burke County High School involving a school bus.

A press release from the school system says all students who rode the bus at East Burke High between August 25^th and August 30^th have been quarantined.

Currently 8 positive cases have been reported and 37 students are in quarantine; while 9 students are vaccinated and do not have to quarantine.

Officials say the bus has been thoroughly cleaned, and classes will remain in-person at East Burke, with no plans for remote learning.

School superintendent Dr. Mike Swan reminds students and staff of the importance of following the school’s mask policy while indoors and on buses.

Meanwhile, Governor Cooper has signed a bill allowing NC schools to shift to remote learning should a COVID-19 emergency occur.

The bill states that school districts now have authority to make day-to-day decisions about shifting in-person schools or classrooms to temporary remote instruction if necessary due to virus exposures resulting in reduced personnel or student quarantines.

The bill further states any shift should be reported to the Department of Public Instruction within 72 hours, with efforts to return to in-person instruction to be completed as soon as possible.

In addition, the bill says school districts should vote at least once a month on whether the face-covering policy should be modified – whether optional or required.

COVID-19 numbers continue their upward trend in Burke and surrounding counties as reported by public health officials Wednesday.

Burke reports 247 new cases since Monday for a total of 12-thousand-867.

1-thousand-249 of those cases are currently active and 35 Burke residents are in the hospital.

McDowell County yesterday reports 74 additional cases and 1 death.

McDowell’s current total is 6-thousand-767, and 714 are in quarantine.

Catawba County reports 620 new COVID-19 cases, and 7 deaths in the last week.

Catawba’s total is now 21-thousand 670, and 63 people are hospitalized.

At last report, Caldwell County’s total is 11-thousand-239.

651 COVID cases in Caldwell are active, and 29 remain in the hospital.

Burke County Health Department officials are hosting a vaccine clinic Friday September 3^rd 5 till 7 pm at Fonta Flora Brewery.

 

Firefighter Dies from COVID

The emergency services community along with residents who live in the Catawba Valley is mourning the death of a local firefighter from COVID-19.

Garrett Presnell was a full-time fireman for Black Mountain Fire, while also working part time for several McDowell County departments including Sugar Hill-Montford Cove, North Cove, Pleasant Gardens, and Old Fort.

Presnell was also a member of the Buncombe County Task Force Search and Rescue team that took part in rescue efforts after Tropical Storm Fred.

Fire apparatus, and other law enforcement officials from Catawba, Burke, and McDowell counties lined the overpass bridges along Interstate-40 Tuesday afternoon in honor of Presnell and his family as his body was returned home.

A bass tournament is set for Monday September 6^th from 6 am till 1 pm at Black Bear Landing at Lake James, with monies raised going to Presnell’s wife.

Big Foot Fest Canceled

Another area festival re-scheduled due to the COVID-19 virus – the Western NC Bigfoot Festival held each September in Marion has been postponed until next spring.

Event organizers say the increase in COVID-19 numbers and the continued spread of the virus in WNC has prompted the postponement.

The Bigfoot fest will now take place on May 27^th and 28^th.

The festival began in 2018 after Marion proclaimed Sasquatch as its official animal following a reported sighting in the area that same year.