COVID Update

The number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in Burke County as the online dashboard indicates 66 new cases on Thursday.

Burke’s total is now 15-thousand-146, with 993 cases reported as being active.

Online figures show a decline in hospitalizations; 41 Burke residents are in the hospital.

The majority of new virus cases are still being reported among those under the age of 40.

McDowell County reports 38 new cases of the virus for a total of 8-thousand-239.

434 McDowell residents are in quarantine.

Burke Health Department officials say they are now administering booster doses of the Pfizer vaccine to those who are eligible.

Booster doses can be given at a minimum of 6 months from the second dose.

Call the Burke Health Department at 764-9150.

Also health officials will hold a COVID-19 vaccination today from 4 to 7 pm at the Catawba Brewery in Morganton.

Appointments are not required.

All three types of the vaccine will be available; along with the Pfizer booster dose.

If getting the booster, be sure to have your vaccination card with you.

Cleveland Co Incentive

Cleveland County health officials have announced a new COVID-19 vaccine incentive program.

Beginning October 4^th, any Cleveland County resident 12 years old or older who receives a first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will receive a 50-dollar Visa gift card.

Reports say Commissioners authorized the use of grant monies to make the incentive program possible.

According to Cleveland County health officials, only 49-percent of those 12 or older in the county are fully vaccinated.

The vaccination average across NC currently stands at 61-percent.

Weapon and Drugs at Schools

A weapon and drugs were found on Hickory school students in separate incidents this week.

At Hickory High, a student was charged with having a weapon on school grounds as reported by Hickory Police.

According to authorities, the weapon was a 5-inch fixed blade M-tech knife.

Reports say the student that was charged did not threaten anyone with the knife before police took possession of it.

And at Northview Middle School, a student was charged with possession of a schedule-6 controlled substance.

Officers found the student with point-16 grams of marijuana.

Corning Expansion

Cable manufacturing company Corning will create 200 new jobs and invest 150-million dollars as part of an expansion of its operations at the Trivium Center in Catawba County.

The county’s governing bodies jointly approved a total of up to 8-point-2 million dollars in incentives.

Governor Cooper’s office, reports say, reports Corning stands to receive an additional amount up to 2-million dollars in state incentives over the next 12 years.

New positions will average a minimum salary of 55-thousand, which is 11-thousand more per year than the county’s average wage.

Corning will have to create the new positions by the end of 2024.