By Tim Gardner
The Toe River Health District, which governs health departments in the North Carolina High Country counties of Avery, Mitchell and Yancey, has released its updated Coronavirus (COVID-19) numbers for the last week of 2021 into the first week of 2022. And the number of persons infected with the potentially fatal virus in the three-county region has risen and at an alarming rate.
During the period from December 27th through January 2nd, Avery County had 153 new positive cases compared to 94 the week (seven days) before. That’s 59 more cases during the past week.
Avery County includes the townships and communities of Newland, Banner Elk, Elk Park, Beech Mountain, Linville, Invershield, Pineola, Crossnore, Ingalls, Pyatte, Hughes, Minneapolis, Roaring Creek, Spear, Plumtree and Cranberry.
Mitchell County reported 106 new positive cases during the time period and 44 the week before-a whopping increase of 62 new cases the past seven days.
Mitchell County includes the townships and communities of Spruce Pine, Bakersville, Penland, Minpro, Estatoe, Ledger, Red Hill, Poplar, Pigeon Roost, Loafers Glory and Buladean.
Yancey County had 172 new positive cases detected the past seven days, compared to 143 the previous week. That’s an increase of 29 cases.
Townships and communities in Yancey County include: Burnsville, South Toe, Micaville, Newdale, Bald Creek, Cane River, Egypt, Ramseytown, Green Mountain and Pensacola.
Mitchell and Yancey Counties each had 2 more deaths attributed to COVID-19 during the past week time span. The number of COVID-19 deaths in the Toe-River Health District counties (including Avery) since August 1, 2021 is 54.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste, loss of smell, diarrhea, nausea, headache, sore throat and body aches. If you experience these symptoms, please call your healthcare provider and follow their advice. If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 and inform the dispatcher that you have COVID-19 symptoms.
Toe River Health District Director Diane Creek and other medical professional have noted that because COVID-19 is most commonly spread through respiratory droplets, everyone is urged to take precautions to protect themselves from the spread of all respiratory illness, including COVID-19 until the vaccines are much more widely taken. Those include: Stay home as much as possible-especially stay home and quarantined when sick; practice social distancing (at least 6 feet); wear a mask when out in public; avoid contact with persons who you know are sick; cover your cough; practice good hand hygiene by washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use hand sanitizer that is at least 60 percent alcohol; and cleaning frequently touched surfaces often with household cleaners.
“It’s all-important to follow the precautions and to stay quarantined if you’re having COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to anyone with the disease,” said Creek. “And everyone should take the COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots. Following all these recommendations are the best ways to avoid developing this horrible and potentially deadly ailment.”
Emphasized points by the Toe River Health District and Avery, Mitchell and Yancey County Health Departments about the COVID-19 vaccine, include:
The vaccine is tested, safe, and effective.
You cannot get COVID-19 from taking the vaccine.
The vaccine will be provided free of charge to everyone who wants it.
Two doses and a booster shot are needed for maximum immunity.
More information about COVID-19, testing for the disease and the Toe River Health District can be obtained by calling its local health departments, depending on which of those counties in which you reside or where you plan to be inoculated:
Avery Co. Health Department (828)-733-6031
Mitchell Co. Health Department (828)-688-2371
Yancey Co. Health Department (828)-682-6118.
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