In mid-March, County Emergency Management Director Greg Shuping assembled the âwar room,â something that happens when a disaster of some sort is headed this way.
Instead of the typical teams leading the discussion â those trained in dealing with threats such as fires, weather events or chemical spills, Shuping immediately turned his focus to Patrick Johnson, the county public health director.
The disaster headed toward the county was not typical of those faced in recent decades. It was a global pandemic that would require a far different skill set than had been needed before. Luckily, Johnson was well-equipped to lead the county through the crisis.
New COVID cases not slowing down in Haywood
Between Dec. 23 and Dec. 28, Haywood County Public Health has received notice of 185 new cases of COVID-19.
As of 5 p.m. Dec. 28, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has recorded a total of 2,005 cases in Haywood County since the pandemic began. There are 351 people isolating with COVID-19. The health department is monitoring these cases.
Another cause for concern continues to be people who refuse case monitoring or contact efforts. The health department has begun tracking this number in order to know whether this is a growing trend. There are 26 (up five from last week) such uncooperative positive cases now who may be ignoring the advice to isolate from others.
NC COVID-19 Update: Over 3,000 hospitalized as numbers continue to increase my40.tv - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from my40.tv Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Haywood County Health and Human Services is reporting seven more COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total number now to 62.
All of the deaths were people over the age of 85. At the time of their death, five were residents of Autumn Care, one was a resident of Silver Bluff and one died at Haywood Regional Medical Center.
Five have COVID-19 listed as the immediate/primary cause of death with no underlying conditions listed. Each of those five has “other significant conditions contributing to death” also noted.
COVID-19 is indicated as the underlying cause (the disease or injury that initiated the events resulting in death) on the death certificates for the other two.
Here's the vaccine rollout process in Haywood themountaineer.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from themountaineer.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.