Here is an index to assist you in moving from section to section within the article.
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Introduction
Developing COVID-19 News
Mission-HCA Patient Report
Detected, Active, Recovered, and Deaths
Testing Statistics
Vaccine Delivery Statistics
Macon County Public Schools Report
Support Macon Media
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Introduction
Numbers released on Monday, November 8, 2021.
Here are the latest COVID-19 numbers Macon Public Health, along with a couple of charts by Macon Media to show you the long-term trends since April 17th, 2020, when the health department started releasing numbers to the public. Numbers from the Macon County Public Schools have been added after the Vaccine Report and are more conveniently accessed via the Table of Contents at the top of this article.
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Developing COVID-19 News
There have been two reported COVID-19 deaths of Maconians this week, the current known total is 73. There were 10 deaths reported in October and 15 deaths reported in September and 4 deaths reported in August.
The Macon County Public Health department does not release their testing positivity rate to the public or the news media, but according to the COVID-19 Wastewater Dashboard, Macon County has a seven-day rolling average 8.7% positivity rate. Jackson County has 7.3%, Swain has 6.4%, Haywood has 11.8%, Clay County has 7.6%, and Cherokee County has 3.8%.
The health department has announced that booster shots are now available. For more information, please read the press release:
PRESS RELEASE (10-28-2021)
MACON PUBLIC HEALTH
COVID-19 BOOSTERS AVAILABLE FOR FULLY VACCINATED GROUPS TO MAINTAIN PROTECTION
Individuals who have received the primary two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna and the one dose Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccinations may be eligible for a booster vaccine to support the body’s immune response to COVID-19. Appointments are available at Macon County Public Health to all who meet the criteria for a booster dose. Those who received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna may be eligible for a booster vaccine as approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the following groups of people who received their second Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago. These recommendations apply to those who received the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccination for their first two vaccines, and they may get either booster with ANY of the available vaccines:
• Patients 65 years of age or older,
• Patients 18 years of age or older who are a resident of a long term care facility,
• Patients aged 18 to 64 who have an underlying health condition (See Note #1) that puts them at higher risk for severe COVID-19,(Note #2)
• Patients aged 18 to 64 who have an occupational or institutional exposure to COVID-19.
Those 18 and older who received the Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine are approved to get a booster vaccine by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They must have received their J&J vaccine at least two months ago. Those who received the J&J one shot vaccine are able to choose any of the available vaccines for their booster.
The Pfizer-BioNTech booster vaccine is also approved by the CDC for the following groups of people who received their second Pfizer vaccine at least 28 days prior. (See Note #3) These recommendations, currently, only apply to those who received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination for their first two vaccines:
• Patients 12 years of age and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
Those who meet the above criteria are encouraged to schedule their vaccine booster appointment, by calling Macon County Public Health at 828-349-2081. The booster vaccine is available at no cost to those who are eligible, regardless of their insurance status. If you are insured, you are asked to bring your insurance card to your appointment. You do not have to receive your booster at the same location that you received your primary COVID-19 vaccinations. However, you MUST bring your vaccination card that you received with your initial vaccine.
Each COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and J&J) is working to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death, in people who are fully vaccinated, if they become infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. However, with increased variant transmission, researchers are seeing a decrease in protections in those who are fully vaccinated and at additional risk, either due to their immune system or individual risk factors (like their occupation or living situation). These booster vaccinations will give these individuals the protection that they may have lost over time. There is not currently data to support vaccine boosters in the general population, because the general population has not seen the same decrease in protection, though it is possible that a vaccine booster will be recommended to the general public in the future.
Older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19; however, anyone of any age can become infected with this illness. Therefore, we ask that community members strictly follow the governor’s recommendations and continue to practice social distancing, as well as safe hygiene measures such as hand washing and frequently cleaning touched objects and surfaces. Everyone who is eligible is encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, a safe and effective prevention tool. If you believe that you may have COVID-19, please call the Health Department at 828-349-2081 to schedule an appointment for a test. To register and schedule an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, please call 828-349-2081.
Notes:
Note #1 -- Health Conditions That May Put A Person At Higher Risk Of Severe COVID-19: Cancer, Chronic kidney disease, Chronic lung diseases (like COPD, asthma, interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension), Dementia, Other Neurological conditions, Diabetes, Down syndrome, Heart conditions, HIV infection, Weakened immune system, Liver disease, Obesity, Pregnancy, Sickle cell disease, Smoking (current or former), Organ or blood transplant, Stoke or cerebrovascular disease, and Substance use disorders
Note #2 -- Those At Risk For Occupational and Institutional Exposures: Healthcare workers, Teachers/Educational staff, Correctional staff and inmates, First responders, Food and agricultural workers, Grocery store staff, Group home residents.
Note #3 -- Patients between the ages of 12-15 years of age must have parental/guardian consent to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and COVID-19 booster vaccine.
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Mission-HCA Patient Report
[editor's note: once enough data has been collected, Macon Media will begin producing a chart for this staistic]
As of 1:30 a.m. on Nov. 8 there are 40 COVID positive inpatients in Mission Health system; 32 at Mission Hospital; 2 at Angel Medical Center; 1 at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital; 3 at Mission Hospital McCowell; 2 at Transylvania Regional Hospital.
Message from Macon Public Health
Older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions may be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19; however, anyone of any age can become infected with this illness. Therefore, we ask that community members strictly follow the governor’s recommendations and continue to practice social distancing, as well as safe hygiene measures such as hand washing and frequently cleaning touched objects and surfaces. Everyone who is eligible is encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, a safe and effective prevention tool.
If you believe that you may have COVID-19, please call the Health Department at 828-349-2081 to schedule an appointment for a test. To register and schedule an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, please call 828-349-2081.
Here is a new chart that may be of some use to the public. It measures the change in the numbers of detected COVID-19 cases from Friday to Friday as a percentage change from the previous Friday. It starts on Friday, May 21st, which saw a 0.57% increase in detected cases over the previous week.
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Introduction
Known COVID-19 Cases
5446 Detected
(+13 from yesterday and +52 from last week and +213 in four weeks and +4641 or +576.52% from one year ago)
68 Active
(-7 (-9.33%) from yesterday and +7 (+11.48%) from last week and -90 (-56.96%) in four weeks and +30 or +56.96% from one year ago
5305 Recovered
(+18 from yesterday and +43 from last week and +296 in four weeks and +4596 (+598.95%) from one year ago)
73 Deaths
(+2 (+2.74%) from yesterday and +2 (+2.74) from last week and +7 (+10.61%) in four weeks and +65 or +812.50% from one year ago)
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Testing Statistics
Testing numbers reported to the health department
13218 by Macon County Public Health
(+25 from yesterday and +93 from last week and +434 in four weeks and +6571 or 98.86% from one year ago)
15292 by Others
(+63 from yesterday and +135 from last week and +631 in four weeks and +11985 or 362.41% from one year ago)
28510 Total Tests
(+88 from yesterday and +228 from last week and +1065 in four weeks and +18556 or 186.42% from one year ago)
55 tests pending results
(-15 from yesterday and +31 from last week and -133 in four weeks and -32 or -36.78% from one year ago)
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Vaccine Delivery Statistics
Vaccine Delivery Statistics
0 Vaccines Given Today
+0 from yesterday
0 given this week
2107 Vaccines in Inventory
-345 from Friday
+0 this week
13118 Total Vaccines Given
+4 from Friday
0 given this week
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Macon County Public Schools Report
Macon County Public Schools Report
Friday, November 05, 2021
Cartoogechaye Elementary
Currently Quarantined 0 students and 0 staff
Currently Posivitve 0 students and 0 staff
East Franklin Elementary
Currently Quarantined 7 students and 1 staff
Currently Posivitve 1 students and 0 staff
Franklin High School
Currently Quarantined 1 students and 0 staff
Currently Posivitve 1 students and 0 staff
Highlands School
Currently Quarantined 5 students and 0 staff
Currently Posivitve 0 students and 0 staff
Iotla Valley Elementary
Currently Quarantined 2 students and 0 staff
Currently Posivitve 1 students and 0 staff
Macon Early College
Currently Quarantined 0 students and 0 staff
Currently Posivitve 0 students and 0 staff
Macon Middle School
Currently Quarantined 3 students and 2 staff
Currently Posivitve 0 students and 0 staff
Mountain Valley Intermediate
Currently Quarantined 7 students and 1 staff
Currently Posivitve 3 students and 0 staff
Nantahala School
Currently Quarantined 0 students and 0 staff
Currently Posivitve 0 students and 0 staff
South Macon Elemenary
Currently Quarantined 25 students and 4 staff
Currently Posivitve 3 students and 1 staff
Union Academy
Currently Quarantined 2 students and 0 staff
Currently Posivitve 0 students and 0 staff
Central Offices
Currently Quarantined 0 staff
Currently Positive 0 staff
Totals
Students Quarantined 52
Students Positive 9
Students Avoiding Quantine Due to Vaccination 68
Total Students Out of School 61
Staff Quarantined 8
Staff Positive 1
Staff Avoiding Quarantine Due to Vaccination 52
Total Staff Out of School 9
Total Students and Staff Avoiding Quarantine 120
In School Transmissions 31
Substitues Quarantined 0
Substitutes Positive 0
Total Substitues Out 0
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Published at 7:00pm on Monday, November 08, 2021
Author: Bobby Coggins
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