28th COVID-19-Related Death Reported

Updated 9/18/2020

Caldwell County learned of its 28^th COVID-19-related death today. The patient, who was over the age of 75, was hospitalized and reported to have underlying conditions. To be counted by the county as a COVID-19-related death, the death certificate must list COVID-19 as a cause of death and the patient must have tested positive for the virus prior to their death.

Twelve COVID-19 cases were reported today — five in the 28645 Zip code, three in the 28630, two in the 28638, and two in the 28667. Three patients are under the age of 17; three are between 25 and 49; three patients are between 50 and 64; two patients are between 65 and 74; and one patient is over the age of 75.

Today, Caldwell County Emergency Management distributed personal protective equipment to the 16 fire/rescue agencies that serve the county. Departments received a supply of N-95 masks, gowns, procedural masks, face shields, safety glasses, and gloves. This PPE equips departments to expand the number of medical calls they currently run.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, fire departments only responded to immediate, life-threatening calls of the highest priority in an effort to both protect the first responder and limit the amount of PPE used. The PPE distributed today will allow these first responders to expand the number of calls to the next response level. While this effort does not return fire departments to running all medical calls, as they did prior to the pandemic, it does significantly expand their call volume.

For information about Coronavirus, visit www.caldwellcountync.org/coronavirus-covid-19 or call the Emergency Operations Center at 828-426-8605. For statistical information, visit www.caldwellcountync.org/coronavirus-covid-19/dashboard.

Emergency Services personnel load PPE for Gamewell Fire/Rescue.

 Sawmills Fire/Rescue picks up PPE for their first responders.

PPE waits on the dock, ready for the county’s fire/rescue departments.