Cluster of Cases Identified and 129th Death Reported Total Cases Cases Reported Recovered Patients

Caldwell County Health Department confirmed another COVID-19-related death and identified a cluster of cases in Caldwell County Schools.

Since schools reopened for in-person instruction in August 2020, the Caldwell County School System has adhered to all safety protocols and procedures in screening students and staff, sanitizing facilities, wearing face masks, using hand sanitizer and washing hands, and requiring six-foot distancing as recommended by the state and the CDC.

In addition, school district leadership checks in daily with local health officials to optimize policies and practices as COVID knowledge has developed. Each week the school district publicly posts the number of positive cases of staff and students, which shows a trend of lower transmission within the school setting. The first reported cluster occurred this week and involves students’ participation in the varsity football program at South Caldwell High School. A cluster is a minimum of five cases with illness onset or initial positive results within a 14-day period and a plausible epidemiolocal link. Any student identified as a close contact has been notified, and the varsity football team will remain on quarantine through the health department’s recommended timeframe.

“Protecting the health and safety of our students and staff is our number one goal,” said Superintendent Dr. Don Phipps. “We’ve had strong preventive measures in place this year, and we will continue to monitor and implement safety procedures and protocols as student opportunities expand beyond the academic instruction.”

The COVID-19-related death was a patient between the ages of 50 and 64, who was reported to have underlying health conditions, and had been hospitalized.

Twenty-six cases — 13 in the 28645 Zip code, six in 28630, six in 28638, and one in 28667 — were reported. One patient is under the age of 17; two are between 18 and 24; 10 are between 25 and 49; eight patients are between 50 and 64; three are between 65 and 74; and two are over the age 75.

Winter weather has delayed delivery of vaccine to the state. NC Department of Health and Human Services is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and vaccine providers to help minimize the potential effects of these delays.

Sign up for the Health Department’s vaccine waiting list at vaccine.caldwellcountync.org. To learn more about being vaccinated by Caldwell UNC Health Care, visit YourShot.org or call 828-757-6487.

Additional Information

The NC DHHS along with NC Department of Public Instruction will begin issuing additional benefits through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program on Feb. 19. These benefits will be received over several days starting Friday for those who already have an EBT card for Food and Nutrition Services or P-EBT benefits.