Full Notification

October 28, 2020

The McDowell County Health Department has been notified that 16 additional McDowell County residents have tested positive for novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

“Please do your part, be part of the solution and wear a face covering.  It is critical to stop transmission in our community.  Large gatherings of individuals, without face coverings, continues to be a major source of transmission.  This pandemic is far from over and the only way to slow it down is to use all precautions possible.  If you think you have been exposed, get tested.  If you do test positive for COVID-19, stay at home for the full 10 days in order to not pass the virus to others.” stated Public Health Director Karen Powell. 
 
This brings the total number of positives to 1,238 in McDowell County. There have been 17,664 people tested, 16,381 negative results and 45 tests are pending results.  Presently, there are 151 individuals in quarantine, 1054 out of quarantine and 33 deaths.

Emergency Services and Public Health continue to offer assistance and logistical support to facilities that are experiencing current outbreaks of COVID-19. Outbreaks are defined by DHHS as:  two or more cases of COVID-19 in a congregate living facility within 28 days.  The current outbreaks in McDowell County are:

• Cedarbrook Residential in Nebo:  This outbreak has been declared over, as the facility has gone 28 days without any new positive staff members or residents.   
• Autumn Care of Marion:  a total of 16 staff and 44 residents have tested positive.  A total of 17 residents and 8 staff members have recovered since testing positive for COVID-19.
• Marion Correctional Institution: a total of 15 staff and 3 inmates have tested positive
• McDowell County Detention Center:  a total of 4 staff and 2 inmates have tested positive.  Currently, there are 2 positive staff members, 2 recovered staff members and 2 recovered inmates. 

The Health Department is working diligently to get in touch with all contacts of positives to offer testing.  We continue to quarantine all positives for 10 days, per CDC recommendations.  If an individual would like to be tested, they can call the hotline at (828) 527- 6687. The operator will ask a list of questions and will provide the caller with the appropriate instructions based upon the answers given. The hours of operation for this hotline are 8AM – 8PM, 7 days per week.  If you are having a medical emergency, call 9-1-1 and inform the dispatcher that you have symptoms of COVID-19.

To view McDowell County’s COVID-19 Data Dashboard, please click the following link:
http://www.mcdowellem.com/covid-19-information.html
 
Free COVID-19 testing will be conducted at the following locations via a drive-thru setup:

• McDowell County Health Department; Friday, October 30th from 9-11 a.m.
• McDowell County Health Department; Monday, November 2^nd from 9-11 a.m.