From the Hyde County Health Department Dec. 30; 6:30 p.m.
The Hyde County Health Department on Wednesday night reported that the COVID-19 case count continues to increase with Hyde County at 118 as of 4 p.m.
Total cases to date is 365 with 242 recovered and five deaths.
“Much research must go into death counts, so this number may change in time,” Luana Gibbs, Hyde County Health Director, said in the release.
“Today’s numbers have risen significantly due to another outbreak in the Hyde Correctional Facility,” she said. “This outbreak, coupled with the community spread peaks, explain the high number of cases. As mentioned in yesterday’s press release, this will continue.”
According to the NC Department of Health & Human Services COVID-19 dashboard, 47 of the active cases are on Ocracoke.
1718 Brewing Ocracoke announced on Wednesday that it would close since staff in the brew house side of things has tested positive for COVID-19.
The press release said the following about vaccines:
The NC DHHS has released a timeline for vaccination with the COVID-19 vaccine for individuals.
Individuals 75 years of age and older, health care workers who were not included in phase 1a, plus frontline essential workers (defined below) will be the next wave of folks to get the vaccine, which is expected to start the week of January 4 based on vaccine availability. This group of folks is considered the Group 1b.
Appointments must be made, and a press release and additional information will be posted throughout the community for procedures on how to get your vaccine.
Frontline essential workers are:
▪ First responders (e.g., firefighters and police officers)
▪ Corrections officers
▪ Food and agricultural workers
▪ U.S. Postal Service workers
▪ Manufacturing workers
▪ Grocery store workers
▪ Public transit workers
▪ Education and childcare workers (teachers, support staff, day care).
Other individuals will get vaccinations following Group 1b, but specifics will be released as they roll out.
Testing continues to be a priority for those who have been exposed to the virus, or develop symptoms.
Contact Hyde County Health Department 926-4399, Engelhard Medical Center 925-7000, or Ocracoke Health Center 928-1511 for appointments. For 24/7 on-call services, dial 1-866-462-3821, the Coronavirus Hotline.
Hyde County Health Department will be closed on Friday, New Year’s Day.
Get your information from reliable sources, such as:
- CDC, www.cdc.gov/Coronavirus
- NC Division of Health and Human Services, www.ncdhhs.gov,
- Hyde County Health Department, www.hydehealth.com, 252-926-4399
