CHEROKEE COUNTY, NC – Six people who were diagnosed with COVID – 19 and isolated in Cherokee County to prevent further spread of the virus have recovered and have been released from isolation. These individuals were isolated until they had test results indicating they were no longer infected with COVID-19. The Health Department expects additional cases to be released soon.

Cherokee County Health Department is happy to report that these individuals have made a full recovery, however, the Health Department cautions that not everyone who is infected with the virus will fully recover. Especially at risk are those individuals that fall within the high-risk categories.

This is a sliver of positive news and further highlights the need within our community to be vigilant in staying at home and social distancing when necessary to go out in the public. Many of the positive cases subsequently reported were based off of contact tracing and follow-up testing of direct and indirect contacts. This is important work which was facilitated by the John C. Campbell Folk School and helps to highlight that we are seeing the vast majority of positive cases demonstrate minimal symptoms.

To date 104 residents of Cherokee County have been tested and placed under isolation orders along with household contacts being quarantined until results come back. Cherokee County Health Department has reported out all 11 confirmed cases and are continually working on contact tracing to further suppress the potential spread of COVID 19.

Those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 are:

• People aged 65 years and older
• People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility
• People with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, including:
• Chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma
  • People who have serious heart conditions
  • People who have weakened immune systems
  • People with severe obesity
  • People with diabetes
  • People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis
  • People with liver disease

The CDC is now urging anyone who becomes ill with a respiratory type illness to isolate until the following criteria are met:

• At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery defined as resolution of fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath), AND
• At least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.

It is also recommended that household and close contacts of persons with a respiratory type illness should quarantine to the extent possible for 14 days and monitor for symptoms of a respiratory illness. If household or close contacts become sick during the 14 day monitoring period, it is advised that they then isolate until the criteria for discontinuation of isolation (listed above) are met.

Because COVID-19 is most commonly spread through respiratory droplets, individuals should take the same measures that health care providers recommend to prevent the spread of the flu and other viruses, including washing your hands, avoiding touching your face, staying home if you are sick and covering coughs and sneezes with your elbow. It is important to make sure the information you are getting about COVID-19 is coming directly from reliable sources like Cherokee County Health Department, CDC, and NCDHHS. For more information, please visit
the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus and NCDHHS’ website at www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus, which will also include future positive COVID-19 virus test results in North Carolina.

Cherokee County Health Department regularly updates our Facebook page with accurate and current information regarding the COVID-19 virus, we encourage the public to check our Facebook page for up-to-date information.
Symptoms for COVID-19 are fever, cough, and other lower respiratory illness (shortness of breath). If you are having a mild respiratory illness, isolate yourself from others until the criteria above is met. If your illness becomes severe requiring urgent or emergent health care, call and inform your health care provider or emergency services of your symptoms prior to arrival.

If you have questions, you may call the Health Department at 828-837-7486 during regular office hours which are Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM.