CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. – Earlier today, the Cherokee County Health Department released details about another positive COVID-19 case, who worked at Lowe’s in Murphy and asks employees to self-monitor.

A resident of Cherokee County has tested positive for COVID – 19 and is currently isolated in their home in Cherokee County. This individual presented to the Cherokee County Health Department seeking evaluation for symptoms of COVID-19 and was tested. This person was informed of the need to isolate at the time of testing, however, this person had been symptomatic for close to two weeks prior to seeking care. Cherokee County Health Department is working to notify close known contacts of this individual.

Due to the individual continuing to work and be in the community prior to and after becoming symptomatic, public health officials anticipate there to be potential for additional exposure who are not easily identifiable. This individual works at Lowe’s in Murphy, NC. It is now advised that everyone self-monitor for a respiratory type illness and isolate immediately if symptoms begin. However, if you have been to the Lowe’s located in Murphy, NC any time between March 22nd and April 7th and you had contact with anyone who was less than 6 feet from you for 10 minutes or longer, it is advised that you quarantine yourself and monitor for symptoms of illness for 14 days from the date of potential exposure.

Lowe’s employees in Murphy, N.C. are asked to self-monitor for respiratory illness symptoms.

If you become sick during this time, you should isolate yourself and your household in an effort to stop the spread of this virus. Persons should remain isolated when sick 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.
  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.

If you become sick with a respiratory type illness and are in one of the following categories, please contact the Cherokee County Health Department at 828-837-7486 to speak to a provider to determine if you need to be tested:

• Healthcare worker
• 65 years and older
• Underlying health conditions such as chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma; serious heart conditions; people with weakened immune systems, severe obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis, liver disease.
• First Responder
• Essential worker

Cherokee County Health Department is working closely with Lowe’s of Murphy, NC in order to determine dates and times this individual was working. Coworkers of this individual are being notified, assessed and tested as indicated based on risk. The infected individual has not had contact with anyone known to be infected with COVID-19. To our knowledge, no residents of Cherokee County are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19.

This serves as an important reminder that Staying at Home and practicing social distancing when necessary to go out into the public are the most effective interventions that we as a community can take to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

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 also recommended that all individuals only go into public areas for essential activities. The CDC now recommends that cloth face coverings be worn in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies).

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 test results in North Carolina.

Cherokee County Health Department regularly updates our Facebook page with accurate and current information regarding COVID-19, 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.

Here’s more information on yesterday’s confirmed case.