Vaccination effort to move into the community
Apr. 23—There are signs that the COVID-19 disruptions to daily life are coming to an end.
The Haywood County call center that once kept eight people busy five days a week answering questions and helping with vaccine registrations is now down to two staffers, and plans are in the works to incorporate the COVID-related calls with other incoming calls.
The registration list once maintained by county staff has been discontinued since all who signed up have received a vaccine.
Haywood residents can link to the state system "Take My Shot" through the Haywood County website where they can find all the nearby areas providing vaccinations and schedule a convenient time. Those without internet access can call the county's COVID hotline at 356-2019.
Garron Bradish, Haywood County's COVID-19 vaccine coordinator, said the next push will be in the area of community outreach, where vaccination clinics will be set up at places of employment, within the community, or even during special-planned events by organizations or municipalities.
To date, there have been 23,708 first vaccine doses administered to Haywood residents — a number that excludes Walgreens, the Veterans Administration and other vaccine sites that received a federal vaccine quota, Bradish said.
The number of positive COVID cases in the county remain level at seven to nine a day, said Dr. Mark Jaben, the county medical director. That keeps Haywood in the orange category.
"We saw an increase related to Easter and spring break gatherings," Jaben said, "but not as much as we thought there would be. It sets us up well for later in the summer."
N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper announced this week COVID-19 restrictions could be lifted by June 1, providing two-thirds of state residents are vaccinated by then.
"The mask mandate will remain, but other things to be relaxed depends on what people do," Jaben said, noting the changes make sense in Haywood if the case numbers dwindle to between two and three a day and can sustain that level over time.
A COVID cluster was recently reported in the Haywood County Detention Center, where four inmates in the same pod tested positive following an April 14 test. A fifth positive test came back on April 17.
A news release indicated all protocols were followed and that on multiple occasions vaccinations were offered to all in the jail interested in being vaccinated.
Chief Deputy Jeff Haynes said no others are showing signs or symptoms of being infected, and it appears the outbreak has been isolated.
Everyone connected with the pod where the cluster occurred will continue to isolate and quarantine until the 14-day period has passed.
One of the COVID-positive persons has since bonded out but has been instructed to and has agreed to quarantine at home, following Haywood County Health and Human Services guidance.
Employers, civic leaders or others who would like to arrange for a vaccination clinic at their workplace or a community spot are invited to contact Bradish at 356-2111.
