From Staff Reports

After experiencing a recent surge in cases, Buncombe County recorded a decline in new lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 for the seven days ending on the afternoon of Aug. 10.

Whats more, during the same period, Mission Health reported that its coronavirus-related hospitalizations declined slightly.

The Asheville Citizen Times noted in an Aug. 12 story that the figures indicate “that the COVID-19’s spread in the community may be slowing.

“As of the afternoon of Aug. 10, 1,892 cases of COVID-19 had been reported in Buncombe residents — 177 more than last week — according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services,” the ACT reported. “The number includes 47 people in the county who have died due to the illness, which is one more than last week.”

For the last five Mondays, the case counts were as follows:

Aug. 3 - 1,715 cases (an increase of 242 from the previous week)

July 27 - 1,473 cases (an increase of 250)

July 20 - 1,223 cases (an increase of 325)

July 13 - 898 cases (an increase of 215)

July 6 - 683 cases (an increase of 111)

“More than 55 percent of the county’s cases have occurred in the 18-49 age group,” the ACT noted.

In the past, Dr. Jennifer Mullendore, Buncombe’s medical director, has reiterated that the majority of new cases have been tied to high-risk activity among residents, like “having close contact with others outside their household and not wearing their face coverings.”

The ACT added, “Mullendore said Aug. 6 the county has seen an improvement in some COVID-19 data and trends. This included fewer new cases reported daily — from 41 to 30 — in comparison to the previous week and a slight decrease in the percent of tests coming back positive.

“For most of July, 5 percent of tests in Buncombe came back positive. This was up from 2-3 percent in June. However, Mullendore said this percent had gone down to 4.5 percent, indicating ‘a decrease in spread of COVID-19 in our community.’”

As usual, the medical director emphasied the importance of continuing to take precautions and adhering to public health guidance.

Meanwhile, Mission Health, the operator of six hospitals in Western North Carolina as well as numerous clinics, “has seen a slight decrease in coronavirus hospitalizations, as well,” the ACT reported. “The system reported 39 lab-confirmed COVID-19 positive inpatients on Aug. 10, (including) 33 at Mission Hospital in Asheville, one at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, four at Mission Hospital McDowell and one at Transylvania Regional.

“The system reached its current record — 49 cases — on Aug. 3,” the ACT reported, “Through June, its daily COVID-19 hospitalization count was between 15 and 20. The system had 30 COVID-positive inpatients for the first time July 14, with numbers increasing steadily to hit 40 hospitalizations July 26. Then, the system’s count remained in the 40s for nearly two weeks. However, COVID-positive inpatients dipped Aug. 8 to 37 and again Aug. 9 to 35.”

While Mission executives have continued to contend that the system is not near its bed capacity and that it has adequate staffing, some registered nurses at Mission Hospital have vigorously disagreed,. 

To that end, some Mission nurses petitioned for additional staff as cases were rising — and have called hospital working conditions “very dangerous.”

Meanwhule, Asheville television station WLOS (News 13) noted on Aug. 12 that, as of Aug. 11, “North Carolina health officials say there have been a total of 137,895 lab-confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the state,” which amounts to an increase of 1,051 cases from the Aug. 10 report. 

In addition, the state reported on Aug. 12 a total of 2,204 virus-related deaths, while 1,122 individuals are currently hospitalized.

The state reported there are 116,969 presumed recoveries as of Aug. 10.

News 13 also reported the following COVID-19 numbers in Western North Carolina, as of Aug. 11, noting that the numbers are “subject to change”:

• Avery: 117 cases, 0 deaths, according to the county (99 cases, 0 deaths, according to NCDHHS)

• Buncombe: 1,898 cases, 47 deaths, according to the county (1,905 cases, 49 deaths, according to NCDHHS)

• Cherokee: 296 cases, 4 deaths, according to the county (277 cases, 4 deaths, according to NCDHHS)

• Clay: 87 cases, 1 death, according to the county (65 cases, 0 deaths, according to NCDHHS)

• Graham: 40 cases, 0 deaths, according to NCDHHS

• Haywood: 435 cases, 14 deaths, according to the county (438 cases, 14 deaths, according to NCDHHS)

• Henderson: 1,472 cases, 55 deaths, according to the county (1,495 cases, 54 deaths, according to NCDHHS)

• Jackson: 457 cases, 7 deaths, according to the county (448 cases, 7 deaths, according to NCDHHS)

• Macon: 480 cases, 4 deaths, according to the county (465 cases, 2 deaths, according to NCDHHS)

• Madison: 45 cases, 0 deaths, according to NCDHHS

McDowell: 649 cases, 17 deaths, according to the county (693 cases, 14 deaths, according to NCDHHS)

Mitchell: 121 cases, 3 deaths, according to the county (78 cases, 3 deaths, according to NCDHHS)

Polk: 177 cases, 6 deaths, according to the county (162 cases, 5 deaths, according to NCDHHS)

Rutherford: 781 cases, 15 deaths, according to the county (758 cases, 13 deaths, according to NCDHHS)

Swain: 116 cases, 2 deaths, according to the county (120 cases, 2 deaths, according to NCDHHS)

Transylvania: 149 cases, 1 death, according to the county (141 cases, 1 death, according to NCDHHS)

Yancey: 121 cases, 1 death, according to the county (76 cases, 0 deaths, according to NCDHHS)