From Staff Reports

In the week following Thanksgiving, the United States, North Carolina and Buncombe County “have seen a significant increase in newly confirmed cases” of coronavirus, Stacie Saunders, Buncombe County’s public health director, stated during a Dec. 7 community briefing in Asheville.

“We as a nation have surpassed 14.7 million cases since the pandemic began. We are adding over 200,000 cases each day in the last few days. We have lost over 280,000 Americans related to COVID,” Saunder noted during the briefing, which was held during a meeting of the Buncombe County Board of Commissioners.

“As a state, we have had over 394,990 confirmed cases since identifying our first North Carolina case,” Saunders said. “In the last week, we have been adding over 6000 new cases each day.

“And sadly, over 5,500 of our fellow North Carolinians have died related to COVID-19, an unfortunate and sad benchmark we wish to have never met. Our percent positivity as a state has continued to climb, now reaching 10.4 percent....

“Locally, we have not seen much improvement in our indicators. Buncombe County has now surpassed 6,100 total cases of COVID-19. We are consistently adding 75 new cases a day on average and on December 6th, Buncombe added a record 110 new cases. We have experienced 133 COVID-19-related deaths.”

Further, Saunders said, “Several of our key metrics remain in unfavorable areas. Our new cases per 100,000 population per week has increased 23 percent from 142 just a week ago to 201 this week. Our percent positivity, which had been consistently below 5 percent, has now increased to 5.5 percent. These metrics indicate increased viral transmission here in our community.

“On December 3rd, seven days after Thanksgiving, we began to see a significant increase in new cases. Many of these new cases are reporting having partaken in Thanksgiving festivities with others outside their household,” contrary to Buncombe public health officials’ advice.

“A couple weeks ago, in anticipation that cases may increase after the holidays, Buncombe County Public Health began hiring additional case investigators and contract tracers,” Saunders said. “Those new investigators and tracers have been onboarding over the last several days and the remaining surge staff will onboard by Dec. 14.

“Prior to this recent staffing surge, we had approximately 20 investigators and 20 tracers. After all surge staff is ‘onboarded,’ we will have about 30 investigators and about 30 tracers. Even with this additional staff, and especially if new cases continue at the rate they are now, it is likely our investigation and tracing staff will experience delays in reaching new cases....

‘Do your part by limiting your interactions, ideally only those in your household, do the simple things like wearing a mask, keeping 6 feet apart and washing your hands. When you do these things you are showing your support for our public health warriors, our first responders, our hospital and health care workers, our students and schools, our businesses and economy and our community.”

Saunders added, “If you are have symptoms or think you may have been exposed to COVID-19, please seek out testing. Testing helps us identify new cases and slow the spread of the virus.”

Regarding COVID-19 vaccines, she said “We are aware that two vaccines manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna, respectively, have completed their trials and have shown extremely promising efficacy.

“Our state will be receiving its first shipment of doses next week. This first shipment will likely be completely designated for hospital systems in our state. It is likely that a second shipment of vaccine will be arriving in the state shortly before Christmas. 

“These first shipments of vaccine are prioritized for health care workers, first responders, and those in congregate living settings like LTCF staff and residents,” Saunders noted. “As more shipments come to the state, we will move through the priority groups making our way to the general population. Currently, educational campaigns and outreach strategy planning is underway here in Buncombe County.”

At that point, the briefing’s other speaker, Fletcher Tove, the county’s public health emergency preparedness director, presented a task force update and key factors assessed.

Tove began by noting that “the Multi-Agency Task Force convened last week to ensure compliance with the latest executive orders and the most recent local declaration. The Task Force consists of public health officials, sheriff’s deputies, Asheville Police Department (representatives), and city and county fire departments and fire marshalls. Businesses were observed in response to complaints logged with the Ready Team and also by proactively spot-checking businesses.”

Key factors assessed, according to Tove, were the following:

• Signage requirements

• Mask compliance

• Capacity limitations

• Greeters at stores with over 15,000 square feet

• Compliance with 6-foot physical distancing

Tove then said, “The Task Force observed 40 businesses throughout the county and downtown Asheville and specifically assessed 12 businesses ranging from restaurant, gym and retail. Other than minor signage violations, most of those 40 were stores observed to be in compliance. 

“No citations were issued, no issues with occupancy or mask-wearing were observed and the only frequently observed issues were businesses that lacked the emergency maximum occupancy at the entrance.

“This Task Force will continue to convene and assess businesses regularly in the coming weeks through routine surveillance and in response to complaints logged with the Ready Team. 

“Businesses are encouraged to use the information and resources found at www.buncombeready.org, if they have questions or need to access the emergency occupancy signage,” Tove said in concluding his portion of the briefing.