From Staff Reports

HENDERSONVILLE — Confirmed new COVID-19 cases in Henderson County tripled in one month, Emergency Services Director Jimmy Brissie told the the Henderson County Board of Commissioners during a pandemic update on Dec. 7.

Meanwhile, Henderson Health Director Steve Smith, the other speaker at the briefing, warned county officials matter-of-factly, “We face some difficult days ahead in the winter months” in the fight with COVID-19, a Dec. 9 story in the Hendersonville Times-News noted.

Earlier, Brissie told the board that, as of Dec. 7, the rate of cases per 100,000 Henderson residents is 28.3. That compares to a rate of 10.9 cases in early November. The current positive test rate in the county of 11 percent.

The growth in the numbers matches data seen at the state level, Brissie said, the HT-N stated. Out of the 3,382 COVID-19 cases confirmed in Henderson County, 675 are considered “active,” with the remaining 2,633 cases labeled “recovered.” A total of 57,708 tests have been administered.

“Sixty of the 74 (COVID-19) deaths in the county have been long-term facility residents,” the HT-N reported. “This group made up a majority of the cases at the beginning of the pandemic, but that gradually (has) changed. Most of the new cases are occurring in the general public, Brissie said.”

Besides his warning of a challening winter looming, Smith, the Henderson health director, said that, on the bright side, the county has maintained its testing capacity. Smith also shared his understanding of how vaccine distribution work once doses are available.

The state will receive about 85,000 doses in the initial round of distribution. Officials are still deciding how those doses will be given out. Pardee UNC Health Care in Hendersonville is set to receive some of the first round.