FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 26, 2021
Media contact:
DeShay Oliver
Deputy Health Director/Public Information Office
Cleveland County Public Health Center
Office: 980-484-5199
Deshay.oliver@clevelandcountync.gov
First COVID-19 Death in Cleveland County in 7 Weeks
Total deaths in county rise to 229 as all COVID-19 metrics increase
SHELBY, NC – After months of decline, Cleveland County, similar to the state of North Carolina, is experiencing a rapid increase in the spread of COVID-19. On July 26, the Cleveland County Health Department received a report of a death from COVID-19 in a resident under the age of 50. This is the first death from COVID-19 in Cleveland County in seven weeks, bringing the county’s total COVID-19 deaths to 229.
All other county COVID-19 metrics are increasing as well. In the past 14 days, Cleveland County has had a total of 197 COVID cases, averaging approximately 14 new cases a day. In the past 7 days, the county has had a total of 123 new cases, bringing the average of new daily cases up to 18 a day. Yesterday, the county received a total of 30 cases in one day. Last week, NCDHHS updated the state’s County Alert System – Cleveland County was one of twelve counties that moved from yellow to orange, indicating substantial spread of COVID-19 within the community.
Cleveland County’s percent of tests that are positive is currently 10.8% compared to North Carolina’s positivity rate of 6.7%. There are currently ten (10) Cleveland County residents hospitalized from COVID-19.
“Many of these cases, hospitalizations, and deaths could be prevented by getting the COVID-19 vaccine,” said DeShay Oliver, Deputy Health Director, Cleveland County Health Department. “According to NCDHHS, over 94% of recent cases of COVID-19 in North Carolina are in people who are not vaccinated. While a very small percentage of vaccinated individuals in NC have contracted COVID-19, these vaccinated individuals are far less likely to suffer severe illness and death from the virus. People who are not vaccinated are at risk for infection from the more contagious and potentially dangerous Delta variant that now makes up over 80% of all cases in our state.”
NCDHHS urges all unvaccinated North Carolinians age 12 and older to get a COVID-19 vaccine to protect against severe illness, hospitalization and death. Rigorous clinical trials among thousands of people ages 12 and older, have proven vaccines are safe and effective. More than 160 million Americans have now been safely vaccinated. Vaccines are the best protection from COVID-19 related hospitalizations and deaths, as well as complications from the virus.
To date, 38% of Cleveland County residents have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, compared to 49% of North Carolinians. To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment with the Cleveland County Health Department, call 980-484-6019. Everyone who receives a first dose COVID-19 vaccine or who drives someone to receive their vaccine at the health department or at a health department sponsored vaccine event will receive a $25 MasterCard through the end of August. Those receiving a first dose vaccine will also be entered into the NCDHHS Summer Cash Drawing for the chance to win $1 million or a $125,000 college scholarship.
The Cleveland County Health Department will be hosting pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinics at the Kings Mountain Family YMCA on Friday, July 30 from 8:30 am – 11:30 am and at Washington Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday, August 14 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.
The COVID-19 vaccine is available at many healthcare provider offices and pharmacies in Cleveland County. To find other COVID-19 vaccine providers, use the Find a Vaccine Location tool at www.myspot.nc.gov or call 888-675-4567. You can also text your zip code to 438829 to find vaccine locations near you.
COVID-19 VACCINATION UPDATE: WEEK ENDING 7/16/2021
The Cleveland County Health Department is currently scheduling first dose appointments for the Pfizer vaccine for everyone twelve (12) and older. The vaccine is free for everyone regardless of income or insurance. No photo ID is necessary and there are currently no residency restrictions. You may schedule an appointment by calling the COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment Line at 980-484-6019 Monday – Friday from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Individuals under the age of eighteen (18) must have parental consent to receive the vaccine.
Updated 02/12/2021
Despite working relentlessly with our phone company to resolves our phone issues, our phone lines remain down this afternoon. Because we are unable to take appointments today, we will be opening our COVID Vaccine Appointment Line (980-484-6019) on Monday, February 15th at 9:00 am. The good news is we will have 1,600 vaccine appointments available next week for eligible recipients in Group 2 (ages 65+). The line will remain open until all appointments are filled. We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience.
Updated 01/25/2021
Updated 01/06/2021
Cleveland County Government Shares Updated Rollout Plan for COVID-19 Vaccinations
SHELBY, NC – The Cleveland County Health Department today announces it has updated its vaccination plan to align with a new North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) prioritization framework issued last week. The State’s framework is the guiding document used by local health departments to determine citizen vaccination eligibility and timing. Because vaccine supplies are currently limited, the vaccine distribution is being rolled out in phases. According to NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, limited supplies mean that it is going to be several months before vaccines will be widely available to everyone.
At their December 15 meeting, the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners was presented with a vaccination plan, which included use of the Moderna vaccine. Following approval of that plan, the County immediately began implementing phase 1A ― which is dedicated to healthcare providers, senior living facilities, and first responders. To date, the Health Department has been allotted a total of 1,100 vaccine doses from the NCDHHS. According to Cleveland County Health Director Tiffany Hanson, the County has been conducting two (2) vaccine clinics per week and will have allocated all 1,100 doses that will conclude Phase 1A by January 8.
Under the updated framework, Phase 1B is now adjusted to focus on prioritizing residents’ age versus those with chronic conditions. In Phase 1B, the vaccine will be made available first to Group 1, which are adults 75 years or older regardless of medical condition or living situation. The County will be vaccinating a limited number of group 1 the week of January 11. All available doses have been allocated through calls to the COVID helpline.
The timing of Phase 1B, Group 1’s (> 75) mass vaccination rollout is primarily dependent on the weekly dosage allocation received from NCDHHS. There are approximately 8,000 residents in Cleveland County that qualify for Phase 1B, Group 1, and the County is preparing to begin a Point of Distribution (POD) regional mass vaccination drive through plan the week of January 18.
“The mass vaccination plan remains fluid, with many unknown variables including citizen engagement rate, vaccine dose availability, and any other changes that may be communicated from the CDC or NCDHHS as we move forward,” Cleveland County Health Director Tiffany Hansen said.
Based on a vaccine efficiency impact analysis, migration patterns, and general logistics, there will be up to four (4) POD locations – with only one being utilized at a time:
1. Burns Middle School
2. Kings Mountain Intermediate School
3. Crest High School
4. The LeGrand Center
County officials believe that there is capacity to hold three (3) mass drive through vaccination clinics per week. The LeGrand Center would be a standing site that is used weekly, and the other school sites will be utilized on Wednesdays and Saturdays on a rotating basis.
For the initial rollout of Phase 1B, the County has compartmentalized residents based on age, demographics, and physical address into geographic regions of the County. The county receives vaccine dosages on a weekly basis. Once the Health Department confirms adequate vaccine inventory for that week, that number of Phase 1B, Group 1 members will receive a letter in the mail confirming their eligibility and their personal designated vaccination site and timing – which could begin as early as January 18, 2021. The mailed letters will discuss registration requirements, daily drive through logistics, and call-in information for scheduling conflicts.
Instructions regarding the second dose appointment will be provided when they receive their first dose.
As more vaccines become available, guidance for the following Phase 1B groups will be released:
● Group 2: Health care and frontline essential workers who are 50 years of age or older.
● Group 3: Frontline workers of any age and health care workers of any age, regardless of whether they work directly with COVID-19 patients.
Below is a summary of the vaccination phases per NCDHHS:
Phase 1A (current phase): Health care workers working closely with COVID-19; long-term care staff and residents.
- Hospitals and local health departments are vaccinating health care workers caring for and working directly with patients with COVID-19 and those giving vaccines. In addition, the federal government is vaccinating long-term care residents and staff.
Phase 1B: Adults 75 years or older; frontline essential workers.
- Group 1: Anyone at least 75 years old regardless of medical condition or living situation. People do not have to have a chronic health condition.
- Group 2: Health care and frontline essential workers who are 50 years of age or older.
- Group 3: Frontline workers of any age and health care workers of any age, regardless of whether they work directly with COVID-19 patients. This phase is anticipated to begin in early January.
The CDC defines frontline essential workers as first responders (firefighters, police), education (child care, teachers, support staff), manufacturing, corrections officers, public transit, grocery store, food and agriculture, and United States Postal Service employees.
Phase 2: Adults at high risk for exposure and at increased risk of severe illness.
- Group 1: Anyone ages 65-74 years old, regardless of medical condition or living situation.
- Group 2: Anyone 16-64 years with a medical condition that increases risk of severe disease from COVID-19.
- Group 3: Anyone who is incarcerated or living in other close group living settings who has not already been vaccinated.
- Group 4: Essential workers, as defined by the CDC, who have not yet been vaccinated.
Phase 3: Students.
- College, university, and high school students at least 16 years old.
- Children under 16 will only be vaccinated when the vaccine is approved for them.
Phase 4: Anyone else who wants a COVID-19 vaccine.
All vaccine providers are expected to ensure that vaccine is administered equitably within each group.
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