County reports first COVID-19 death

 Health Department reports highest one day jump on Sunday

By: Jeremy D. Wells

 The Carter County Health Department reported on Monday that the county has experienced their first COVID-19 related death. 

“It comes with great sadness that I have to report our first COVID death in our county,” Carter County Health Department director Jeff Barker wrote on his Facebook page. “I want to extend our condolences to the family from all of us here at the Health Department.”

Barker also took the opportunity to update the county on the total number of cases and to ask Carter County residents to, “please… wear your mask(s).” 

Barker reported three new cases on Monday. That was in addition to eight new cases reported on Sunday, the highest single day jump since last Sunday when seven new cases in the Carter County Jail brought the total number of cases in the county to 40 at that time. Another case added last Monday raised that number to 41. 

With four cases added last Wednesday, July 8, single cases reported on Thursday, July 9 and Saturday, July 11, the eight new cases added to the count this past Sunday, and three new cases on Monday, the total number of positive cases for the county has reached 58. Of those, the health department reported, 24 have recovered, 30 are isolating at their residence, three are hospitalized – however one of those hospitalized was due to non-COVID related issues – and one, as noted, has passed away. 

“This should be a reminder to all of our residents that this virus is real,” Barker wrote. “We need to be doing all we can as individuals and as a community to protect each other. Please guys, wear your mask(s). Let’s see what happens over the next 30 days.” 

Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com.