Buncombe County cases of COVID-19 increase in the broader community
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Cases of COVID-19 in Buncombe County increased by 36 since Friday, May 29, as county health officials stressed the practice of the three Ws. Dr. Jennifer Mullendore said the number of lab-confirmed cases is now up to 342 and there has been an increase in the community beyond long-term care facilities.
On Monday, Mullendore reported 29 deaths in Buncombe County and said 24 had ties to long-term care facilities. About 20% of Buncombe County’s lab-confirmed cases have been from communities of color, results that are in contrast to the county’s population.
Mullendore praised Range Urgent Care, which she said had stepped in to help test residents and provide additional resources and manpower for the county’s long-term care facilities with outbreaks of COVID-19 cases.
According to state data released Friday, May 29, Buncombe County continues to have outbreaks at four long-term care facilities. Aston Park Health Care Center has had 45 staff and 77 residents test positive for COVID-19. Nineteen residents have died as a result. Carolina Pines at Asheville reports four staff who’ve tested positive but no residents. Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community has six staff and three residents who tested positive for COVID-19 with one death. Stone Creek Health and Rehab has two staff and one resident with COVID-19. Buncombe County is reporting an additional four deaths since the information was published Friday.
Mission Health Chief Executive Officer Dr. Bill Hathaway participated in Monday’s countywide briefing after a social media post circulated this past weekend raising concern about the areas largest hospital having the needed resources to care for COVID-19 patients.
The alleged post attributed to a pulmonary ICU physician claimed the unit was close to being overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients. According to Hathaway’s statements during Monday’s briefing, Mission Health has seen an increase in cases. While the health system had been reporting on average caring for around six positive COVID-19 patients, over the last 10 to 14 days those numbers have increased to between 12 and 20 cases a day. Hathaway said it was a manageable caseload.
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“We have ample resources to care for the patients at this point in time. We are not overwhelmed with patients. We have the ability to increase our intensive care unit capacity two or three-fold,” Hathaway said.
Hathaway also said the hospital system has enough protective gear and ventilators needed to care for COVID-19 patients.
Buncombe County Emergency Preparedness Director Fletcher Tove said Buncombe County continues to improve its supply chains for protective gear and has been able to provide more testing sites. It’s also working to give contact tracers the resources needed to continue to track the community spread of COVID-19.
“Our goal, is to do everything we can to minimize cases and deaths as we continue to reopen community,” Tove said.
He encouraged everyone to practice the three Ws -- wear a face covering while in public and indoors, wait 6 feet apart and wash your hands frequently.
Buncombe County will hold its next briefing at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, June 4.