Welcome to Cleveland County, NC

Cleveland County Public Health Center UPDATE for Coronavirus

Should we have additional positive tests,the Cleveland County Health Department will maintain in real time the county’s current number of COVID-19 cases at https://clevelandcounty.com/cchd/corona-virus-information/.

This will allow the Health Department to keep the public up to date with the most accurate information available.Continue to be cautious and follow suggested recommendations.

Update: April 14, 2020

Cleveland County Reports First Death Related to COVID-19

SHELBY, NC – The Cleveland County Health Department is reporting the first death associated with COVID-19 in Cleveland County.

The individual died over the weekend. The patient was over the age of 70 and had underlying health conditions. To protect the family’s privacy, no further information about this patient will be released.

“I am deeply saddened that we have lost one of our own community members, and my heart goes out to the individual’s family,” Interim Cleveland County Health Director DeShay Oliver said. “I was hopeful that this day would not come, but I also knew that it was a possibility. This shows the reality of how serious this virus can be for those who are at highest risk for severe symptoms.”

As a reminder, people can reduce the virus’s impact by practicing social distancing, frequently washing hands, and self-isolating if they experience symptoms associated with COVID-19

“The actions we take now will determine how this virus will impact our community in the weeks and months to come,” Oliver added. “We have the power to save lives. Please continue to take this virus seriously.”

To stay up to date on the COVID-19 case count in Cleveland County, please visit www.clevelandcounty.com/cchd.

To stay up to date on COVID-19 across North Carolina, visit www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus or text COVIDNC to 898211. Call 2-1-1 (or 888-892-1162) for general questions or for help finding human services resources in your community.

Update: April 9, 2020 5:45 pm

COVID-19 Testing in Cleveland County Has Resulted in 29 Positives and
Hundreds of Negatives

SHELBY, NC – As of this release, there have been 29 positive tests and almost 300 negative tests for COVID-19 in Cleveland County. Of the 29 positive cases in the county, seven have completed their required isolation period and have fully recovered.

“While we consistently focus on the number of positive cases in the county, I think it is important to take a step back and also recognize that we have had hundreds of negative tests in the county,” Interim Cleveland County Health Director Deshay Oliver said. “This shows how hard our community’s public health and healthcare professionals are working to identify and control the spread of the virus, as well as how seriously our community has taken social distancing measures.”

Despite this work, there are still those that are suffering the negative consequences of contracting the virus. Since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the county, a total of seven county residents have been hospitalized.

“Unfortunately, approximately 24 percent of the confirmed cases in Cleveland County have been hospitalized at some point due to complications from the virus,” Oliver added. All of these individuals, with the exception of one, were considered to be at high risk for more severe symptoms due to age or underlying health conditions. This is why it so critically important that everyone does their part to prevent the spread of coronavirus – to protect those that are most vulnerable.”

According to the CDC, approximately 80 percent of COVID-19 cases are considered to be mild, 15 percent severe, and 5 percent critical.

“The percentage of confirmed cases in Cleveland County experiencing more severe symptoms is slightly higher than the national average, likely due to the fact that testing criteria from the NC Department of Health and Human Services prioritizes testing for those with more severe symptoms and in high risk categories,” Oliver said.

Cleveland County now has its first confirmed outbreak in a nursing home facility, though no residents have tested positive at this time. The North Carolina Department of Health Human Services defines an outbreak in a congregate living setting as two or more laboratory confirmed cases in residents or staff within two incubation periods (28 days) in the same facility. At this time, the confirmed cases have been limited to the facility’s employees.

“Cleveland County Health Department personnel, in collaboration with State epidemiologists, are working with the nursing home to ensure they have effective processes and procedures in place related to visitor restrictions, temperature screenings, use of personal protective equipment, cleaning and disinfection, and isolation, Oliver said. “The nursing home facility has been very cooperative and is doing everything they can to help prevent the further spread of the virus.”

In a recent article, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that they now know that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms and that even those who eventually develop symptoms can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms.

“This is one of the reasons it is so critically important for people to stay home as much as possible,” Oliver added. “With Easter weekend approaching, I recognize that there is a desire to get together with family and friends and celebrate the way we traditionally would. However, I urge people to continue to take heed of the Governor’s orders in an effort to hasten the day that this will all be behind us.”

To stay up to date on the COVID-19 case count in Cleveland County, please visit www.clevelandcounty.com/cchd.

Update: April 4, 2020 6:30 pm

Cleveland County COVID-19 Case Count Increases to Sixteen

County Adds Virus Map to Health Department Website

SHELBY, NC – As of this release, there are sixteen cases of COVID-19 in Cleveland County. Cleveland County Health Department personnel continue to work with all confirmed cases to provide isolation guidance and to conduct contact tracing. The information available on the Health Department website now also includes a map showing the concentration of cases in different parts of the County. The map will be updated by 10:00am each day.

“Cleveland County Commissioners and county staff have been asked for more information regarding the location of positive cases within the county,” Assistant County Manager Kerri Melton said. “We have worked in collaboration with the Health Department to provide additional resources to the public while not exposing any protected health information.”

The map is divided the County into four regions and shows the number of cases in each region.

“The main goal of the map is to reinforce the fact that this virus is not confined to one part of our community,” Assistant County Manager Kerri Melton said. “When people travel anywhere within the County, they should take precautions as if they may be exposed to COVID-19, as contact with the virus is possible anywhere.”

While the virus is continuing to spread, Health Department personnel are still working with those involved in confirmed cases to trace their contacts, with the goal of slowing the virus’s spread. Contact tracing begins with interviewing each person confirmed to have COVID-19 to determine anyone they have had close contact with since symptom onset. Health department personnel then contact all individuals identified as close contacts to notify them of their potential exposure and to provide isolation and self-monitoring guidance. If it is determined that a confirmed case could have potentially exposed employees or customers at a place of business or employment, health department personnel also consult with those businesses to provide disinfection guidance and isolation recommendations for those potentially exposed.

“Contact tracing is a very important part of the Health Department’s efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community, as it can help to identify those at an increased risk of exposure,” Interim Cleveland County Health Director Deshay Oliver said. “However, the confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our county likely only represent a small snapshot of the cases that actually exist. Approximately half of the confirmed cases in our county have contracted the virus from what appears to be community transmission.”

Based on guidance from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, testing is being prioritized for those with more severe symptoms, high risk populations, including those in congregate living facilities, and first responders and healthcare workers.

“Because of this, there could be many people with mild symptoms that are never tested and confirmed as cases,” Oliver added. “As a result, people should assume COVID-19 exists anywhere they go and take proper precautions such as social distancing, handwashing, avoiding touching their face, and only going out when absolutely necessary.”

To stay up to date on the COVID-19 case count in Cleveland County, please visit www.clevelandcounty.com/cchd.

Update: March 31, 2020 8:00 pm

People with Mild Symptoms Should Stay Home
Seeking Test Risks Spreading COVID-19 to Others, and Positive Test Changes Nothing for Mildly Symptomatic Individuals

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that people who think they might have COVID-19 and have mild symptoms should stay home and call their doctor for medical advice. Most people who get COVID-19 will have mild illness and recover at home.

“It is critically important that people with mild symptoms stay home,” Interim Cleveland County Health Director Deshay Oliver said. “This will prevent them from spreading COVID-19 to others, particularly those who are at high risk for severe illness. Staying home could save someone’s life.”

This updated guidance is intended to slow the spread of the virus. When people with mild illness who do not have COVID-19 leave their homes to get tested, they could unintentionally end up exposing themselves to the virus. If people with mild symptoms do have COVID-19, they can give it to someone else, including high-risk individuals and healthcare providers. Further, because there is no treatment for COVID-19, a positive test result will not change what someone with mild symptoms should do, which includes staying home and isolating for a minimum of seven days since symptom onset and a minimum of 72 hours (three days) after fever and other symptoms have subsided.

Finally, with a nationwide shortage on personal protective equipment, supplies need to be preserved to allow health care providers to care for people who need medical attention. Testing is most important for people who are seriously ill, in the hospital, people in high-risk settings like nursing homes or long-term care facilities, health care workers and other first responders who are caring for those with COVID-19. For most people, COVID-19 infection will cause mild illness that does not require medical care. However, it can make some people very ill and, in some people, it can be fatal.

Eight-one percent of COVID-19 cases in North Carolina to date are in individuals under the age of 65, and 11 percent of these cases are in individuals under the age of 25. Of the six current COVID-19 cases in Cleveland County, two are in the 18 to 24 age category, one is 25 to 49, one is 50 to 64, and two are over the age of 65.

“The idea that this virus only effects those over the age of 65 is a misconception,” Oliver added. “While those over the age of 65 and those with underlying health conditions are at an increased risk of having severe symptoms, anyone can contract coronavirus and spread it to others. I encourage everyone to do their part to protect our community by staying home as much as possible. The more people adhere to recommendations, the sooner this will pass and the sooner everyone can return to their normal lives.”

Anyone with more serious symptoms should call their doctor or 911 right away. More serious symptoms can include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain or pressure, confusion, and blue lips. Household members and people who have been in close contact with someone who has had symptoms of COVID-19 should stay home as much as possible for 14 days and monitor themselves for symptoms. Close contact means within six feet for at least 10 minutes. If they start having symptoms of COVID-19, they should take the same steps to prevent spreading it.

To stay up to date on COVID-19 in North Carolina, visit ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus or text COVIDNC to 898211. Call 2-1-1 (or 888-892-1162) for general questions or for help finding human services resources in your community. For current case counts of COVID-19 in Cleveland County, visit https://clevelandcounty.com/cchd/corona-virus-information/.

Update: March 29, 2020 1:00 pm
Cleveland County Identifies Fifth Case of COVID-19

A fifth Cleveland County resident has tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The person involved in this case did not recently travel or have direct contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19, indicating community transmission. Local health department personnel are working with the individual to identify close contacts.

“This is the second case of COVID-19 in the county that appears to be caused by community transmission,” Interim Cleveland County Health Director Deshay Oliver said. “This confirms that COVID-19 is now spreading throughout our community. I strongly urge county residents to comply with the Stay-at-Home Executive Order that goes into effect Monday at 5:00 p.m. Residents should only leave their homes for essential services and, when doing so, should take proper precautions such as social distancing and hand washing.”

Because there is now community transmission of COVID-19 in Cleveland County, it can be expected that the county’s case count will continue to rise. Moving forward, instead of publishing a press release for each new case, the Cleveland County Health Department will maintain in real time the county’s current number of COVID-19 cases at https://clevelandcounty.com/cchd/corona-virus-information/. This will allow the Health Department to keep the public up to date with the most accurate information available. In addition, the Health Department will continue to provide updates and pertinent information through local news outlets, social media, and press releases when appropriate.

To stay up to date on COVID-19 in North Carolina, visit www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus or text COVIDNC to 898211. Call 2-1-1 (or 888-892-1162) for general questions or for help finding human services resources in your community.

Update: March 28, 2020 7:00 pm

Cleveland County Identifies Fourth Case of COVID-19

A fourth Cleveland County resident has tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-1
9). The person works in a nearby county that is experiencing widespread community transmission, which could be how the virus was contracted. The individual is isolating at home and will remain in isolation until discontinued by local health department personnel, who are also working with the individual to identify close contacts.

“This individual experienced mild symptoms for over two weeks before being tested for COVID-19,” Interim Cleveland County Health Director Deshay Oliver said. “This emphasizes the importance of staying home and isolating when you are sick, even if symptoms are mild. This is extremely important to prevent spreading the virus to others and to protect our high-risk populations. While you may be experiencing mild symptoms, someone else who gets it may not be so fortunate, especially if they are age 65 or older or have underlying health conditions.”

If you have fever, cough, or other symptoms of respiratory illness, even if it is not from COVID-19, you should isolate yourself as if you do have COVID-19. This will reduce the risk of making the people around you sick. Call your doctor if your symptoms are getting worse or if you have concerns about your health. Anyone in your household, or others who have been in close contact with you, should stay home for fourteen (14) days as much as possible and monitor themselves for symptoms. If they start having symptoms of COVID-19, they should take the same steps to prevent spreading it.

Update: March 27, 2020 5:30 pm

Cleveland County Identifies Third Case of COVID-19

A third Cleveland County resident has tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The person involved in this third case did not recently travel or have direct contact with a person confirmed to have COVID-19. The individual is isolating at home and will remain in isolation until discontinued by local health department personnel, who are also working with the individual to identify close contacts.

“This case is the first confirmation of community transmission of COVID-19 within Cleveland County,” Interim Cleveland County Health Director Deshay Oliver said. “As a result, I am strongly in support of the Stay-at-Home Executive order announced just moments ago. I recommend that residents stay home as much as possible and only go out when it is absolutely necessary.”

For more information regarding the Stay-at-Home Executive order, visit https://files.nc.gov/governor/documents/files/EO121-Stay-at-Home-Order-3.pdf

Update: March 25, 2020 3:45 pm
Cleveland County Identifies Second Case of COVID-19

A second Cleveland County resident has tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This second case is in no way linked to the first case, although this individual also did recently travel and then return to the county. The individual began to develop symptoms shortly after returning to the county and was tested by a local healthcare provider. The individual is isolating at home and will remain in isolation until discontinued by local health department personnel, who are also working with the individual to identify close contacts.

“This is the second case of COVID-19 in Cleveland County related to non-essential travel,” Interim Cleveland County Health Director Deshay Oliver said. “This once again stresses the importance of staying home as much as possible and practicing social distancing. Everyone this individual had close contact with during the time the individual was contagious is now at risk of exposure.”

While there is not currently an indication of community transmission of COVID-19 in Cleveland County, the NC Division of Public Health (NC DPH) shared that there is community transmission of COVID-19 across our state. North Carolina is now considered to be in an “exponential growth phase” and can expect to experience widespread transmission throughout the state. Therefore, NC DPH recommends moving to a different phase of our response efforts and will be further increasing our state’s population-based community mitigation strategies. Part of this strategy includes new COVID-19 testing guidance that recommends reserving testing for people who are seriously ill or in the hospital, people in high-risk settings like nursing homes or long-term care facilities, and healthcare workers and other first responders who are caring for those with COVID-19.

Most people who get COVID-19 will recover without needing medical care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you stay home and isolate if you have mild symptoms – such as fever and cough without shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. You can call your doctor to see if you need medical care. Some people are at higher risk of getting very sick with COVID-19. People at higher risk should call their doctor if they develop symptoms of fever or cough. You are at higher risk if you:

Are 65 years and older;
Live in a nursing home or long-term care facility;
Have a high-risk condition, including:
- Chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma,
- Heart disease with complications,
- Compromised immune system,
- Severe obesity — body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, or
- Other underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, such as diabetes, renal failure or liver disease; or
- Are pregnant, in which case you should be monitored since pregnant women are known to be at risk for severe viral illness. However, to date, data on COVID-19 has not shown increased risk for severe illness in pregnant women.

If you have fever, cough, and other symptoms of respiratory illness, even if it is not from COVID-19, you should isolate yourself as if you do have COVID-19. This will reduce the risk of making the people around you sick. Call your doctor if your symptoms are getting worse or if you have concerns about your health. Anyone in your household, or others who have been in close contact with you, should stay home for fourteen (14) days as much as possible and monitor themselves for symptoms. If they start having symptoms of COVID-19, they should take the same steps to prevent spreading it.

For the most current information on COVID-19, people are encouraged to visit: https://epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/cd/diseases/COVID19.html or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html, or they may call the NC COVID-19 Call Center 24/7 at 866-462-3821.

Update: March 24, 2020 3:45 pm

Cleveland County Resident Confirmed to Have COVID-19 While Vacationing at Beach

A Cleveland County resident has tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) while on vacation in Brunswick County. The individual arrived at the beach on March 16 and became symptomatic while there. The individual went to a healthcare provider in Brunswick County and tested positive. The individual will remain in Brunswick County until the required isolation period is over. Because the individual is a county resident, Cleveland County Health Department personnel will remotely monitor the individual’s temperature and other symptoms daily and have begun contact tracing for the individual. Anyone that is determined to be a close contact of the individual since symptom onset will be notified and asked to self-isolate for 14 days. The individual traveled with a companion that will serve as the individual’s primary caregiver during the isolation period. This companion will be expected to self-monitor for symptoms during this time and self-isolate for a period of 14 days beyond the positive individual’s isolation period to ensure that symptoms do not develop.

“This situation reinforces the importance of staying home and not participating in non-essential travel during this time,” Interim Cleveland County Health Director Deshay Oliver said. “Everyone has a role to play. If we all stay home as much as possible and practice social distancing, frequent handwashing, and follow other recommendation set forth, we can flatten the curve and hopefully prevent this from becoming widespread within our community. Everyone needs to do their part.”

If you have fever, cough, or other symptoms of respiratory illness, even if not from COVID-19, you should isolate yourself as if you have COVID-19. This will reduce the risk of making the people around you sick. If symptoms worsen or you become concerned about your health, call your healthcare provider. Your doctor can help you decide if you need to be tested for COVID-19. Anyone in your household or others who have been in close contact with you should, as

much as possible, stay home for 14 days and monitor themselves for symptoms. Close contact means being within six feet of another person for at least 10 minutes. Anyone who starts having symptoms of COVID-19 should take the same steps to prevent spreading it.

For the most current information on COVID-19, individuals are encouraged to visit: https://epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/cd/diseases/COVID19.html or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html or you may call the NC COVID-19 Call Center 24/7 at 866-462-3821.

Update: March 20, 2020

Announced Case of COVID-19 in Cleveland County is Resident of another County

SHELBY, NC – March 20, 2020 – It has been determined that the confirmed case of COVID-19 in Cleveland County that was announced earlier today is actually a resident of another county. The individual provided a Cleveland County address when the individual’s COVID-19 sample was collected for testing at the patient’s healthcare provider’s office. Therefore, the positive result was reported to the Cleveland County Health Department and a Cleveland County address was documented. However, after further investigation and follow-up conversations with the patient, it has been determined that the individual does not live at the original address provided and is a resident of another county. Therefore, Cleveland County does not currently have a confirmed case of COVID-19.

The local health department in the individual’s county of residency has been notified and they are conducting appropriate follow-up in regards to ensuring home isolation and contact tracing.

“We encourage people to take the same precautions they would take if we did have a confirmed case in our county, including staying home as much as possible, especially when sick; practicing social distancing; washing hands frequently; avoiding contact with people who are sick; and covering their mouth when sneezing or coughing, says, DeShay Oliver, Interim Health Director, Cleveland County Health Department. “While this particular individual ended up not being a resident of Cleveland County, it is likely that we will have confirmed cases in the county as testing capabilities increase and we see increased spread across the state of North Carolina.”

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced today that based on the increased number of cases in our state and on national and regional trends, they believe that community transmission of COVID-19 is now occurring in communities across North Carolina.

If you are sick with fever and symptoms of respiratory illness such as cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, you are encouraged to stay home and contact your healthcare provider if symptoms persist or worsen. If you have a fever or symptoms of respiratory illness and have had direct contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 or have recently traveled, stay home, isolate yourself from others, and contact your healthcare provider immediately.

For the most current information on COVID-19, individuals are encouraged to visit: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina or https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html or you may call the NC COVID-19 (coronavirus) Call Center 866-462-3821.

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Update: March 20, 2020

Update: March 19, 2020

Update: March 18, 2020
Register of Deeds
Cleveland County Government continues to evaluate closings of county departments. Cleveland County Register of Deeds is open but asks all citizens, attorneys and funeral homes to respectfully adhere to the attached policy.
Visit the Register of Deeds Facebook page (Cleveland County Register of Deeds) for more information or call 704-484-4834 with any questions.
3_18_20

UPDATE: MARCH 13, 2020

Update: March 3, 2020

While there are no confirmed cases of Corona Virus in North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper’s Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Task Force is encouraging businesses, schools, health care providers, communities and individuals to prepare. The CDC has stated that it is not a matter of if, but a matter of when COVID-19 will become widespread in the US. As a result, the Cleveland County Health Department would like to invite you to attend a COVID-19 Partner Planning Meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 5^th at 2:30 pm at the Cleveland County Public Health Center (room 389) located at 200 S Post Rd, Shelby.

We will provide information on the disease and its current status, preventive measures, planning and preparedness strategies we should all be considering such as continuity of operations and sick leave policies and procedures, and communication methods and resources.

Update February 20, 2020

Situation in the United States
Imported cases of 2019-nCoV infection in people have been detected in the U.S. While person-to-person spread among close contacts has been detected with this virus, at this time this virus is NOT currently spreading in the community in the United States.

As of 2/3/2020, there have been 11 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the United States. These cases are limited to the following states: Washington, California, Arizona, Illinois and Massachusetts.

Symptoms
For confirmed 2019-nCoV infections, reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying. Symptoms can include:

Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath

People at risk for coronavirus infection:

Individuals with fever or symptoms of lower respiratory infection, such as cough or shortness of breath AND

Individuals who have traveled to mainland China within 14 days of symptom onset

AND/OR

Individuals who have had close contact with a person confirmed with novel coronavirus infection

Individuals not meeting these criteria are not considered to be at risk for novel coronavirus infection. The risk for coronavirus infection in the US and especially in North Carolina where there are currently no confirmed cases is VERY low.

To mitigate the risk of the virus spreading, health officials are working with health care providers to promptly identify, evaluate and report any suspected cases.

Precautions people can take:
It’s currently flu and respiratory disease season and CDC recommends getting vaccinated, taking everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs, and taking flu antivirals if prescribed. Everyday preventive actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses include:

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
Stay home when you are sick.
Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

For the most current information on novel corona virus, please visit:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
OR
https://epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/cd/diseases/2019nCoV.html

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Cleveland County Update on Coronavirus