The Jackson County Department of Public Health (JCDPH) has been notified of a positive case of COVID-19 in a subcontractor working on a construction site at Western Carolina University’s campus.
The subcontractor is not a Jackson County resident and is currently isolating in their home county. JCDPH is coordinating with the positive case’s county health department and worksite to complete contact tracing.
If contact tracing involves a Jackson County resident, JCDPH will work with the positive case’s county health department to reach out to the Jackson County resident, assess their risk, and determine if additional steps need to be taken.
Jackson County currently has a total of 5 lab-confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, 3 full-time residents and 2 part-time residents, reports JCDPH.
Due to their work environment, JCDPH staff anticipate there to be a potential for additional exposure among those who are not easily identifiable.
With this information in mind, JCDPH urges anyone who was on a construction site at WCU’s campus at any time between April 15-22 and is experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness (fever, cough, shortness of breath, etc.) to isolate themselves immediately and call their healthcare provider.
JCDPH leadership advise that it is vitally important that all community members take precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19.
All community members should:
- Stay home when you are sick and call your healthcare provider.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes nose and mouth.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; especially after going to the bathroom and before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning spray or swipe.
- Practice social distancing.
- Where a cloth face covering when in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.