Hyde County reports 118 active cases; Next wave of vaccinations expected to start the week of Jan. 4
In a Wednesday evening update, the Hyde County Health Department reported that the number of active COVID-19 cases as of December 30 had climbed to 118, due in part to another outbreak in the Hyde Correctional Facility.
On December 29, the number of active cases in Hyde County, (which includes Ocracoke Island), was 82, indicating an increase of 36 positive cases in the past 24 hours.
The Health Department also outlined the upcoming schedule for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in Wednesday’s update, which has already begun to be administered to health care workers within the county.
The vaccination update from the county is as follows:
“NCDHHS has released a timeline for vaccination with the COVID-19 vaccine for individuals. Individuals 75 years of age and older, health care workers who were not included in phase 1a, plus frontline essential workers (defined below) will be the next wave of folks to get the vaccine, which is expected to start the week of January 4th based on vaccine availability.
This group of folks is considered the Group 1b. Appointments must be made, and a press release and additional information will be posted throughout the community for procedures on how to get your vaccine. Frontline essential workers are:
- First responders (e.g., firefighters and police officers)
- Corrections officers
- Food and agricultural workers
- S. Postal Service workers
- Manufacturing workers
- Grocery store workers
- Public transit workers
- Education and child care workers (teachers, support staff, day care).
Other individuals will get vaccinations following Group 1b., but stay tuned for specifics as they roll out.
Testing continues to be a priority for those who have been exposed to the virus, or develop symptoms. Contact Hyde County Health Department 926-4399, Engelhard Medical Center 925-7000, or Ocracoke Health Center 928-1511 for appointments. For 24/7 on-call services, dial 1-866-462-3821, the Coronavirus Hotline.”
