The Highlands Cashiers Plateau COVID-19 Vaccination Initiative continued its efforts to provide shots to members of the community on Sunday.
The second-shot clinic at the Highlands Rec Center led to more than 300 people receiving their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
A collaborative effort of more than 20 community organizations, the vaccine initiative is operated under the administration of Macon County Public Health and Highlands-Cashiers Hospital. Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor took time on Sunday to present a proclamation in honor of “Physician’s Day,” which is recognized each year on March 30.
“Physician’s Day celebrates these dedicated healers and is an occasion for the Town of Highlands to recognize the doctors that serve this area and their commitment to patient care,” Taylor said. “Our extraordinary active and retired physicians, and other healthcare professionals, have collectively risen to the challenge of combatting the coronavirus pandemic at the vaccination clinics.”
Taylor noted that several current and former physicians and nurses have given their time to work as volunteers at the vaccination events over the past six weeks.
School decision looms
Following the passage of NC Senate Bill 220, “The Reopen Our Schools Act” and the signing of the bill by Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday, school districts across the state are making plans to get students back in the classroom.
The bill allows districts to choose “Plan A” in the state’s COVID-19 policy outline if other protocols aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 can be maintained. Plan A is the closest plan to full time in-person classroom instruction.
Macon County Schools board chair Jim Breedlove informed the Economic Development Commission on Thursday that Macon County is reviewing its options when it comes to increasing in-person instruction.
“We are reviewing ways to get students back in the classroom at least four days a week as soon as we can,” Breedlove said. “It’s possible that after Spring Break we can make that happen. By that time, all of our teachers and staff will have had the opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if they choose to.”
The next school board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, March 22. It can be viewed online at macon.k12.nc.us. Spring break for students and teachers is scheduled for March 27-April 4.
By the numbers
Macon County’s number of active COVID-19 cases continued to decline over the past week. As of Tuesday, there were 24 active cases in the county and 18 tests pending results.
One year into the pandemic, Macon County has had 3,018 confirmed COVID-19 cases and reported 30 deaths as a result of the virus. There have been 886,218 confirmed cases and 11,691 deaths in North Carolina thus far.
According to Macon County Public Health statistics, the agency has 300 vaccines in its inventory. As of Tuesday, 9,099 citizens have received the vaccine (first dose).