Macon County has reported two additional deaths related to COVID-19 in the past week.
According to information provided by the Macon County Public Health Department, the death toll in the county stands at 32 since the pandemic began in 2020.
To protect the privacy of the patients’ families, no further information will be made public.
“We are thinking about these individuals’ friends and family, and hope for their comfort as they mourn their loss,” said MCPH Director, Kathy McGaha. “Macon County’s vaccination process is underway, and there are appointments available for this lifesaving vaccine for all over the age of 18. The more individuals who get this vaccine, the more likely that we will stop seeing COVID-19 deaths.”
Macon County Public Health opened the vaccinations to all residents over the age of 18 on Monday. Anyone who would like to receive a COVID-19 vaccine should call 828-524-1500 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Since the COVID-19 vaccine became available, Macon County Public Health has distributed 10,002 first-dose shots. The county had an inventory of 1,140 available doses as of Tuesday.
Cooper eases restrictions
On Tuesday, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced that he was further relaxing restrictions on businesses as the state’s COVID-19 case numbers continue to decline.
Cooper increased indoor seating capacity to 100 percent for multiple business categories, including retail businesses, museums, aquariums, beauty shops, and personal care businesses.
Other businesses, such as restaurants, breweries, amusement parks, public pools and fitness centers may operate at 75 percent capacity indoors and 100 percent capacity outdoors.
Cooper also increased the mass gathering limit to 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors. The state-mandated 11 p.m. curfew for alcohol consumption is also lifted.
Cooper encouraged all eligible North Carolina residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine and to continue wearing face coverings in public places in order to continue the positive trend of declining case numbers statewide.