Editor s Note: The COVID-19-related deaths of 72 Wilkes County residents were reported by the end of 2020.
The Wilkes Health Department had reported 68 COVID-19-associated deaths of Wilkes County residents by the end of the day Tuesday, including 17 reported in December.
The Wilkes County Health Department reported the most recent two deaths at 5 p.m. Tuesday, which was past the deadline for Wednesday s printed issue of the Wilkes Journal-Patriot. One, a person in his/her 90s, died Monday. The other, in his/her 70s, died Tuesday.
Most of the deaths reported this month were people in their 70s to 90s, but officials said some were considerably younger. Many of the deaths were associated with outbreaks at long-term assisted living facilities.
Staff Photo â Jule Hubbard
Free drive-thru COVID-19 testing was offered in the Walmart
parking lot in Wilkesboro in May and June through a joint effort of
Walmart, the Wilkes Health Department and the state.
Staff Photo â Jule Hubbard
Graduation ceremonies for Wilkes high school seniors were
delayed and held by requiring that each student have a designated
time and date to be presented a diploma in his or her high school
gym, with only the presenters and immediate family members present.
Wilkes Early High School Principal Michelle Shepherd congratulates
one of her seniors.
Staff Photo â Jule Hubbard
On March 13, local leaders announced the declaration of a state
The second week with COVID-19 vaccinations is underway at the Wilkes County Health Department in Wilkesboro and at Wilkes Medical Center in North Wilkesboro.
Meanwhile, the health department reported the 69th and 70th COVID-19-related deaths of Wilkes residents on Monday. Both people were in their 80s and had underlying conditions.
Wilkes Health Department Director Rachel Willard said, âWhile we continue to see our hospitalizations and death toll rise, I am pleading in an effort to slow the spread. Iâm asking everyone over the coming weeks to truly limit interactions to those within your immediate household.. in the home stretch of the holiday season.â
Wilkes Countyâs first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine is expected next week, but local and state officials still donât know how much is coming.
Meanwhile, 85,800 doses of the Pfizer vaccine are expected at 53 hospitals across the state by the end of this week. North Carolinaâs first shipment â 1,925 doses â arrived at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem about 7:30 a.m. Monday. Vaccination of employees there started Monday.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced the number of doses expected at each of the 53 hospitals this week, including 975 doses at Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital in Elkin.
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