Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Polk picks up another death

POLK COUNTY—Polk County picked up another death from COVID-19 last week, putting the county’s total death toll at 31 people who have died from the virus. 

As of last Friday, there have been 1,529 total cases of the virus since last March in Polk County, with 1,491 patients presumed recovered, according to the Polk County Division of Public Health. 

Polk County had its first week of zero percent positive cases the week prior but picked up another 6 cases last week with a 0.7 percent positive rate. 

The county has performed 21,659 tests, with 31 deaths and 69 hospitalizations. 

The county has administered 17,703 vaccines so far, with 8,520 of those vaccines being complete. Of the people vaccinated, 37 percent have been completed vaccinated. 

Not all of the vaccines administered in the county are Polk County residents. 

Vaccines are free for anyone and are now being administered to everyone age 12 and older in North Carolina. 

Most of the county’s cases have been in females at 56.43 percent, compared to males at 43.57 percent, according to the county’s latest data. 

Most cases have continued to be in people age 25-49, followed by people age 50-64; people age 75 and above; people age 65-74; people age 0-17 and people age 18-24, according to the latest report. 

Polk County has discontinued its survey to get a vaccine. Polk County has been taking appointments for vaccines at the Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring and has been doing no appointment necessary vaccines randomly throughout the county. 

Local pharmacies are also now giving vaccines. 

To schedule an appointment with the county people can call the Polk County COVID message line at 828-722-5086. More information is also available on a special COVID-19 tab located at polknc.org.