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Highest percent positivity rate yet of 32.8 percent

POLK COUNTY—After shattering its record of new cases last week, the county added another 241 cases of COVID-19 this week and had a record high of 32.8 percent positive. 

Polk County’s record of number of cases was last week with 259 new cases. Last week the county had a 21 percent positive rate. 

The Polk County Department of Health and Human Services released its weekly COVID dashboard on Friday. 

Polk County has now had a total of 3,171 cases of the virus since March 2020. 

The county’s percent positive rate went from 5.1 percent 3 weeks ago to 14 percent 2 weeks ago to 21 percent last week to 32.8 percent this week. 

The county has had 49 deaths and 105 hospitalizations from the virus, according to Friday’s figures. There was an additional hospitalization from the virus this week. 

The county’s percent of its population that is vaccinated remains at 43 percent as of this week. 

As of Friday, 9,291 Polk County residents had at least 1 dose of the vaccine and 8,824 Polk County residents are vaccinated, according to the county’s latest data. 

Polk County’s positive cases overall have been mostly in females at 53.67 percent this week. 

Most of the county’s cases have been in people age 25-49, followed by people age 50-64; people age 0-17 and people age 65-74. The least cases have been in people age 75 and above and 18-24. 

Vaccines are free for anyone and are now being administered to everyone age 5 and older in North Carolina. 

Booster shots are now also available to most people. 

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. 

Local pharmacies are also now giving vaccines for the virus as well as for flu and pneumonia. 

Vaccinations and testing are being done at 40 Ward St., Columbus on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Vaccinations are from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and testing is done from 2-6 p.m. The testing and vaccinations are provided by Optum Health, are free and no appointment is necessary.