The Wilkes County Health Department is reporting fifty seven deaths associated with COVID-19 in Wilkes County. 

The individual died on 12/4 from complications associated with the virus. The patient was in their 70’s with underlying health conditions. To protect the families’ privacy, no further information about these patients will be released.

“On behalf of the Wilkes County Local Health Department and Government, we extend our deepest sympathy to the family”, stated Rachel Willard, Health Director. 

Willard continued, “While we continue to see our hospitalizations and death toll rise, I am pleading in an effort to slow the spread, I am asking everyone over the next four weeks to truly limit interactions to those within your immediate household. While we head into holiday parties and gatherings, I insist that people try to keep it virtual and only go out for essential trips or work. While I discourage gathering with others, I understand sometimes it is necessary. If you have to gather with others, I ask that you take the following steps to ensure the health and safety for you and our community: keep it small, keep it outdoors, keep mask on at all times, and go get tested ahead of time. Testing is widely available throughout the county. Please call Wilkes Health at 336.651.7449 or your local provider to schedule a test.”

If you have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, we would recommend you be tested. This means if you are sick with a fever, cough or other mild symptoms, call your healthcare provider or Wilkes Health. Please do not just show up to a doctor’s office without calling first. This will help your provider prepare should you need to be tested and lessen the potential exposure to others. 

If you have a medical emergency, please call 911 immediately.

Wilkes Health also wants to remind the public that community transmission is happening in Wilkes County. Every person is a potential carrier, even if no symptoms are present, so it’s urgent that every person -sick or healthy- stay home to the fullest extent possible and help break the chain of transmission. Wilkes Health wants to continue to encourage people to protect themselves to help lessen the spread of COVID-19 in our community. There are many ways we can all protect ourselves and our communities. 

If you go out you should practice the three W’s: Wear, Wait, and Wash. 

•Wear a face covering,

•Wait 6 feet apart from other people.

•Wash your hands often and