The Macon County Sheriff’s Office has suspended inmate visitation until further notice due to the increase in COVID exposure at the detention center, where 24 inmates tested positive for COVID-19 last week.
Sheriff Robert Holland said his office worked with the Macon County Health Department, the detention center physician and nurse to administer 83 COVID tests at the detention facility. The tests included inmates and officers.
The 24 positive cases were inmates in the male dormitory. No female inmates and no staff members tested positive for the virus. All the inmates, except one, who tested positive remain at the center. “We have the inmates isolated the best we can,” Holland said. One inmate who tested positive was prescribed oxygen treatment, so he was transported to the hospital.
“Our facility is unable to adequately provide an appropriate location for an inmate needing a device to provide oxygen due to all our isolation cells being occupied with other COVID-positive inmates,” Holland said. The other inmates who tested positive are showing no symptoms or minor symptoms.
The sheriff said only two inmates refused testing, and they have been placed in quarantine.
“We cannot mandate for them to be tested or vaccinated,” Holland said. “It’s all voluntary.” All inmates and officers will continue to be monitored with additional testing as necessary.
The sheriff thinks the outbreak originated with an inmate who was brought in from a state prison for an appearance in court. He was held at the Macon County Detention Center until it was time for him to be taken back to prison. “We feel that is probably where it came from,” Holland said. Prior to that there had been three positive cases in inmates who were brought in from another county, but those inmates had been in isolation.
Holland said when new inmates are brought in they are temporarily held in isolation cells to make sure they have not been exposed to the COVID virus and are not displaying virus symptoms. However, the isolation cells are currently full.
Holland said the staff is overwhelmed but is doing the best it can to ensure the safety of the inmates and detention center staff. “We take the safety and security of our staff and inmates as a top priority.”
Although visitation has been restricted, inmates still have access to telephones through the normal procedures and will be able to meet with their attorneys. With Superior Court in session this week, Holland said inmates who tested positive will not be transported to court. Arrangements will be made for video conferencing if it is necessary for an inmate to appear for court proceedings.
The sheriff said visitation requires the moving of inmates and unnecessary contact with others, which increases the risk of COVID exposure for other inmates, the staff and the general public. “This will be a temporary measure, and we intend to open all visitations to inmates back up the moment we feel it is appropriate under our current situation,” Holland said.
Anyone concerned about an inmate can contact the Macon County Jail Administrator Lt. Dereck Jones at 828-349-2104. Holland said the jail staff cannot release an individual’s medical information or COVID status. It is the inmate’s choice to provide that information to family members.
Active Cases
As of Monday, Sept. 13, there were 396 active COVID cases in the county and the Health Department was waiting for results on 245 tests.
Macon County Public Health reported eight additional deaths in the past week, bringing the county’s total number of COVID-related deaths to 54. One person was between 25-49 years of age, two were between 50-64, one was between 65-74, and four were people over the age of 75
Angel Medical Center
On Monday, Sept. 13 there were 158 COVID-positive patients in Mission Health system, which is comparable to the number of hospitalized people at the peak in January 2020, according to Nancy Lindell, director of public and media relations for HCA/Mission Health. Of those currently hospitalized, six are at Angel Medical Center and one at Highlands-Cashiers.
“Mission Health system is seeing a significant rise in COVID patients. The Delta variant is more contagious and therefore the pace at which our inpatient COVID population has increased has been rapid. The vast majority of those coming to the hospitals in the Mission Health system for care for COVID-19 infection are unvaccinated,” Lindell said. “We currently have beds and the ability to care for our community. Being part of HCA Healthcare assures that we have ample equipment available for our patients. We hope that the FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine encourages those who were previously hesitant to decide to get the vaccine. We are strongly encouraging vaccination for our employees and our community as a critical step to protect individuals from the virus. The safety and wellbeing of our patients and colleagues continues to be our top priority.”
She added a concern right now is having the staffing needed to meet the increasing demand in COVID patient care.
Macon County Schools
During the week of Sept. 6-10, there were 331 students out of school across the Macon County school system due to COVID-19; 65 students had tested positive and 266 were in quarantine, according to the weekly COVID report from Macon County Schools. Franklin High School had the highest number of students (21) diagnosed with COVID, followed by South Macon Elementary with 19 students testing positive for the virus. The schools also reported 24 staff members out last week with 12 having tested positive, and the other half in quarantine.
The report noted that 32 staff members and 36 students did not have to quarantine after possible exposure to the virus because they had been vaccinated.
Nantahala School is began distancing learning on Tuesday, Sept. 14 due to the effects of COVID the COVID virus. As of Sept. 10, the school had one COVID-positive staff member, four students and two staff members in quarantine. In-person learning is tentatively scheduled to resume on Monday, Sept. 27. If you have questions, call 321-4388. Students needing meals delivered to their bus stop during the virtual period should call Ms. Passmore or Mr. Pyle.
Union Academy reopened on Monday, Sept. 13 after implementing distance learning beginning Sept. 1 due to the high number of staff members quarantined. As of Sept. 10, Union had three staff members who tested positive and two additional staff members were in quarantine.