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Polk has administered 17,836 vaccines

POLK COUNTY—Polk County had its first week this week of having zero new COVID-19 cases since late last March. 

The Polk County Division of Public Health released its weekly update on Friday that included 1,533 total cases of COVID-19, compared to the same amount as last Friday’s report. 

The county’s percent positive rate was 0 percent this week. 

Last week the county only picked up 4 new cases of COVID-19. 

Polk County remains at 31 deaths and 69 hospitalizations from the virus. As of Friday, the county estimated that 1,496 patients are presumed recovered. 

The county has completed 21,818 tests since last year for the virus. 

The county has administered 17,836 vaccines so far, which is up from 17,779 from last week’s data. Of those vaccines, 8,631 of those are complete, meaning both vaccines have been administered. The percent of people fully vaccinated is 38 percent. 

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 54.92 percent, compared to males at 45.08 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. The 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.