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County increases its vaccination rate to 42 percent

POLK COUNTY—Polk County had another downward trend this week in terms of Covid-19 cases by adding only 46 cases. 

The county spent several weeks having a record number of cases, with 2 weeks ago, the county adding 101 new cases. 

Last week the county added 64 cases, which was a major decrease from the weeks’ prior. 

After this week’s 46 cases, the county has had a total of 2,191 positive cases since last March. 

No new deaths were added this week, with the county remaining at 41 total deaths from the virus. The county added 5 deaths over the last couple of weeks. 

The total vaccinated population increased by 1 percent this week to 42 percent of the population. The county had remained at 41 percent vaccinated for several weeks. 

As of Friday, according to the Polk County Department of Health and Human Services weekly report, 9,191 Polk County residents have had at least one dose of the vaccine and 8,658 Polk residents are fully vaccinated. 

This week’s percent positive for the virus was 14.2 percent, which was slightly lower than last week’s 14.6 percent. 

Polk County’s positive cases overall have been mostly in females and people age 25-49 years old, followed by people 50-64 years old, people 65-74 years old, people 75 and above, people 0-17 and people 18-24 years old. 

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

Booster shots are now also available to many qualified 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.