Polk County Health and Human Services Agency staff have determined through contact tracing that there is presumed community spread in the county, meaning, at least one of the positive cases in the community has no known source of transmission.

While this has been reported in neighboring communities and throughout the United States, it is now a reality for Polk County.

“Unfortunately, this is a reality of working with people who have been affected by this virus,” County Manager Marche Pittman said. “Our community will get through this event by pulling together and taking care of one another.”

Polk County Health and Human Services Agency Director Joshua Kennedy said that “while we have been planning for such a scenario in our community, it does not change our original message and strategies of vigilance and self-monitoring.”

“We must all assume we are at risk and our actions should reflect this reality,” he said. “In addition to those with symptoms, we now know there are individuals who can feel 100% healthy without symptoms, but these individuals can be infected and transmitting the virus to unsuspecting community members.”

As of the afternoon of April 1, four citizens in Polk County have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Due to confidentiality laws, no further information can be released at this time.

When individuals test positive for COVID-19, they are contacted by someone in the Polk County Public Health Division who will ask them who they have been around and where they have traveled in the past 14 days before they became ill, and with whom they have been within 6 feet for at least 10 minutes. The public health representative then will call the individuals that the person who tested positive was in close contact with and will ask those people if they are demonstrating any symptoms.

Individuals who test positive are asked to self-isolate and anyone who lives in the same household with them may be asked to do the same depending on their symptoms and risk factors. Household members in this situation should try to physically distance themselves from each other, if possible.

Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear from two to 14 days after exposure and can include fever, cough or shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Citizens experiencing such symptoms should call their healthcare provider or the Polk County COVID-19 Message Line at (828) 722-5086 to speak with a registered nurse. In case of a medical emergency, citizens should dial 9-1-1. When calling for services through 9-1-1, all citizens are asked to answer questions comprehensively about their symptoms and travel history to protect others.

“We cannot stress enough the importance of honoring both the letter of Executive Orders from the Governor but also the spirit, which simply means staying home and avoiding physical social interaction to the greatest extent possible,” he said.

North Carolina currently is under a mandatory stay at home executive order from the governor at least until April 29 to slow the spread of COVID-19. In addition, all individuals traveling to Polk County, or each of the municipalities in Polk County, from areas experiencing community transmission of COVID-19 as listed by the CDC (especially including the states of California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Washington) or who have recently traveled in the last 14 days outside of the United States, must self-quarantine at their home or place of residence for a period of fourteen (14) days commencing immediately upon their arrival in Polk County or each of the municipalities herein before entering the community.

Citizens should stay at their residences and limit social interactions and travel for essential activities or essential business purposes. People should practice social distancing, refrain from nonessential travel, frequently wash their hands and take other precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control to lessen the chances of exposure and spread. More details about North Carolina’s stay at home order can be found in this frequently asked questions document from the governor’s office.