BURLINGTON – Alamance County Health Department has identified a COVID-19 cluster at Hillcrest Elementary in Burlington. Currently, five (5) cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed among four (4) staff and one (1) child. The cases will be included on the biweekly Child Care and School Settings report for NC DHHS. NC DHHS defines a cluster as minimum of five laboratory-confirmed cases with illness onsets or initial positive results within a 14-day period and plausible epidemiologic linkage between cases.
“Alamance-Burlington Schools relies heavily on the expert health and safety guidance provided by ACHD staff,” remarked Bruce Benson, ABSS Superintendent. “We sincerely appreciate their public health expertise as our schools continue to navigate the complexities of the covid-19 virus. Our ability to open and operate schools successfully is a tribute to the strong leadership and experience of our local health department professionals.”
“Alamance County Health Department worked closely with ABSS to identify cases and responded quickly to mitigate the cluster,” stated Health Director Tony Lo Giudice. “We will continue to offer guidance to ensure the safety of staff, children, and the community.”
Alamance County Health Department identified its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on March 20, 2020. Since then, a total of 17,730 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the community. Of those confirmed cases, 17,059 have been released from isolation and 413 remain active and in isolation. Included in those active cases, 5 individuals are receiving care at a hospital. Sadly, there have been 258 COVID-19 related deaths. COVID-related deaths include only patients who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, and who died without fully recovering from the disease.
COVID-19 vaccinations are available to all residents ages 16 and older. Anyone age 16 and older desiring an appointment can go to vaccinatealamance.com or call 336-290-0650. Although the percent of positive COVID-19 cases has decreased in the county, we still need to be mindful that COVID-19 is still prevalent. It is important to take steps to reduce your risks of contracting COVID-19, specifically wearing a face covering, maintaining physical distance and avoiding crowds, and washing your hands and cleaning commonly used surfaces regularly. These steps are imperative to control the spread of COVID-19. The health of you, your loved ones, and the community are what matters.
