Coronavirus cluster found at casino

BY HOLLY KAYS S TAFF WRITER

Five employees at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in Cherokee have tested positive for COVID-19, and the investigation is ongoing, according to the Jackson County Department of Public Health.

The casinos in Cherokee and Murphy closed on March 18 following the March 14 declaration of a global pandemic, reopening on an invitation-only basis May 13 and then to the public May 28. The casinos are operating at 30 percent capacity with precautions in place for patrons and employees, including social distancing, mask-wearing and enhanced cleaning regimens.

The five employees who tested positive work in the table games section and are following isolation orders.

“No changes or closures to the table games operation are expected,” said Regional Vice President for Marketing Brian Saunooke. “Enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols have been in place since reopening and will continue. Wearing of face masks will also continue to be mandatory for our employees and customers.”

Saunooke said none of the five employees in question have worked since at least July 9. While the Jackson County Department of Public Health said the first of the five was tested on June 28, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Regional General Manager Brooks Robinson said that there is no indication that additional people qualify as close contacts.

“Based on information provided by the employees and video surveillance records, no other employees or customers have been identified as close contacts as defined by the CDC,” he said. “Additionally, all employees who test positive, show symptoms or have had close contact with someone who has tested positive have been directed not to come to work and to self-isolate.”

The Jackson County Department of Public Health, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Public Health and Human Services and other local health departments are still working to identify any additional close contacts of these employees, who hail from Jackson, Swain and Haywood counties. The CDC defines close contact as being within approximately 6 feet of a person with a COVID-19 infection for at least 10 to 15 minutes.

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort

“Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos remain committed to the well-being of our employees and customers,” said Robinson. “Enhanced health and safety protocols in place since reopening include training of our entire team of over 3,000 employees on cleaning and sanitizing techniques, the proper use of PPP, and mandatory wearing of face masks by employees and customers.

Other incidences of COVID-19 in publicfacing arenas of the EBCI have been identified as well. After a student at Qualla Boundary Headstart & Early Headstart tested positive, the center closed for cleaning. Due to an upcoming two-week planned clo

COVID-19: County cases continue to increase

BY JESSI STONE N EWS EDITOR

Jackson County has seen a steady growth in active COVID-19 cases in the last week as an outbreak was reported at a local skilled nursing facility on July 17 and a cluster was announced at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino on July 20.

Five employees at the Skyland Care Center have tested positive for COVID-19. All positive employees are following isolation orders. The North Carolina Division of Public Health defines an outbreak in a long-term care setting, like a skilled nursing facility, as two or more laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 within two incubation periods (28 days) in the same facility.

The investigation is ongoing. Symptomatic individuals who test positive will be required to remain in isolation under the following conditions — at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared and at least 72 hours have passed since the resolution of fever without the use of medications and improvement in respiratory symptoms. Asymptomatic individuals who test positive will be required to remain in isolation under the following conditions — at least 10 days have passed since their positive test assuming they have not subsequently developed symptoms since their positive test.

Upon notification of the first positive case, Skyland Care Center coordinated with the health department to determine next steps. Quarantine and testing were recommended for close consure, the facilities will not reopen until Aug. 7. Additionally, on July 17 the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority announced that an employee of the Cherokee County Clinic had tested positive but said it is not believed the diagnosis poses a risk to clinic patients, as the employee had not been in the clinic since July 14. The clinic reopened July 20 after undergoing a thorough cleaning.

For more information about COVID-19 in Jackson County, visit http://health.jacksonnc.org/covid19. For information about COVID-19 on the Qualla Boundary, visit https://ebci.com.

tacts of the first positive case. Upon identification of additional cases, Skyland Care Center coordinated COVID-19 testing for all additional employees and residents. Testing was completed by July 16; results are pending.

“Skyland Care Center takes the health and safety of all its residents and staff very seriously and has prepared the facility and staff for potential exposures in dealing with the pandemic. We will monitor the test results closely and will take preventative measures as necessary to reduce the potential for exposures,” said Skyland Care Center Administrator Mistie Cooley.

As of July 20, Jackson County had a total of 279 cases, 59 people currently in isolation and three deaths.

Macon County had a total of 401 cases — 122 are active cases while 278 are considered to be recovered. To date, there’s only been one reported death in Macon County. There are still 360 test results pending.

Haywood County has performed more than 5,000 COVID-19 tests and has a total of 167 positive cases, but 138 of those are considered recovered.

In Swain County, 2,668 tests have been performed and there has been a total of 81 positive cases and two deaths. The county also has 377 tests pending.

Getting test results back is still taking a week or more depending on the lab being used, according to providers and the health department. The state issued a press release last week stating that 13 additional qualified vendors have been approved to expedite testing and contact tracing efforts.