Macon County Public Health Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19

Macon County has identified that a Macon County Public Health employee has tested positive for COVID-19. The employee is isolating at home and doing well. Close contacts of the employee have been notified and tested. The necessary steps to disinfect the affected area have been performed.

Positive cases are increasing in Macon County. Macon County recommends that business owners consult the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on what employers and employees should do if
they have been exposed to COVID-19. Macon County leadership is committed to remaining transparent with
the public and encourages businesses to be open with the public as well. For more guidance about employee
exposure, visit the CDC at: https://bit.ly/critical_workers.

Since March, Macon County has implemented strong infection control standards in all county facilities to
protect employees and citizens. These measures include:
• providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees who need it,
• limiting access to county building and congregate areas,
• implementing a health screening process for all employees, such as taking temperatures before work,
• assuring that employees who work in an office-based setting are maintaining social distancing
measures,
• moving to appointment-based services and limiting walk-in services, and
• implementing teleworking agreements for some personnel to work from home (should their job allow).
Macon County Public Health is confident the risk of exposure for employees and citizens is minimal, and by
implementing these measures, the county has been and will continue to provide services safely. This individual has not had contact with the public.

It is important to make sure the information you are getting about COVID-19 is coming directly from reliable sources like Macon County Public Health, CDC, and NCDHHS. For more information, please visit the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus and NCDHHS’ website at www.ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus, which will also include future positive COVID-19 test results in North Carolina.

Macon County Public Health regularly updates our Facebook page with accurate and current information
regarding COVID-19; we encourage the public to check our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MaconPublicHealth for up-to-date information. Symptoms for COVID-19 are fever, cough, and other lower respiratory illness (shortness of breath). If you believe that you may have COVID-19, please call the Health Department at 828-349-2517. The call center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am – 4:00pm, closing daily for lunch from 12:00pm – 1:00pm, until further notice.