One mountain county has identified a cluster of COVID-19 cases from a recent gathering.
On Oct. 27, the Jackson County Department of Public Health (JCDPH) announced seven individuals who had attended a social gathering on Oct. 18 at an apartment had all tested positive for COVID-19.
A cluster is defined by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) as five or more positive test results within a 14-day period and a plausible epidemiological linkage between cases.
“We know that our community wants and often needs to come together," said Deputy Health Director Melissa McKnight in a press release. "We also know our community does not want to spread COVID-19 to the ones that they love. If you choose to gather, please make smart choices. Wear a mask, maintain distance, limit your gatherings to a small number of people, gather outside as much as possible, and wash your hands."