Vaccine

Patsy Covington, 83, excitedly receives her vaccine in the garage area of the fire department on Thursday, Jan. 14. “I’m tired of all of this uncertainty of whether or not I’m going to get this virus,” Covington said. (MNJ Photo/Juliana Walker)

A SHOT OF HOPE: More than 300 vaccinated at first local pop-up clinic

Juliana Walker

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

The Mitchell County Health Department held its first vaccination pop-up clinic on Thursday, Jan. 14 at the Spruce Pine Fire Department in an effort to speed up the vaccination rollout. The clinic, which was held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., drew hundreds of local senior citizens aged 75 or older.

COVID-19 cases in Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties continue to rise into the New Year.

Calendar flips to new year as COVID-19 follows

Juliana Walker

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

LEDGER – Although it’s a new year, COVID-19 is still here. The most recent numbers for the tri-counties were reported by the Toe River Health District (TRHD) on Tuesday, Dec. 29. Mitchell County had 123 active positive cases and, as of Jan. 5, had 23 COVID-related deaths as of Dec. 29.

The first to be vaccinated was Blue Ridge Emergency Department RN Linda Pitman. (Photo submitted)

First supplies of COVID-19 vaccines arrive locally

Juliana Walker and Cory Spiers

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

SPRUCE PINE — The COVID vaccine has arrived in Mitchell County. The first doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine arrived and were administered on Sunday, Dec. 20 at Spruce Pine Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. During the four-hour clinic, 158 frontline healthcare workers at BRRH received the vaccine.