By Jared Putnam
Staff Writer
COVID-19 numbers continue to decline in Clay County, but the latest surge affected Clay County unlike any other.
Clay County Health Department reported the 39th and 40th COVID-19-related deaths of county residents on October 8. The county's COVID-19 death toll stood at 20 as of Aug. 11 — about 17 months into the pandemic in the United States — before doubling in a span of less than two months behind a much more contagious and potent Delta variant.
CCHD reported 25 active cases of the virus within the county as of Monday — down from 45 just three days earlier — and hospitalizations dropped to five after remaining in double-digits for the past two months.
Clay also has experienced significant success with the monoclonal antibody treatment center set up by county officials in mid-September — described as the "first of its kind" in North Carolina.
"It's been very effective," Clay County Manager Debbie Mauney said. "They've done between 45-50 infusions and to date they haven't had any of the patients go into the hospital."
Monoclonal antibodies are produced in a laboratory and are designed to recognize the spike protein component of the coronavirus. The treatment manufactured by Regeneron has been shown to reduce hospitalization and death by an average of 70 percent — and shorten the duration of symptoms by four days in individuals who have recently tested positive for the virus.
The treatments can be given either through an IV transfusion or a series of injections and are typically administered at hospitals. Clay County is currently providing the treatments at the senior center. There is no charge for the procedure and it is available to anyone who tests positive for COVID-19.
Mauney said the county hopes to keep the clinic open through at least the end of the year.
"We're working very closely with the hospitals, with Union General, with Erlanger, and we're taking their referrals, and we're getting referrals from our health department," Mauney said. "Everyone who tests positive for COVID is referred over there.
"If you know anybody who has COVID, please send them through our health department. This could be a real life saver."
In early October, the U.S. surpassed 700,000 COVID-19-related deaths since the pandemic began. North Carolina's death toll stands at more than 17,200.
Health officials also may soon get another tool to use in the fight against the virus.
Drugmaker Merck submitted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday for molnupiravir, an oral antiviral pill for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults.
In clinical trials, molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by approximately 50 percent. The pill could be available to Americans by late this year.
Health officials continue to stress that vaccination remains the best weapon in the fight against COVID-19. Seventy percent of North Carolinians age 18 and older have now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
"COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be our best tool for preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19," said NCDHHS Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. “Seventy percent of North Carolinians have sought out reliable information and decided to protect themselves and others with tested, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines. If you’re not vaccinated, it’s not too late."