Newspaper clippings with virus headlines
Editor's note: It's been a year since life as we all knew it was drastically altered by a global health pandemic. Smoky Mountain Times compiled this timeline to reflect on the previous year by going through past editions of the weekly paper. The website for N.C. Department of Health and Human Services was also sourced www.ncdhhs.gov.
• March 10, 2020
Gov. Roy Cooper declares a State of Emergency
• March 17, 2020
Swain County Commissioners declare a State of Emergency & Gov. Cooper closes schools, restaurants and bars are closed for in-dining, unemployment benefits are expanded. In Swain County, large employers Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Great Smoky Mountains Railroad close.
NCHSAA suspends school sports.
The 2020 ICF Wildwater World Championship to be held in Nantahala Gorge is canceled. Many churches suspend in-person services.
• March 24, 2020
Swain closes lodging facilities for short-term stays and sets a limit of 10 people for indoor gatherings.
Gov. Cooper sets a limit of 50 people for gatherings. All gyms, theaters, salons, closed. Schools are instructed to continue remote learning through May 15.
• April 7, 2020
Swain County Commissioners adopt a curfew from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. in a 4-1 decision with Commissioner Parton voting against.
• April 26, 2020
The first cases of COVID-19 are reported in Swain County with three cases and community transmission. Students continue online learning with meals being delivered by bus.
• May 4, 2020
Swain County Commissioners lift all local restrictions.
• May 9, 2020
Great Smoky Mountains National Park reopens to visitors.
• May 18, 2020
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino reopens for customers at a reduced capacity.
• May 22, 2020
Salons and gyms reopen, restaurants are allowed to reopen for outdoors only at reduced capacity.
• Memorial Day Weekend 2020
Short-term lodging reopens in the county.
• June 4, 2020
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad resumes passenger tourist trains at a capacity of 50 percent.
• June 9, 2020
There are now 33 reported positive cases of the virus in Swain County.
High school athletes are allowed to begin workouts with social distancing.
•June 22, 2020
The first death in Swain County is reported by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
• June 26, 2020
EBCI enacts a mask mandate on the boundary.
• July 23, 2020
Swain County Board of Education adopts Plan B, reduced in-person attendance for classes in the fall.
• Gov Cooper extends Phase 2 through Aug. 5. NCHSAA pushes back the start of school sports.
• Aug. 18, 2020
Students return to classrooms on modified part-time schedule with many students choosing to continue remote learning under Plan C.
• Oct. 2, 2020
Gov. Cooper lifts more restrictions with Phase 3.
There are 34 active cases of COVID-19 in Swain County
• Nov. 9, 2020
There are 5 total deaths due to the virus in Swain County.
• Nov. 16, 2020
Bright Adventures Pre-K and Swain County Sheriffs Office are both impacted by several cases of the virus and close their doors to the public.
• Nov. 25, 2020
North Carolina announces vaccines will begin shipment.
• Nov. 30, 2020
Sheriff’s Office and Bright Adventures reopened.
Swain School Board says remote learners can come back to classrooms next semester.
• Dec. 15, 2020
Swain County experiences a surge in cases attributed to the Thanksgiving holiday and family and church gatherings. There are 49 ‘active’ cases in the county.
EBCI begins vaccine distribution for tribal members, receiving 900 doses of the vaccine at Cherokee Hospital.
• Dec. 21, 2020
Active cases continue to rise in the county with 85 active cases.
• Dec. 29, 2020
Vaccine distribution begins for frontline workers in Swain County administered by Swain County Health Department.
Long-term care facilities begin vaccinations, including Mountain View Manor and Bryson Senior Living, through a program with pharmacies.
Cases continue to increase with 115 active cases in the county.
• Jan. 5, 2021
Swain County Schools return to class but continue on a rotation or Plan B schedule.
• Jan. 12, 2021
Vaccine distribution begins for people age 75 and up but with limited doses available. The health department is receiving 100 or 200 doses a week.
There are 115 active cases in the county.
Swain Schools close campuses from Jan. 12-Jan. 25 because of the increase in active cases attributed to the holidays.
• Jan. 21, 2020
Vaccines are now extended to people aged 65 and older.
• Jan. 27, 2020
There have been 950 vaccines administered among Swain County residents.
Swain Schools delay the return to campuses to Feb. 1.
• Feb. 8. 2020
Active cases recede with just 23 active cases in the county.
• Feb. 22, 2021
Swain County Schools begin four days a week of class on campus for elementary schools.
Cases continue to decline but new variants are somewhat of a concern.
• Feb. 24, 2020
More than 1,797 people have received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine in Swain County and over 300 have received the second dose.
Vaccines now open up to more people with Group 3 beginning and educators bumped to the front of the line. Swain Schools reports more than 50% of its staff chooses to get the vaccine.
Gov. Cooper lifts the stay at home order but retains the mask mandate and some restrictions such as sizes on gatherings and capacity for in-person dining.
• March 10, 2021
It’s been one year since the State of Emergency was declared in North Carolina for COVID-19.
In Swain County, there are 25 active case over the past 14 days and a total of 16 people have died from the virus.
People in Group 3, essential workers, like people who work in factories and in the service industry, can get the vaccine.
In Swain County, at least 2,568 people have received the first dose with nearly half of those having received the second dose of the Moderna vaccine as well. About 18% of the population is partially vaccinated and 8% is totally vaccinated.