Chelsea Mackenzie, who is a first responder, was released from the hospital Tuesday after being treated for COVID-19 with remdesivir. “It’s not like the flu,” said Mackenzie, a volunteer firefighter and EMT. “I’ve had the flu before. It’s never done anything like this to me before. I’ve never had this much trouble breathing.” In Burke County, 65 people have died so far after testing positive for the coronavirus, and the positivity rate in the county is 10%. Morganton Mayor Ronnie Thompson, who also had COVID-19, wears a mask and face shield in public after being hospitalized for five days during the summer.