Dare considered a ‘hot spot’ for COVID-19

Published 8:35 am Thursday, November 19, 2020

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Dare County is now painted orange and identified as a substantial viral hot spot for coronavirus.

Across the state, 42 other counties are rated as substantial and colored orange.

Called the County Alert System, the state suggests actions for individuals, businesses and local governments.

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Gov. Roy Cooper said in a Tuesday media conference that the system will make it possible to target counties with specific requirements as well as statewide as required.

Every North Carolina county has viral spread, reports Mandy Cohen.

Currituck and Pasquotank counties are also rated orange while Tyrrell and Hyde have yellow designations, meaning significant cases of coronavirus.

The counties will retain the designation for one month.

More COVID-19 cases in Dare County

The total COVID-19 positive case count in Dare County is 904, of which 90 are active cases among residents of Dare County on Nov. 17, 2020.

Of the 904 cases, 563 are residents and 341 are non-residents.

Currently, six residents and one non-resident are hospitalized.

Dare County also reported that one resident, in their 40s, died this past week due to complications from COVID-19.

Since the last Dare County Department of Health and Human Services Update issued Friday, Nov. 13, 2020, 39 new positive cases have been listed. Of those new cases, 31 are residents and eight are non-residents.

Contact tracing has been completed on 34 of the new cases and direct contacts provided by these individuals have been identified, notified and directed to quarantine for 14 days from the last date of exposure with the positive case.

“The number of new COVID-19 cases in Dare County continues to trend in the wrong direction for the past several weeks,” states the release from DCDHHS.

This past week, 108 new positive COVID-19 cases were counted. That is the highest number of new cases since testing started in March. In looking at the rise in cases, several key points are highlighted:

– The increase in cases is not the result of an increase in testing. The percent of positive tests to total tests performed last week was the highest seen in Dare County thus far during the pandemic at 9.44%.

– 78% of the recent new cases are residents.

– 85% of positive cases are symptomatic.

– 73% of recent cases acquired the virus by direct contact.

According to DCDHHS, the recent spread in Dare County cases is linked to gatherings of friends, co-workers and family members at birthday parties, dinner parties, church services, youth group meetings, weddings and in office break areas.

The message from Dare County health professionals and from the chairman and vice chairman of the Board of Commissioners is about being socially responsible by getting behind the mask and physically distancing yourself, at least 6 feet apart, when gathering with others outside of the immediate household.

Each Tuesday, Dare County reviews the four key metrics associated with disease investigation and surveillance.

This past week, there were 1,144 COVID-19 diagnostic tests performed in Dare County. This brings the total number of tests performed since early March to 18,259. There were 108 positive cases between November 9 and November 15. The percent of positive tests to overall tests in Dare County since we started testing in early March increased this week to 4.9%. The percent of positive tests to total tests for the past week alone increased to 9.4%. Syndromic surveillance of the emergency department and the urgent care centers showed that the number of individuals presenting with COVID-19 related symptoms was consistent with the activity over the past several weeks.

North Carolina

Total, cumulative caseload in the state now read 317,495 people. On Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, the state reported 3,288 new cases. Deaths have risen to 4,852 people.

Those people in North Carolina who are hospitalized because of COVID-19 are reported to be 1,501 people, highest level ever. ICU beds in use number 1,858 with 532 ICU beds available.

Hyde County

In Hyde County on Nov. 16, the total number of cases was 182 people, only two of which are active. On Friday, Nov. 13, the case total was one lower and the active cases was one less. Deaths remain at five people.

Tyrrell County

Martin-Tyrrell-Washington Health District reports that Tyrrell County’s total, cumulative case number is 137 with 132 recovered. Two active cases exist as of Nov. 16. The health district is hosting a drive-through COVID-19 testing at Washington Regional Hospital in Plymouth Nov. 24 from 1 to 5 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Bring proper identification and insurance cards. “Nobody is turned away for inability to pay.”

Camden, Currituck, Pasquotank counties

As of Nov. 16, 2020, Albemarle Regional Health Services published the following case information:

Camden: 160 lab-confirmed cases, up by five cases. Some 12 cases are active and 145 people have recovered. Deaths remain unchanged at three.

Currituck: 280 lab-confirmed cases, an increase of 12 cases. Some 22 cases are active. Deaths remain unchanged at four.

Pasquotank: 997 lab-confirmed cases. Active cases number 82, an increase of 30. Deaths remain at 35.

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