COVID-19 update: New cases and hospitalizations declining across North Carolina

Published 9:52 am Wednesday, February 17, 2021

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In North Carolina, hospitalizations are declining and so are new cases.

On Feb. 16, new cases numbered 1,988. Hospitalizations were 1,958. At this date, 10,562 North Carolinians have died as a result of COVID-19.

The statewide percentage of positive tests to tests taken is 7.4%, much closer to the 5% goal.

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Vaccinations – North Carolina is currently vaccinating all people in Groups 1 and 2, which include health care workers, long-term care staff and residents and people 65 and older.

On Feb. 24, vaccine eligibility for people in Group 3 will begin for teachers and childcare workers and March 10 for additional front-line essential workers.

More than 40% of North Carolina’s residents 65 and older have been vaccinated.

Dare County – On Tuesday, Feb. 16, Dare County announced it is waiting for approval to host a mega event using 3,000 doses to address 2,746 people in Groups 1 and 2 currently on the waiting list. Dare is usually receiving 300 first doses per week.

Dare County had previously received vaccines to administer first and second shots to Dare County Schools staff along with law enforcement officers, staff and volunteer firefighters and emergency medical staff.

“Dare County’s COVID-19 data continues to trend in the right direction. Specifically, the total number of new positive cases last week was the lowest it has been since the end of October. Additionally, the percent of positive tests to total tests for this past week decreased from 13.4% to 10.9%,” states the Tuesday bulletin from Dare County Health and Human Services.

As of Feb. 15, 2021, Dare County’s death count remains at 12.

On the same day, the total number of cumulative COVID-19 cases in Dare County was 2,715.

Active positive resident cases number 99, according to the county’s dashboard, with 90 in home isolation and nine hospitalized, up one.

In Dare County, those who are qualified to receive the vaccine can register online at darenc.com/Register4vaccine or call 252-475-5008. Those who register will be called to schedule an appointment.

As of Feb. 15, 7,943 first doses of coronavirus vaccine have been administered in Dare County. Second doses numbering 2,695 have been administered, according to the state’s dashboard.

The Dare County Detention Center reports no new COVID-19 cases. All facilities remain on the outbreak list for an extended period of time following the last active case. Peak Resources in Nags Head and Spring Arbor in Kill Devil Hills remain on the outbreak list.

Hyde County – In Hyde County, telephone numbers to use for registering for a vaccination and to make an appointment are 252-926-4467 on the mainland and 252-489-3622 on Ocracoke.

On Feb. 12, Hyde County Health Department reported 628 total cumulative cases with 13 active positive cases. Deaths number eight persons.

In the Hyde County Correctional facility, one person has an active case of COVID-19.

Some 1,035 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered and 363 second doses, according to the state’s vaccine page.

Tyrrell County – Martin-Tyrrell-Washington Health District reported that Tyrrell County, as of Feb. 15, has 38 active cases. Six individuals have died in the county due to coronavirus.

The Tyrrell County Work Farm reports no active cases on the state’s dashboard. Tyrrell House, a residential care facility, has three total cases, reports the health district.

In Tyrrell County, 603 first doses of COVID-19 vaccine and 200 second doses have been administered as of Feb. 12, 2021, on the state’s dashboard.

Camden, Currituck, Pasquotank counties – Albemarle Regional Health Services has posted the following case information as of Feb. 12:

Camden: 531 lab-confirmed cases, with 40 cases now active. Camden County has lost five people to the coronavirus. As of Feb. 12, Albemarle Regional reports first dose vaccines administered number 2,168 and second doses 665, according to the state’s website.

Currituck: 1,267 total lab-confirmed cases. Some 90 cases are active. Currituck County has lost 13 people to coronavirus. Currituck County has administered 5,814 vaccine first doses and 2,191 second doses, according to Albemarle Regional.

Currituck Health and Rehabilitation Center remains on the outbreak list.

Pasquotank: 2,945 lab-confirmed cases. Active cases number 80. COVID-related deaths in the county number 73 people. In Pasquotank, 8,406 vaccine first doses and 3,715 second doses have been administered, says the state’s dashboard. Citadel Elizabeth, Elizabeth City Health and Rehabilitation, Waterbrooke and Brookdale Elizabeth City are on the congregant living outbreak list.

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