State and local COVID-19 update

Published 10:35 am Wednesday, May 26, 2021

: This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically. In this view, the protein particles E, S, and M, also located on the outer surface of the particle, have all been labeled as well. A novel coronavirus, named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in 2019. The illness caused by this virus has been named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that 25 U.S. states as well as Washington D.C. have fully vaccinated at least 50% of their adult population as of Sunday, May 23, 2021.

North Carolina, as of May 24, had adult vaccination rate of 52.7% for one dose and 48.1% for fully vaccinated.

For North Carolinians 65 and older, the vaccination rate is 79.6% for one dose and 76.5% for full.

Get the latest headlines sent to you

The state’s dashboard numbers are low. New cases as of May 25, 2021 number only 525, a decrease of 56 from Monday. Hospitalizations are 699, up by 19.

Across the state, 52.7% of those 18 years and older have had one dose of vaccine; 48.1% are fully vaccinated.

In North Carolina, free COVID-19 vaccine is available to those 12 or older who want it.

The Pfizer vaccine is approved for people age 12 and older, while the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are approved for adults 18 and older. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two shots a set number of days apart. Johnson & Johnson is a one-dose vaccine. To find a shot provider, visit myspotnc.gov.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has expanded its COVID-19 dashboard to include wastewater monitoring. Since January of this year, the department has collaborated with 11 wastewater utilities, eight local public health departments and researchers with the University of North Carolina.

The agencies are looking for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Viral particles are shed in human feces. The department’s media release states that the particles in wastewater are no longer infectious.

The program is part of the CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System. The state’s program is called North Carolina Wastewater Monitoring Network.

The wastewater utilities involved in the network are Chapel Hill/Carrboro, Charlotte 1 and 2, Greenville, New Hanover, Newport, Raleigh, South Durham, Town of Beaufort and Wilmington City.

Dare County: The county’s health division is now updating its dashboard on a weekly basis on Tuesdays to accompany its weekly written update. Videos will only be prepared if significant changes in data, practices or guidelines occur.

As reported by the county on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, the number of new positive cases for the preceding week was 13, the lowest number since the week of June 15, 2020. The percentage of new cases was 3.89%, also the lowest since June 2020.

In Dare County, vaccines are available at the county’s health department locations in Manteo, Nags Head and Frisco. To schedule an appointment, call 252-475-5008. Some area pharmacies such as Walgreens, Sunshine Family Pharmacy, Island Pharmacy, Beach Drugs and Beach Pharmacies in Hatteras and Avon also have vaccines available. Call the individual pharmacy to schedule an appointment.

Hyde County: In Hyde County, the total cases of coronavirus to date is 685. The Hyde County Health Department is reporting no active cases as of May 21, 2021. The county has suffered 10 deaths.

According to the state’s dashboard as of May 25, Hyde County has 51.7% of its adult population vaccinated with one dose and 46.6% fully vaccinated.

Appointments for vaccination are available at the Hyde County Health Department in Swan Quarter.

Tyrrell County: As of May 24, the Martin-Tyrrell-Washington Health District is reporting no new cases of coronavirus in Tyrrell County. However, three active cases are reported. Six deaths have been reported in the county during the pandemic.

The state’s dashboard, as of May 25, is reporting 33.5% of people in Tyrrell County are vaccinated with one dose and 29.9% are fully vaccinated.

Call 252-793-3023 to schedule a vaccine appointment at offices in Columbia, Plymouth and Williamston.

Currituck, Camden and Pasquotank: These three northeastern counties are members of the Albemarle Regional Health Services organization. At each local health department, appointments are available for first and second doses of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines for people who are 18 and older. Also, appointments are made at local health departments for the Pfizer vaccine available for those 12 years of age and up. Case statistics are dated as of May 21.

Camden County: Lab-confirmed active cases number seven with a total number of cases 672 for the entire pandemic. COVID-19 deaths in Camden County are five persons.

As reported on the state’s dashboard, Camden County has a one-dose vaccination rate at 27.4% and full rate at 23.7%

Currituck County: Lab-confirmed active cases number 12 with a total number of cases 1,568 for the entire pandemic. COVID-19 deaths in Currituck County are 16 persons.

As reported on the state’s dashboard, Currituck County has a one-dose vaccination rate at 29.8% and full rate at 26.2%

Pasquotank County: In this county, lab-confirmed active cases number 18 with a total number of cases 3,395 for the entire pandemic. COVID-19 deaths in Pasquotank County are 83 persons, which is three more than the previous weekly update from the health district.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS HERE.

RECENT HEADLINES: