Regional COVID-19 update

Published 8:19 am Wednesday, August 18, 2021

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Dare County is continuing to experience widespread community transmission of the COVID-19 virus, states the Dare County health department update for Aug. 17.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services epidemiological data indicates the state and Dare County are in the middle of another surge of COVID-19 infections.

The percentage of positive COVID-19 tests to total COVID-19 tests in Dare County last week was 19.4%. The goal is 5%.

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The total number of new positive cases reported in Dare County for the past week was 226, which marks the third highest week of new positive cases since the pandemic began. During the same week last summer, there were a total of 18 new positive cases reported in Dare County and a 1.6% positivity rate.

Of the 226 new cases last week, 203 are symptomatic; 176 acquired the virus by direct contact with someone who was positive for COVID-19; and 70 were breakthrough cases.

Currently, 146 active COVID-19 cases among residents are in Dare County. A dozen people are hospitalized due to complications from COVID-19, including seven residents and five non-residents.

The reported positive cases include laboratory confirmed cases reported by medical providers, urgent care centers, the hospital or the state, which includes tests performed at area pharmacies. Self-reported over the counter home tests are not counted in the reported count totals, however contact tracing is conducted for the positive self-reported cases.

According to the CDC and NCDHHS, the delta variant causes more infections and spreads faster than early forms of SARS-CoV-2.

Dare County’s specimens are included in the regional data released by Vidant Medical. In the COVID-19 weekly released Aug. 17 by Vidant Medical, the delta variant was present in 95 of the 95 specimens sequenced.

Dare County DHHS is now accepting registrations for an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for individuals with moderate and severe immune compromise. Register online at www.darenc.com/Register4Vaccine and expect a call between Aug. 17 and Aug. 19 for an appointment the week of Aug. 23.

Since late December 2020, a total of 24,536 (66%) of eligible Dare County residents have received an initial dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 22,904 (62%) are fully vaccinated.

Albemarle Regional Health Service reports COVID-19 cases continue to increase across the region.

Appointments are available in local health departments for COVID-19 vaccinations. Some 96.5% of new cases in the region are people who are unvaccinated.

Pasquotank County: 80 active cases.

Camden County: 17 active cases

Currituck County: 55 active cases.

Martin-Tyrrell-Washington District Health is reporting 11 new cases in Tyrrell County as of Monday, Aug. 16. On Friday, Tyrrell County had 28 active cases.

Call 252-793-3023 to schedule a vaccine appointment at our offices in Plymouth, Williamston, and Columbia. Vaccines are free and available to anyone 12 and older.

On Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, Hyde County reported 11 new positive cases.

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