Dare Reports 12 COVID-19 Cases on Aug. 25th; Updates on 21 Most Recent
The Dare County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has received 12 new positive COVID-19 test results today, including a new hospitalization, bringing the total number now to 436 cases, as of Tuesday (8/25/20) evening.
These most recent cases include one female resident of Dare in the 17 or under age group and one male resident in the 18-24 age group, both of which are recovering in home isolation, as well as one male non-resident in 17 or under age group isolating in Dare, three male non-residents in 25-49 age group isolating in Dare and one female non-resident in the 50-64 age group isolating in Dare, plus three other male non-residents in the 18-24 age group and one female non-resident in the 18-24 age group who have all been transferred to isolation in their home counties, and one male non-resident in the 50-64 age group who has been hospitalized outside of the county.
The total COVID-19 positive case count in Dare County is 436 of which there are 21 active cases among residents of Dare County. 13 of the 21 residents are currently in Dare County. Of the 436 cases, 234 are residents and 202 are non-residents. Currently there are 2 individuals, one resident and one non-resident who are hospitalized out of the county.
Since the last Dare County DHHS Update issued Friday, August 21, there have been 21 new positive cases. Of these 21 cases, 9 are residents and 12 are non-residents. The Dare County website has already been updated to reflect all of these cases.
Of the 9 resident cases since Friday, August 21st
- 7 of the 9 cases are college students. Only 2 of those cases are connected. 4 of the 7 are symptomatic and 3 are asymptomatic. All 7 acquired the virus by direct contact with individuals who tested positive outside of Dare County.
- 1 case is symptomatic. It is unclear how these individuals acquired the virus which indicates community spread.
- 1 case is asymptomatic and acquired the virus from a family member whose positive test result was reported on 8/18.
Of the 12 non-resident cases since Friday, August 21st:
- 1 case is symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual who tested positive outside of Dare County.
- 2 of the cases are not connected, both symptomatic and both acquired the virus from family members who tested positive outside of Dare County.
- 2 of the cases are not connected. One is symptomatic and one is asymptomatic. It is unclear how these individuals acquired the virus which indicates community spread.
- 4 of the cases are connected. All acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual who tested positive outside of Dare County.
- 3 of the cases are not connected. All are symptomatic and all acquired the virus by direct contact with individuals who tested positive outside of Dare County.
Contact tracing has been completed on 16 of the 21 of the 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 14 day quarantine requirement is very important to slowing the spread of the virus as the incubation period for this virus is 2 – 14 days. The DHHS working with the other 5 individuals to identify direct contacts.
While the past three weeks have seen relatively low numbers of new COVID-19 cases, less than 25 each week, it only takes a day like today for things to change quickly. Today, there were 12 new cases. The majority of today’s new cases acquired the virus by direct contact. Close contact continues to be the predominant way we are seeing the virus spread. This reaffirms how important it is for each of us to do our part and remain vigilant by following the 3Ws to help reduce the spread COVID-19.
- Wear a cloth face covering if you will be with other people.
- Wait 6 feet apart. Avoid close contact.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer
Key Metrics
Each week we review the 4 key metrics associated with disease investigation and surveillance. The metrics are:
- Number of Tests
- Confirmed Cases
- Positive Tests as a Percent of Total Tests
- COVID Like Illness Surveillance
This past week there were 897 COVID-19 diagnostic tests performed in Dare County by local healthcare providers. This brings the total number of tests performed since early March to 10,238. There were 21 positive cases between August 17 and August 23. The percent of positive tests to overall tests in Dare County since we started testing in early March decreased again this week for the 5th week in a row, to 4.07%. The percent positive to total tests for the past week alone was 2.34%. Syndromic surveillance of the emergency department and the urgent care centers showed a decrease in the number of individuals presenting with COVID-19 related symptoms.
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