Dare Reports 92 New COVID-19 Cases, One Death Nov. 14-20
UPDATE: An additional 12 new cases were reported late Friday evening (11/20/20), including 10 residents and two non-residents, bringing the total to 92.
The number of new cases of COVID-19 in Dare County continues to climb, as this past week saw 80 92 new cases reported, as well as one resident, in their 40s, who died this past week due to complications from COVID-19. The total number of positive COVID-19 tests in Dare County (as of 11/20/20) is 957, of which there are 68 active cases among residents of the county. Of the 957 cases, 595 are residents and 350 are non-residents. Five residents remain hospitalized from complications associated with COVID-19.
From Saturday, Nov. 14 through Monday, Nov. 16, there were 39 new positive cases, of which 31 are residents and 8 are non-residents.
Of the 31 resident cases reported November 13-16:
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3 of the cases are connected. All are symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual whose positive test result was reported on 11/10
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6 of the cases are not connected. All are symptomatic. It is unclear how these individuals acquired the virus.
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4 of the cases are connected. All are symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual whose positive test result was reported on 11/11
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2 of the cases are family members. Both are symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with individuals whose positive test results were reported on 11/11
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2 of the cases are family members. Both are symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with individuals whose positive test results were reported on 11/13
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1 individual is asymptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual whose positive test result was reported on 11/12
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11 cases are not connected. 8 are symptomatic and 3 are asymptomatic. All acquired the virus by direct contact with individuals whose positive test results were reported on 11/5, 11/10, 11/11, 11/12, and 11/13.
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2 of the cases are not connected. Both are symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with individuals who tested positive outside of Dare County.
Of the 8 non-resident cases reported Nov. 13-16:
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4 of the cases are not connected. 3 are symptomatic and 1 is asymptomatic. All acquired the virus by direct contact with individuals who tested positive outside of Dare County.
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4 of the cases are not connected. 3 are symptomatic and 1 is asymptomatic. It is unclear how these individuals acquired the virus.
From Tuesday, Nov. 17 through Thursday, Nov. 19, there were 41 new positive cases reported. Of those, 32 are residents and 9 are non-residents.
Of the 32 new resident cases reported Nov. 17-19:
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2 of the cases are connected. Both are symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual whose positive test result was reported on 11/13
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3 of the cases are family members. All are symptomatic. It is unclear how these individuals acquired the virus.
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1 individual acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual who tested positive outside of Dare County. This was a late report from the state and the individual has already recovered.
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5 of the cases are not connected. All are symptomatic. It is unclear how these individuals acquired the virus.
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19 of the cases are not connected. 16 are symptomatic and 3 are asymptomatic. All acquired the virus by direct contact with individuals whose positive test results have been reported between 11/12 and 11/17
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2 of the cases are not connected. Both are symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with individuals who tested positive outside of Dare County.
Of the 9 new non-resident cases reported Nov. 17-19:
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6 of the cases are connected. 4 are symptomatic and 2 are asymptomatic. All acquired the virus by direct contact with individuals who tested positive outside of Dare County.
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3 of the cases are not connected. 2 are symptomatic and 1 is asymptomatic. It is unclear how these individuals acquired the virus.
Contact tracing has been completed on 39 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. We are working with the other 2 individuals to identify and notify their direct contacts.
Thanksgiving Holiday Guidance
The best way to reduce your risk of viral transmission is to limit travel during the holidays and limit physical contact with people who do not live in your household.
You should practice the 3Ws and wear a face covering, keep 6 feet of social distancing, and wash hands well. The 3Ws are even more important if you are getting together with someone at high risk of complications with COVID-19.
If you are traveling and/or are planning to be with family members you do not live with during the holidays, consider having a COVID-19 screening test prior to travel or attending family gatherings. Be sure to get tested early enough to allow for your results to come in prior to the gathering.
Even if you have a negative test, you should wear a mask, physically distance, avoid crowds and indoor crowded places, wash your hands frequently, monitor yourself for symptoms, and minimize contact with people at high risk of complications of COVID-19.
For the complete document from NCDHHS on Holiday Guidance, please click here.
Controlling the Spread
COVID-19 remains a very contagious virus. The DHHS has seen an increase in new positive cases in Dare County over the past 3 weeks. Of the 945 total cases we have seen in Dare County since March, 242 (or 26%) have occurred in just the past 19 days. Below is some additional information regarding the most recent cases this week:
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The increase in cases is not due to an increase in testing. Last week, Dare County has its highest percent of positive tests to total test percentage since the pandemic started at 9.4%
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78% of the 41 new cases are Dare County residents
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73% of recent cases acquired the virus by direct contact with a positive individual
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85% of recent cases are symptomatic
The DHHS cannot stress enough the importance of everyone doing their part to reduce the spread of this virus by using the proven tools available – the 3 Ws. Please be responsible, protect yourself and others by following the 3Ws:
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Wear a cloth face covering if you will be with other people.
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Wait 6 feet apart. Avoid close contact.
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Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer
Testing
The DHHS strongly encourages anyone who is experiencing symptoms to be tested as well as anyone who may have come into contact with someone who has COVID-19. Testing is widely available in Dare County. Please visit www.darenc.com/covidtesting for details on testing locations .
If you have questions about testing or locations please visit www.darenc.com/covidtesting or call the COVID-19 call center, open Monday – Friday from 8:30 am – 5 pm at 252-475-5008.
“Non-resident” cases are those who do not have a Dare County address listed on their identification card, including visitors, non-resident property owners, individuals living and working in Dare County for the summer, and those who may have recently moved to the area and have not yet been able to update their identification card.
Cloth face masks or coverings are mandatory to be worn in any public spaces where social distancing can’t be maintained in Dare County and throughout North Carolina.
Local and state health officials continue to strongly encourage everyone to follow the 3 Ws – wear a cloth face covering if you will be with other people, wait at least six feet apart and avoid close contact with other people, and wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.
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