Dare County Reports 65 New COVID-19 Cases Feb. 8-16
The Dare County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reports 65 new cases of COVID-19 the past nine days, Feb. 8-16.
The total COVID-19 positive case count in Dare County is 2,715, of which there are 99 active cases among residents of Dare County. Currently, nine residents are hospitalized due to complications from COVID-19.
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%. While this is good news, the overall positivity percentage is still high at 8.25%. The DHHS continues to stress the importance of practicing the 3Ws: Wear a face covering, wait 6 ft apart and wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer. These are the tools proven to help reduce the spread of the virus.
Of these 65 new cases:
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52 (80%) are symptomatic
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53(82%) acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual or individuals who were positive for COVID-19
COVID-19 Vaccine
As shared over the past couple of weeks, Dare County’s first dose vaccine allocation from the state has been dramatically reduced. Dare continues to only receive 300 first doses from the state each week. The DHHS will hear back by this Thursday if their request is approved to host a Mega Vaccine Event in Dare County and provide 3,000 first doses. If the request is approved, they will be able to vaccinate all of those 65 and over who are on the current wait list.
The DHHS continues to ask for everyone’s patience with the vaccine roll out. Their ability to vaccinate everyone who wishes to be vaccinated is completely dependent on local vaccine allocation from the state. Over the past six weeks, the DHHS has administered 7,497 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Dare County and 2,344 second doses.
The limited vaccine allotment is only related to first doses. The DHHS has not been informed that there are any issues with second dose allotments.
Once the DHHS is able to offer vaccinations to everyone on the 65 and over waitlist, they will open registration to Phase 3, essential personnel. Information on COVID-19 vaccinations in Dare County can be found at www.darenc.com/covidvaccine. General information on the COVID-19 vaccines can be found on the state’s website www.covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines.
The DHHS has been informed by the state that the Walgreens locations in Dare County are participating in the federal COVID-19 vaccination program and have started receiving a limited number of doses weekly. The vaccines provided to Walgreens are not part of the state’s allocations. Please go to www.walgreens.com for more information on their COVID-19 vaccine program.
Key Metrics
This past week, there were 598 COVID-19 diagnostic tests reported in Dare County. This brings the total number of tests performed since early March to 32,786. There were 65 positive cases between February 8 and February 14. The percent of positive tests to overall tests in Dare County since testing started in early March increased to 8.28%. The percent of positive tests to total tests for the past week decreased to 10.9%. Syndromic surveillance of individuals presenting with COVID-like symptoms to the emergency department and urgent care centers, showed activity consistent with the past couple of weeks. These graphs can be found on the dare county website at www.darenc.com/covid19.
New Online Retailer for FNS Beneficiaries
North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) recipients can now purchase groceries online using their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards through Instacart.com or the Instacart mobile app, providing access to an additional authorized online EBT retailer, Food Lion. Instacart’s latest EBT FNS expansion to partner with Food Lion serves as North Carolina’s fifth EBT retailer. This flexibility will allow FNS recipients to buy food while promoting social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and will help families with transportation barriers.
Food and Nutrition Services recipients will be able to access their benefits for online grocery delivery and pickup while shopping through Instacart on the Food Lion storefront. Once items are added to their cart through Instacart.com or the Instacart mobile app, (FNS) recipients will be able to select how much of their FNS benefits they would like to allocate to the order. Beginning today through March 16, 2021, Instacart will waive FNS recipient’s delivery and/or pickup fees on up to the first three EBT SNAP orders for each customer with a valid EBT card associated with their Instacart account.
“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.
In addition, there is currently a statewide executive order for everyone to stay at home from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. each night, unless they are at work during those hours, which will remain in effect at least through Feb. 28 2021.
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