Dare County Reports 58 COVID-19 Cases March 22-30
The Dare County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) reports 58 new COVID-19 cases in the last eight days, March 22-30.
The total COVID-19 positive case count in Dare County is 2,959 of which there are 46 active cases among residents of Dare County.
This past week there were 50 new positive COVID-19 cases in Dare County. The majority of these new cases are linked to small outbreaks among employees at multiple businesses. The remaining new cases are linked to direct contact between family members and close friends. The percent of positive tests to total tests for this past week decreased slightly from 9.76% to 9.07%.
Since the last report on 3/23, there have been 58 new COVID-19 cases. Of these 58 new cases:
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44 (76%) are symptomatic
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49 (85%) acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual or individuals who were positive for COVID-19.
As we head into the Easter holiday and spring break, everyone is encouraged to please not let your guard down. The CDC is cautioning that another wave of an increase in cases is probable. We know we can control the spread of the virus by practicing the 3Ws (wear a face covering, wait 6 ft apart from others and washing your hands) and getting your COVID vaccine.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Over the past 12 weeks, the DHHS has provided 12,955 initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and have fully vaccinated 9,244 individuals. Over the next two weeks they will administer an additional 2,370 first doses and 1,750 second doses.
As we move closer to the busy summer season, the DHHS strongly encourages anyone who wishes to be vaccinated to please go to the county website now at www.darenc.com/covidvaccine to complete the vaccination request form. Staff will then call you to schedule an appointment, as appointments are available. The DHHS asks for your continued patience as they anticipate it could take 1-2 weeks to get an appointment from the time you register online.
If you have registered on the county website for a vaccine and no longer need your appointment, please email the DHHS at [email protected] so they can remove you from the waitlist. Additionally, please only register one time through the website. If you are unsure if your registration was successfully submitted you may call us at 252-475-5008 or send us an email at [email protected] to check. This will help the DHHS to be as efficient as possible when scheduling appointments.
Key Metrics
This past week there were 551 COVID-19 diagnostic tests reported in Dare County. This brings the total number of tests performed since early March of last year to 35,562. There were 50 positive cases between March 22 and March 28. The percent of positive tests to overall tests in Dare County since the DHHS started testing in March 2020 plateaued this past week at 8.29%. The percent of positive tests to total tests for the past week alone decreased slightly to 9.07%. Syndromic surveillance of individuals presenting with COVID-like symptoms to the emergency department and urgent care centers continues to show low levels of activity. These graphs can be found on the Dare County website at www.darenc.com/covid19.
“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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