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Dare County reports 16 new cases of COVID
By Outer Banks Voice on March 31, 2021
Davies says ‘Now is a critical time in the fight’
The Dare County Department of Health and Human Services Department (DHHS) reported 16 cases of COVID-19 on March 31. That represents the most cases in a single day in two weeks, since 22 cases were reported on March 17. Of the cases reported today, 11 of them involve residents of Dare County and 5 involve non-residents.
As COVID cases have plateaued or in some cases, increased in recent days, the issue being debated by many public health professionals is whether we have truly turned the corner on the pandemic or whether another surge of cases — one that may not be as acute as past surges — is in the offing.
The Voice emailed DHHS Director Sheila Davies asking for her current assessment of the outbreak in Dare County and whether it was clear which way the numbers are trending. She responded that, “When looking at the status of transmission of COVID-19 from an epidemiological perspective, you should look at time increments no shorter than 2-week intervals. Over the past 2 weeks, the number of new cases has been around 50 each week, with both weeks’ weekly percent positivity being in the 9% range.
In the 2-week period prior to this most recent 2 weeks, the number of new cases were in the 30s and the weekly percent positivity rate was in the 7 – 8% range. The numbers over the past month are remarkably better than what we saw in November – January, however it is a little too soon to say with any confidence that we are on our way to a consistent decline in cases. For example, just today, we are seeing another busy day with new cases, with the number of new cases being in the double digits.”
“Now is a critical time in the fight against COVID-19. We have the opportunity to considerably control the spread by reaching herd immunity prior to the busy summer season if enough people get fully vaccinated. Dare County has not had one reported case of a fully vaccinated individual getting the COVID-19 virus. We have seen a handful of cases where individuals were infected with the COVID-19 virus in between their first and second dose of the vaccine, since they had not yet built up full immunity. We are getting ample supply of vaccines now, so anyone 16 and older who wishes to be vaccinated can easily get vaccinated.”
Today’s statewide NC coronavirus numbers
- Total reported NC cases – 914,132
- New cases reported today – 1,929
- Reported deaths – 12,112 (25 since yesterday)
- Currently hospitalized 955 (31 more than yesterday)
- Suspected COVID-19 cases hospitalized in past 24 hours – 153 (39 more than yesterday)
- Confirmed COVID-19 case hospitalized in past 24 hours – 126 (28 less than yesterday)
- Adults in ICU with COVID-19 – 235 (same as yesterday)
- Patients presumed to be recovered – 876,108
- Reported cases in Dare, Currituck and Hyde Counties – 5,072 (Dare 2,975, Currituck 1,454, Hyde 643)
- Completed tests – 11,336,842
- Daily percent positive tests – 6.5%
- Vaccine doses administered – 4,778,807
Note: Every morning, the NC Department of Health and Human Services posts updates the number of reported cases of coronavirus. That number reflects positive results from all tests, including the NC State Laboratory of Public Health and all hospital and commercial labs. There may be other reports, from the media and elsewhere, that will include different numbers during a given day, but this is an effective way of tracking numbers from the same source on a day-to-day basis.
SOURCE: NC DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Link to COVID-19 North Carolina Dashboard
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