Person, Sampson among 6 remaining virus 'red zones' in NC

A month ago, nearly two-thirds of North Carolina's 100 counties had critical spread of coronavirus. Now, that's down to six.

Posted 8:51 p.m. Mar 4, 2021 — Updated 11:23 p.m. Mar 4, 2021

RALEIGH, N.C. — A month ago, nearly two-thirds of North Carolina's 100 counties had critical spread of coronavirus. Now, that's down to six.

The state Department of Health and Human Services released its latest iteration of the state county alert map on Thursday, showing the second straight dramatic decline in "red zone" counties. They have dropped from 61 in early February to 27 two weeks ago and now down to six.

Person and Sampson counties are among those six.

Meanwhile, 60 counties are now considered "yellow zones," the lowest level on the three-tier system, with significant viral spread, up from 33 two weeks ago. The remaining 34 counties are are "orange zones," with substantial viral spread, down from 40 two weeks ago.

Much of central North Carolina is among the orange zones, although Durham, Orange and Chatham counties are yellow, as are several counties east of the Triangle: Nash, Edgecombe, Halifax, Warren and Wayne.

The changing map reflects a steady decline in the state's virus-related metrics in recent weeks:

The rolling, seven-day average of new infections was 2,166 cases per day over the last week, which is the fewest since Oct. 27.
Only 1,290 people are being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals statewide, which is the first time that dropped below 1,300 since Nov. 11.
The state on Thursday reported the second-lowest rate of positive virus tests in the entire pandemic, at 4.2 percent, and it was the fourth time in the last two weeks the rate was under the state's 5 percent target.

"North Carolinians are pulling together to slow the spread of the virus by getting vaccinated and keeping up the '3 W's,'" Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said in a statement. "While we are pleased with the improving trends, there is still more work to do to protect each other."

More than 2.5 million vaccinations have been administered statewide so far, according to DHHS, meaning more than 15 percent of North Carolinians have received at least one dose and 9.5 percent are fully vaccinated.

List: Who's in what group in NC's vaccination priority list

State officials this week opened up vaccinations to all of Group 3 on the priority list. The frontline workers include everyone from supermarket staff, manufacturing workers and farmers to police officers, university faculty and clergy.

Vaccinations of people with health conditions that put them at higher risk from the virus will begin March 24.

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