NC's virus trend line changed dramatically, quickly
A month ago, on July 15, only 14 North Carolina counties were considered high coronavirus transmission areas. Now, almost the whole state is.
Posted — UpdatedThe number of new cases each day is similar to what the state saw early February levels, as is the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19. The 2,651 patients reported Monday is the highest since Feb. 3, and about a quarter of the current number is in intensive care.
Ninety-nine of North Carolina's 100 counties are considered high viral transmission areas by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s defined by the CDC as 100 or more cases per 100,000 people or a positivity rate on virus tests of at least 10 percent over a seven-day period.
Only Avery County in the northwestern part of the state isn't in red on a CDC map. It's orange, with substantial viral spread.
Some counties are seeing more than 1,200 cases, including Bladen and Columbus counties in the southeastern part of the state and Cherokee and Yancey out west, according to state Department of Health and Human Services data.
Dr. David Wohl, an infectious disease expert at UNC Health, said that the numbers suggest that almost everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should be considered a potential virus carrier. People let down their guard as case numbers subsided in the spring, he said, and as hard as it might be, now is the time for everyone to reconsider traveling or taking part in group activities.
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