Fewer new COVID-19 cases reported in NC as key testing metric stays near target
North Carolina added 868 new COVID-19 cases Monday, a drop from the 1,290 new cases reported Sunday.
Monday’s lab-confirmed cases bring the state’s total to 208,248 since the coronavirus pandemic stated in March, the state Department of Health and Human Services reported. The official total is likely an undercount because tests were rationed early in the pandemic.
DHHS reported Monday that 184,422 people are presumed recovered. The estimate is based on when people tested positive and whether or not they were hospitalized.
On Friday, the state started including cases and deaths that had been diagnosed with rapid antigen tests in overall totals, in addition to the molecular, or PCR, test that DHHS has reported since March.
In incorporating the antigen tests, the state increased its case county by 6,140, a one-time addition to retroactively backfill the case counts starting with May 20, when the first antigen positive case was reported, a DHHS spokesperson said.
Antigen positive cases make up 2% of cases and 0.7% of deaths in North Carolina so far, DHHS said.
State residents have taken nearly 3 million coronavirus tests.
The PCR test is processed in a lab and looks for the virus’ genetic material. The antigen test is processed at a point of care and looks for proteins on the surface of the virus.
DHHS reported four additional COVID-19-related deaths Monday, bringing the state’s total to 3,445 since the first two reported on March 26.
Hospitals reported that 897 people with COVID-19 were being treated as inpatient on Sunday, with 96% of hospitals reporting. On Saturday, 92% of hospitals reported 917 patients with COVID-19. Hospitalizations were largely stable for most of this month.
On Saturday, 5.3% of tests performed were positive, close to the 5% threshold that health officials want.
DHHS says the data on its dashboard, including hospitalization information, is preliminary and subject to revision. The department advises looking at trends over two weeks rather than daily numbers.
Phase 2.5 of loosened restrictions on businesses and leisure activities is set to expire on Friday. Last week, Gov. Roy Cooper said he plans to allow large venues, those with at least 10,000 seats, to open at 7% occupancy. More changes to public health restrictions are expected to be announced before Friday.
Monday, Dr. Mandy Cohen, Secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, signed an order allowing indoor visitation at long-term care facilities, which includes nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, adult care homes and other congregate facilities.
The order only applies to facilities that have not had COVID-19 cases in the previous 14 days and those in counties where the percentage of positive coronavirus tests is less than 10%. The state’s guidelines follow those set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Under the order, visitors must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms before entering a nursing home, and must wear a face covering. Among other requirements, visitors, residents and staff must use alcohol-based hand sanitizer before and after a visit.
Wake County added 55 new COVID-19 cases Monday, for a total of 17,651 since March. The county has had 242 COVID-19 related deaths. On Saturday, 3.4% of Wake residents’ coronavirus tests were positive.
In Durham County, 15 people more people tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the county total to 7,756. Durham has seen 94 COVID-19 related deaths. On Saturday, 3.6% of residents’ coronavirus tests were positive.
Orange County added five COVID-19 cases Monday, bringing its total to 2,668. Orange has had 55 COVID-19 deaths. Saturday, 2% of its coronavirus tests were positive.
Mecklenburg County added 66 COVID-19 cases Monday, bringing its total to 28,774, with 352 associated deaths. On Saturday, 4,2% of its tests were positive.
Absentee ballots increase
As concerns about COVID-19 have increased interest in absentee voting, more than 1 million people in North Carolina have requested mail ballots as of Sunday and 248,400 people had voted by mail as of early Monday morning, according to the State Board of Elections.
Ballots of Black voters have been rejected at a higher rate than white voters’ ballots, The Charlotte Observer reported.
The Republican National Committee, President Donald Trump’s campaign committee, and state Republican leaders filed lawsuits Saturday that seek to stop the State Board of Elections from instituting rules that would lead to more mail-in ballots being counted, The Associated Press reported.
The mail-in ballot rule changes are part of a tentative lawsuit settlement the elections board reached with a political group representing retirees, The N&O reported.
This story was originally published September 28, 2020 at 2:20 PM.