By Dare County Health and Human Services
The number of positive COVID-19 tests in Dare County is 957, of which there are 127 active cases among residents of Dare County. Of the 957 cases, 605 are residents and 352 are non-residents. Four residents remain hospitalized from complications associated with COVID-19.
Among the new resident cases since Tuesday, November 17th:
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2 of the cases are connected. Both are symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual whose positive test result was reported on 11/13
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3 of the cases are family members. All are symptomatic. It is unclear how these individuals acquired the virus.
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1 individual acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual who tested positive outside of Dare County. This was a late report from the state and the individual has already recovered.
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5 of the cases are not connected. All are symptomatic. It is unclear how these individuals acquired the virus.
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19 of the cases are not connected. 16 are symptomatic and 3 are asymptomatic. All acquired the virus by direct contact with individuals whose positive test results have been reported between 11/12 and 11/17
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2 of the cases are not connected. Both are symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with individuals who tested positive outside of Dare County.
Among the new non-resident cases since Tuesday, November 17th:
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6 of the cases are connected. 4 are symptomatic and 2 are asymptomatic. All acquired the virus by direct contact with individuals who tested positive outside of Dare County.
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3 of the cases are not connected. 2 are symptomatic and 1 is asymptomatic. It is unclear how these individuals acquired the virus.
Contact tracing has been completed on 39 new cases and direct contacts provided by these individuals have been identified, notified, and directed to quarantine for 14 days from the last date of exposure with the positive case. We are working with the other 2 individuals to identify and notify their direct contacts.
Thanksgiving Holiday Guidance
The best way to reduce your risk of viral transmission is to limit travel during the holidays and limit physical contact with people who do not live in your household.
You should practice the 3Ws and wear a face covering, keep 6 feet of social distancing, and wash hands well. The 3Ws are even more important if you are getting together with someone at high risk of complications with COVID-19.
If you are traveling and/or are planning to be with family members you do not live with during the holidays, consider having a COVID-19 screening test prior to travel or attending family gatherings. Be sure to get tested early enough to allow for your results to come in prior to the gathering.
Even if you have a negative test, you should wear a mask, physically distance, avoid crowds and indoor crowded places, wash your hands frequently, monitor yourself for symptoms, and minimize contact with people at high risk of complications of COVID-19.
For the complete document from NCDHHS on Holiday Guidance, please click here.
Controlling the Spread
COVID-19 remains a very contagious virus. We have seen an increase in new positive cases in Dare County over the past 3 weeks.Of the 945 total cases we have seen in Dare County since March, 242 (or 26%) have occurred in just the past 19 days. Below is some additional information regarding the most recent cases this week:
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The increase in cases is not due to an increase in testing. Last week, Dare County has its highest percent of positive tests to total test percentage since the pandemic started at 9.4%
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78% of the 41 new cases are Dare County residents
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73% of recent cases acquired the virus by direct contact with a positive individual
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85% of recent cases are symptomatic
We cannot stress enough the importance of everyone doing their part to reduce the spread of this virus by using the proven tools available – the 3 Ws. Please be responsible, protect yourself and others by following the 3Ws:
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Wear a cloth face covering if you will be with other people.
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Wait 6 feet apart. Avoid close contact.
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Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer
Testing
We strongly encourage anyone who is experiencing symptoms to be tested as well as anyone who may have come into contact with someone who has COVID-19. Testing is widely available in Dare County. Please visit www.darenc.com/covidtesting for details on testing locations .
If you have questions about testing or locations please visit www.darenc.com/covidtesting or call the COVID-19 call center, open Monday – Friday from 8:30 am – 5 pm at 252-475-5008.