UPDATED: Dare County reports 101 new COVID-19 cases in two weeks, 24 today

The number of new COVID-19 cases is trending in the wrong direction, the Dare County Department of Health and Human Services said today.

The county has seen 101 new cases of the coronavirus in the last two week, 41 new cases since Friday and 24 today alone.

The rise in cases in Dare County is not linked to testing, the health department said. Despite testing being widely available, there were fewer tests performed this past week than the previous four weeks.

Health officials say the rise in cases can be attributed to more and more people gathering together and a lack of adherence to physical distancing and wearing masks.

Of the 101 cases, approximately 40% of individuals did not know how they acquired this virus, which indicates community spread.

“Of the positive cases associated with direct contacts over the past two weeks, we have seen cases linked to weddings, funerals, travel, co-workers, and gatherings of family members and friends,” the department said in its Tuesday update.

Of the new resident cases reported since Friday:

  • 1 individual is symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual whose positive test result was reported on 10/20
  • 3 of the cases, 2 symptomatic and 1 asymptomatic, acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual whose positive test result was reported on 10/27
  • 1 individual is symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual whose positive test result was reported on 10/28
  • 2 of the cases, both symptomatic, are family members who acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual whose positive test result was reported on 10/31
  • 1 individual is asymptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual whose positive test was reported on 10/30
  • 1 individual is symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual whose positive test result was reported on 10/29
  • 3 cases are not connected. All are symptomatic and acquired the virus from individuals whose tested positive outside of Dare County
  • 1 individual is symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual whose positive test result was reported on 11/1
  • 2 of the cases are not connected. Both are symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with individuals whose positive test result were reported on 10/31
  • 10 of the cases are not connected. All are symptomatic. It is unclear how these individuals acquired the virus.

Of the 16 non-resident cases since Friday:

  • 5 of the cases are family members. 2 are symptomatic and 3 are asymptomatic. The family had direct contact with an individual who tested positive outside of Dare County.
  • 3 cases are not connected. All are symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with individuals who tested positive outside of Dare County.
  • 2 of the cases are family members. Both are symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual who tested positive outside of Dare County.
  • 1 individual is symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual whose positive test result was reported on 10/30
  • 1 individual is symptomatic and acquired the virus by direct contact with an individual whose positive test result was reported on 11/1
  • 4 of the cases are not connected. All are symptomatic. It is unclear how these individuals acquired the virus.

Contact tracing has been completed on 38 of the 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. The 14 day quarantine requirement is very important to slowing the spread of the virus as the incubation period for this virus is 2 – 14 days. We are working with the other three individuals to identify and notify their direct contacts.

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Kari Pugh is digital director for OBXToday.com, Beach 104, 99.1 The Sound, 94.5 WCMS and News Talk 92.3 WZPR. Reach her at kpugh@jammediallc.com