The latest update of North Carolina’s COVID-19 county alert map show promising signs of improvement in the statistics used to track the pandemic, and a new classification has been added to the color-coded system.
While none of the state’s 100 counties are in the red, two of the three Outer Banks counties are in the next highest category.
According to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, key metrics show a leveling off of trends in COVID-19 spread after several weeks of decline.
Although levels are far below the post-holiday peak in January, most of the state continues to experience significant or substantial community spread with concerning increases in younger age groups.
Currituck and Dare counties were in orange for substantial community spread according to the numbers complied between March 14 and March 27.
NCDHHS data showed Dare had a new case rate of 221.6 per 100,000 residents for the two-week period, and daily positive test rate of 8.6 percent and a moderate impact for hospitals.
Currituck’s new case rate was 126.1 per 100,000 residents, a positive test rate of 8.4 percent and a minimal impact for hospitals.
The latest update of the NCDHHS COVID-19 dashboard on Monday showed the per capita new case rate had since declined for both counties.
“Red and orange counties need to do even more to slow the spread of COVID-19 in their communities; it is strongly recommended these counties go further and build upon current requirements as outlined in the recommendations below.”
Health officials continue to stress adherence to the 3Ws – wearing a face mask, waiting six feet apart, and washing hands often – along with people getting vaccinated as soon as soon as one is available to them are critically important to slow the spread of the virus.
The COVID-19 County Alert System gives individuals, businesses and community organizations, and public officials a tool to understand how their county is faring and to make decisions about actions to take slow the spread of the virus.
Because no one metric provides a complete picture, the COVID-19 County Alert System uses a combination of three metrics: case rate, the percent of tests that are positive, and hospital impact within the county.
A new classification of moderate was added to the map released April 1:
1. Green: Low Community Spread
2. Light Yellow: Moderate Community Spread
3. Yellow: Significant Community Spread
4. Orange: Substantial Community Spread
5. Red: Critical Community Spread
Because no one metric provides a complete picture, the COVID-19 County Alert System uses a combination of three metrics: case rate, the percent of tests that are positive, and hospital impact within the county.
