Dare County Health and Human Services Director Sheila Davies said the county’s COVID-19 cases are rising exponentially, and the time is now to take action before it gets worse.
By far, the number of new cases — 162 in the last two weeks — are linked not to community spread but direct contact, Davies said in a special video announcement Friday.
“Our greatest threat is the silent spreading occurring between direct contacts,” Davies said.
Friends, co-workers and neighbors gathering together in social settings, backyards, driveways, living rooms, churches, youth groups, work break rooms and sleepovers are driving Dare County’s spike in cases, Davies said.
More than 450 Dare County students and school staff are on quarantine after coronavirus cases spread through most of the county’s schools, and many businesses are being forced to temporarily close due to positive cases and quarantining employees.
Of the 162 cases over the last two weeks, 77 percent are local, 86 are symptomatic and 75 percent acquired the virus by direct contact, Davies said.
“Today I’m making a call to action, a plea to mask up if you will be with others,” Davies said. “I know people aren’t intentionally exposing their friends and neighbors to COVID-19, but unfortunately, it is happening.”
The health department reported 18 new COVID-19 cases Friday. They include:
1) resident, 25-49, male, home isolation
2) resident, 50-64, female, home isolation
3) resident, 50-64, male, home isolation
4) resident, 25-49, female, home isolation
5) resident, 18-24, female, home isolation
6) resident, 65 over, male, recovered * late report from the state
7) resident, 50-64, male, home isolation
8) resident, 50-64, male, home isolation
9) resident, 50-64, female, home isolation
10) resident, 50-64, male, home isolation
11) resident, 50-64, female, home isolation
12) resident, 65 over, female, home isolation
13) non-resident, 25-49, male, transferred isolation
14) non-resident, 65 over, female, transferred isolation
15) resident, 65 over, male, home isolation
16) non-resident, 65 over, female, transferred isolation
17) resident, 25-49, male, home isolation
18) resident, 25-49, male, home isolation
