UPDATED: Report of COVID-19 case in Hyde County rescinded after data error from Vidant

The Hyde County Health Department now says that Friday’s report of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a resident was inaccurate due to a data feed error from Vidant Health.

Vidant Health reported a total of 122 test results incorrectly to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. Vidant blamed the errors on a problem with the transmission of data to the state.

According to the state, all 122 tests were reported as positive. How many of those tests were actually positive or negative has not been released.

It is the second time since the coronavirus outbreak began that Hyde County has amended its case reporting for statistical reasons.

After initially reporting a positive test March 20, the county said that patient was not a resident of Hyde County.

Rather, they gave a Hyde County address when they were tested, and the patient was self-isolating at their regular residence.

“We should use our heightened awareness from this as a reminder to be diligent in our efforts to protect ourselves from this extremely contagious virus,” said Luana Gibbs, Health Director for Hyde County.

She added that the latest patient was “relieved” to hear they tested negative.

Vidant issued a statement about the errors Saturday night:

“On April 25, Vidant Health sent an electronic update to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services which contained inaccurate COVID-19 test results. We determined this was a technical error affecting 122 results and the data feed issue has since been corrected. It is important to point out that the actual lab test results in Vidant’s electronic medical record were correct; there was a technical issue with transmitting data to the state. We are currently working with NCDHHS to update the data. We apologize for any confusion this has caused the state, local health departments and patients.”

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services also issued a statement Sunday morning:

The COVID-19 test results provided electronically on April 25 to the NC Department of Health and Human Services by Vidant Health incorrectly reported test results as all being positive. Vidant Health is working to correct the transmission problem. These numbers were reflected in the total case count published on the COVID-19 dashboard on ncdhhs.gov/coronavirus. Vidant has worked with NCDHHS to update the data. The total revised case count for April 25 is 8,542.

Hyde and Camden remain the only counties in northeastern North Carolina without a resident to have a positive test for COVID-19.

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